By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A chart was published this morning showing the salary of superintendents for all of the state's 308 school districts.
The publication, in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, comes as the Legislature in special session tries reform education and the state Supreme Court hears arguments over whether state money should be withheld from some government services.
The chart comes from a report issued by the state's Education Department. It shows a wide difference in the salaries of superintendents, and also shows a wide difference in the amount superintendents are paid per pupil.
The information was compiled from payroll records and shows all payments, including such things as regular salary, travel allowances and payments for other duties done by the superintendents, such as principal or part time bus driver.
Basically, the smaller the district, the more money was spent per pupil on the superintendent's salary.
Lee Vent, superintendent of Forrest City Schools, said the report actually could have shown some other things as well.
"I think, basically, what the chart in the Democrat-Gazette revealed, is that actually there is an economy of scale associated with the size of school districts and the size of superintendents' salaries," he said. "A key factor, I think, that was excluded and needs to be factored in, is that assistant superintendents also enter the picture."
He said that could make the cost of administration much higher per pupil in some districts.
"A better measure for cost efficiency would be to look at he total central administration staff," Vent said. "At one time, we had three assistant superintendents and one deputy superintendent. Over time, we have been able to absorb all those positions into two (Vent and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Alice Barnes)."
The report was on salaries for the 2002-2003 school year. According to the report, the pay was as follows in St. Francis County: Then-Superintendent Jimmy Allen of Palestine-Wheatley was paid $114,417. Vent was paid $110,057. Hughes superintendent Randy Crowder was paid $75,223.
When the superintendents' salaries were figured into cost per pupil, the results were as follows: Palestine-Wheatley was the highest at $163.93 per pupil; Hughes was second at $97.46; Forrest City was third at $27.25.
"Another thing, too," Vent said, "when you look at salaries as a single entity, another factor is the experience of the superintendent. You pay for experience."
He continued, "In Forrest City, it's about the biggest operation, which is an awesome responsibility, when you factor in the size of the operation and the number of lives affected. Each day when we ring the school bell it affects the lives of about 4,000 kids and their parents. And look at the impact a day in the operation of a school has on the community, such as traffic, and in an indirect way affecting the local economy."
Vent added, "I'm sure the chart is going to stimulate a lot of conversation in the coffee shops this morning. But there are a lot of factors."
Some other area superintendents' adjusted 2002-03 salaries and cost per pupil were as follows:
Earle, Jack Crumbly -- $103,129, per pupil cost -- $124.66; Wynne, Darrell Smith -- $98,480, per pupil cost -- $34.76; Lee County, Wayne Thompson -- $77,447, per pupil cost -- $47.92; Cross County, Don Smith -- $58,527, per pupil cost -- $78.22; Crawfordsville, Ray Nassar -- $57,000, per pupil cost, $243.25
The highest paid superintendent was Jimmy Rollins of Springdale, who received $167,252, but with a per-student expense of only $13.04 The lowest paid superintendent was Jewel Caraway of Mount Pleasant, who was paid $11,160, with a per-student cost of $36.06.
As a point of interest, the superintendent of the Lake View district, Leon Phillips, made $63,000, for a per-pupil cost of $393.19. Lake View is the school which filed the suit which eventually led the state Supreme Court to rule that the state's public education system was unconstitutional.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
Formal charges were filed Wednesday against a Forrest City Police lieutenant who had been drinking when he caused an accident on Highway 1 North last month.
Arkansas State Police Troop D Corporal Franklin McMillion filed the charges in St. Francis County District Court against Frank E. Frymire, 55, of Colt. Frymire is charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
The accident occurred on Dec. 29 near the new Highway 1 bypass intersection near Caldwell. McMillion's accident report shows Frymire was traveling north on Highway 1 in his 2003 Toyota pickup when he crossed the center lane and struck a southbound 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass driven by Devin B. Adell, 26, of Forrest City. Both men were treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
A blood alcohol test on Frymire revealed his alcohol content at the time of the accident was .22, almost three times the legal limit of .08.
Although Frymire, a 22-year FCPD veteran, missed a few days of work at the department after the accident, he has resumed his normal duties, and will continue those, pending the outcome of his case, according to FCPD Chief Clarence McNeary.
McNeary said earlier this week that Frymire violated a state law, but "as far as the department is concerned, he hasn't violated any of our rules and regulations."
However, according to the FCPD's policy and procedures manual, "Any member who is convicted of, pleads guilty to or pleads no contest to any federal, state or local violation involving a felony or other crime related to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor or controlled substances (including driving under the influence of an intoxicant or drug) is subject to termination from employment."
The policy also reveals that police officers are subject to be called to duty while not officially working and because of this, the policy states, "While off duty, a member will not consume alcoholic beverages to the extent which renders him unfit to report for his or her regular tour of duty."
Susan Sims, manager for Driver Control in Little Rock, said the normal process when a person is under suspicion of DWI is for the investigating officer to take the person's driver's license and give them a substitute license, which is good for 30 days. The driver's original license is then mailed to the Little Rock office where the information is entered into a statewide computer system.
If the driver is then found guilty or pleads guilty in court, his or her driver's license is then suspended for a period of 120 to 180 days, depending on the BAC results.
Sims said a first offender who registers under .15 would have their driver's licenses suspended for 120 days, but would be eligible for a work permit which would allow him or her to drive to and from work only.
A first offender who registers over .15 will have his or her driver's license suspended for 180 days, and is not eligible for a work permit, according to Sims. However, this person may petition the court for an interlock device which Sims explained is basically a breathalyzer installed in the vehicle that requires the driver to blow into it before driving.
Frymire was scheduled to appear in District Court this afternoon.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The process of renovating the St. Francis County Museum is one step closer, but officials are still waiting for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to approve the low bid contractor.
Museum director Laura Mazzanti updated members of the SFC Museum Board on the $157,136 National Scenic Byway federal grant, which was approved in 1999 when the museum was selected as one of four designated visitors' centers to be located on the Crowley's Ridge National Scenic Byway. According to Mazzanti all of the necessary paperwork has been completed, and work can begin once approval is granted from the AHTD.
"We opened our bids in November, and the lowest bid was from a firm in Monticello. Bob Beavers put all of their information together and sent it to the Highway Department, and now, we're just waiting to hear back from them," Mazzanti said.
Mazzanti also told board members that she and Beavers had agreed to remove a request for a sprinkler system from the work being done on the building. According to Mazzanti, the decision was made in order to save money and bypass regulations from the Historical Preservation Society.
"We made a decision to remove the sprinkler system from our list because to install it would have been an additional $30,000. The decision was also made because in order to be within Historical Preservation Society guidelines, the system would have to be recessed, and the cost to do that would be enormous. That's not to say that we don't need a system or don't have plans for one," Mazzanti said.
"Once we've completed our grant work, plans are to look at the sprinkler system again using other funds so that we can protect the building and the artifacts. We want to install a system that is exposed, just as our existing electrical wiring is, which will still do the job in case of a fire," she said.
In other business, Mazzanti updated board members on the museum's participation in the recent Rumble on the Ridge and with the Angel Tree and Toys for Tots programs. According to Mazzanti, the museum did not receive as many visitors as last year during the extended hours for Rumble on the Ridge, but plans were in motion for increased participation from visiting schools for next year.
"We only had a few people come by, and that's in part because last year one of the schools brought their students to the museum during their down time. Next year, I plan to get in contact with each of the schools to see if we can't plan tours for the students because they need something to do when they're in town other than sit in the hotel rooms," she said.
According to Mazzanti both Christmas celebrations at the Rush-Gates House were very successful. "Once again the Angel Tree really turned out great, and so did our teddy bear drive. This house was filled with teddy bears of every size, and they were so cute. The Angel Tree served over 100 children in the area, and I believe that Toys for Tots was able to give each child they served a teddy bear," said Mazzanti.
Museum visitors may see a change in the annual Black History Month display at the facility next month. According to Brenda Fort with the Museum, many of the artists who have displayed work in the past don't want to submit the same works for viewing.
"I can understand that they don't want the same old exhibit, and since they don't have any new work, they don't want to submit any," Fort said.
According to Mazzanti, one plan for the exhibit may center on an emphasis on the county's black schools. "We've been looking at trying to do something on the schools and getting in contact with people who might want to donate items. That's really the direction that we're looking at. Change is a good thing, and it's something that we always have to look at. The display over the past couple of years has been really good, but we've got to continue looking for ways to make our displays better," Mazzanti said.
Attempts to move the annual Native American Pow Wow ran into some resistance, according to Mazzanti, so the event will held at the Wiley T. Jones Fairgrounds in March.
Mazzanti said she and St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco had interest in making the Pow Wow more visible by moving it to a more accessible site. Mazzanti said that efforts to find someone willing to host the Pow Wow had not come to fruition, but would continue for a possible site change for 2005.
The Pow Wow will be held Friday, March 26, through Sunday, March 28.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A risk management prevention program was discussed at the Tuesday meeting of the Forrest City Water Utility Commission.
Jim Beazley, FCWU manager, told commissioners that he had received a letter from AssureCo of Little Rock about preparing a risk management prevention program for the chlorination facility.
"Chlorine is the only hazardous material we handle," said Beazley. "This company will develop a prevention program for us based on our facility that will be in line with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). We have our rules, and we follow them, but we don't have requirements up to the EPA's level."
Commissioner Willard Ryland asked if there was an immediate risk that would warrant the program. "What you are saying is that if a check was done on our chlorination facility, we would fail?"
"Yes," answered Beazley, "especially if we had an accident. It is not about how we put the chlorine in the water, this is about the handling of the chemical and what we would do if a line broke that has chlorine in it."
The members agreed with Beazley, and unanimously voted to pursue the program. The estimated cost of both a written risk management prevention program and a site visit by the company is $3,750.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas will host a regional meeting in Forrest City on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Forrest City Civic Center.
The meeting begins at 10 a.m.
Special guests will be U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln and U.S. Cong. Marion Berry.
Democrats from nine counties, including Crittenden, Cross, Woodruff, Prairie, Monroe, Arkansas, Phillips, St. Francis and Lee, have been invited.
The purpose of the meeting is to update Democrats about their role in the upcoming elections, and to provide valuable tools and resources for the 2004 elections.
This will be one of eight meetings being held by the Democratic Party of Arkansas throughout the state this year.