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County school district
officials approve tax loan
Published Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
By Brant Sappington
Staff Writer
Alcorn School District board members approved a renewal of the district’s tax anticipation loan and the purchase of a new van for the district and discussed concerns over the district’s dress code during their regular meeting on Tuesday.
Board members voted to accept the only submitted bid of 2.5 percent from Trustmark Bank to borrow $2.5 million for a period of 14 months. The district’s previous loan of $3.5 million was paid off at the beginning of October. Board members praised district officials for their efforts to reduce expenses, allowing $1 million of the original loan to be paid off.
The loan was taken out to supplement district finances in the wake of a shortfall in the district’s primary operating fund discovered in early 2008.
The board voted 4-1 to approve the purchase of a 2010 Dodge Caravan at the state contract price of $18,200 for the use of district officials and faculty in traveling to training sessions and other meetings.
Board members previously approved the purchase of a 2009 van at the state contract price, but voted to revise the purchase based on a lower price available under the 2010 price.
The second round of discussion of the purchase brought second thoughts from some board members who said they were concerned about spending the money in light of cuts to state funding. Third District Board Member Carroll Morton said he was uncomfortable with the move and had also heard from several residents who didn’t think it was a good idea. Assistant Superintendent Wayne Henry told the board the purchase would cost the district less over the next two years than they are paying in mileage reimbursement for teachers and officials to travel in their private vehicles, resulting in a net savings of money for the district.
Superintendent Stacy Suggs said there is only one van currently available for this type of travel and when two groups need to go separate places, one must use their private vehicles. He said this type of travel is essential to providing professional development opportunities to staff members in order to ensure students get the highest possible quality of education.
Morton said he felt the van purchase would lock the district into a payment but without the purchase travel costs could be trimmed if necessary.
Morton made a motion to cease moving forward with the van purchase. The motion was seconded by District 5 Board Member Randy Wilbanks who had also expressed reservations about the purchase. Wilbanks and Morton voted in favor of the motion and District 1 Board Member Dr. Linda Brooks, District 2 Board Member Gary Wren and District 4 Board Member Mary Kathryn Coleman voted against.
Morton then said he felt if the other board members were behind it he would support them and made a motion to approve the purchase which passed 4 to 1 with Wilbanks casting the lone dissenting vote. Brooks said she felt teacher training was far too important to cut back on no matter the budget situation and supported the van purchase as an economical way to provide it.
Wilbanks emphasized he has no desire or intention to cut teacher training but is simply concerned about expenditures in light of current budget cuts and possible cuts in the future.
The board also briefly heard additional discussion regarding the district’s dress code policy requiring all student’s shirts to be tucked in. The policy was passed as a safety measure to prevent weapons being brought in under large shirts or tops.
Parent Vickie Pruitt, who had previously addressed the board regarding the issue and was asked to return with additional information, said she has spoken with other districts in the area and none have a similar policy. She said she still feels the policy is a burden on large students and on parents who may have to purchase new clothes for their students to comply.
She said she feels there are better options for the prevention of weapons being brought to schools and wants the board to consider revamping the policy.
“We understand this is a safety issue, but there are other ways students can take guns to school,” she said.
Board members said they would consider her concerns and continue to look into ways the policy could meet the safety requirements while better accommodating all students.
The board also voted Tuesday to approve allowing the enrollment of three additional students at Glendale Elementary School. The additional enrollments in kindergarten would cause the school to exceed the 28 child limit the board had placed on the school earlier this year.
Suggs said the school could use a teacher paid through federal funds to accommodate the larger enrollment without forcing the district to add a district-funded teacher slot at the school.
In other business, the board:
• noted the impending start of the 21st Century After School Tutors program which is being funded through a nearly $2 million grant. Brooks and Curriculum Coordinator Jean McFarland wrote the grant which provides funding for a comprehensive after-school tutoring program in the district.
• noted the recent election of Biggersville High School agriculture teacher Ray Nash to the post of president-elect in the National Council for Agricultural Education.
• accepted the retirement of McFarland effective Oct. 31.
