By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Members of the Palestine-Wheatley School Board violated the Freedom of Information laws Monday after holding an executive session to discuss possible changes in personnel policy regarding in district travel and meal reimbursements.
At approximately 6:05 p.m. board president Rodney Hicks called for the executive session. When questioned over the reason for the session, Hicks said that it was to discuss the meal reimbursement and travel policies for school district personnel. Board members were notified of the possible violation after meeting for close to 20 minutes. When questioned later, Hicks stated that the executive session was to discuss travel pay for district superintendent John Manning. Manning said the policy change would effect several personnel members.
The December 2001 edition of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Handbook reads, "an executive session may be held 'for the purpose of considering employment, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining, or resignation of any public officer or employee.' In contrast, an executive session to consider general salary matters, an across-the-board pay increase, or the overall performance of employees as a group is not permissible."
This morning Matt DeCampo with the Arkansas Attorney General's office confirmed that the executive session was in violation of FOI laws. When contacted, Manning said, "We appreciate you keeping us on track last night. In the future if there are any further instances we hope that you will do the same thing and keep us on track."
When the meeting reconvened, board members voted 6-0 with Dorothy Smith abstaining, to approve a proposal from Manning to eliminate travel pay for in-district travel. The board then unanimously voted to approve a policy capping the amount allowed for meal reimbursement which was also discussed in executive session.
In other business, board members voted to approve a bullying policy bringing the district into compliance with Act 681 of 2003. Manning also updated the board on an upcoming visit by the Department of Education's School Review Team which is planned for next month.
"They do this every so often and what they will do is come in and look at everything regarding the school district and report it back to the state," Manning said.
Board members also approved the resignations of two classified
employees, Lisa Wynne, who resigned last month and Richard Plunkett,
who will step down at the end of the school year.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The local 911 committee yesterday discussed some improvements in the local 911 system, which is supposed to allow people with cell phones to dial 911 and get the center closest to them.
The current assessment is that while the system is better, it still has a way to go.
Lt. Eddie Adamson of the Forrest City Police Department agreed that calling 911 on a cell phone has been a problem since cell phones first went into use. He said newer technology is helping but there are still some glitches.
"When the system is finally done, depending on which side of a cell phone antenna (tower) picks up the signal, they will be able to triangulate where the person is, and whatever geographical area that person is in that is covered by that 911, that's where the call will be routed," he said.
Also, new cell phones are being equipped with global positioning.
"With the new phones, with the DPS feature, when we call, we'll see exactly where they're at," he said. "So they can be driving on the interstate and not have a clue of what mile marker they're at or anything. They just call on the phone and say, 'We're here and there's a wreck.'"
Police Chief Clarence McNeary agreed.
"A lot of times it has been a problem," he said. "With these wireless phones when the first came out, people would call and nobody would know where they were."
At present, if someone in this area punches in 911 on a cell phone, where it goes depends more on the brand of the phone. Some calls go to the county, some go to the city. Some even go directly to the FCPD's 633-3434 number.
"It's going where the phone company is telling it to go," Adamson said. "The only problem is, it's not where we want it to be. We want it so that when they dial 911, it goes directly to whoever it is that provides service for that area. Right now, it's not. But the main thing is, there is somebody answering the phone on the other side. They're getting things lined out. It's not right, but it's close."
A Wynne girl who had been missing for a week was found dead in rural Cross County over the weekend, according to a story in the East Arkansas News Leader.
Cross County Sheriff Ronnie Baldwin reported that the body of Whitney Hinton, 15, was found in an abandoned house west of Wynne by the property owner.
The girl had reportedly left her house on Jan. 17, to go to the local skating rink, and was not seen again.
Hinton's body has been sent to the state medical examiner in Little Rock to determine the cause and time of death. Baldwin said the incident is being investigated as a homicide.
A 21-year old pregnant Forrest City woman was home after being attacked early this morning.
According to an arrest report at the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department, at 3 a.m. this morning, the woman reported to department officials that she had been attacked by her boyfriend, 24-year old Jerome White, 508 E. Scott St., Forrest City. White allegedly kicked the woman, who is four-months pregnant, in the stomach and struck her in the face. She was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital Forrest City by ambulance where she was treated and released.
White was arrested on charges of second degree domestic battery which is a Class B felony.