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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2002
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HOPE Center Hears Updates on Fiscal Matters |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
H.O.P.E. Center directors met Thursday, March 21 to
receive updates on matters concerning the Center's
progress in complying with state mandates. On February
7, the State of Tennessee issued a warning that if the
Center did not get its fiscal matters in order, the
State would contract with a different agency to provide
services for the mentally delayed adults in the area. On
February 26, the State issued a set of guidelines and
timelines for the Center to meet in order to maintain
the state contract.
Executive Director Barbara Gray said she wants the full
board to be informed about the actions of the executive
board and individual committees. She noted that many of
the center's vendors have been contacted and repayment
plans have been established. "Contrary to statements and
beliefs, our spending is in line with the basic
operations of the programs we provide," said Mrs. Gray
in a written statement to the board. "We are late and
behind in payments to our vendors due to cash flow in
and in some instances not enough money to meet the
requirements set by the Department of Mental Retardation
Services."
Mrs. Gray said she received in error a letter from the
Internal Revenue Service indicating the center had
defaulted on its agreement to pay $4,500 monthly on the
taxes. She said she had a second letter indicating the
first was in error. The Center owed more than $380,000
in overdue payroll taxes in 2001. The IRS filed a tax
lien against the real estate of the Center to secure
future payment of the taxes.
The center's accountants and audit firm in Memphis are
providing a monthly report to the DMRS. Mrs. Gray said
the accountant is able to pull information from the
Center's computers and present it to the State.
Board Chairman Marie Burzler said training for board
members will be conducted free of charge. Ruthie
Beckwith of Tennessee Microboard Association will
conduct the training. The training was one of the
requirements of the state's Department of Finance and
Administration.
In an effort to cut costs, the board is considering
revamping longevity and sick leave pay for employees.
Several written plans were presented to board members
for their review for a possible vote at a later date.
Board Member Joe David Brandon called the plans
"complicated" and Mrs. Gray said the Center had a "large
number" of leave days on the financial statements. That
days are listed as a liability on the financial
statements, said Gray.
Newly hired bookkeeper Linda Reynolds presented a
financial statement for the period ending February 2002.
Many of the budgetary items have been reclassified to
improve fiscal management. The statement of activities
revealed total income of $234,090.69 with expenses of
$226,988.73 for the month.
The agenda items were fait accompli with little
discussion on any item. Only Joe David Brandon
questioned any of the actions. He distributed a sheet
with five items he questioned. He questioned why Ms.
Reynolds name was added to the bank signature card
without board approval. The board had established a
policy in which Mrs. Gray and an executive board member.
Four members of the executive board were listed on the
banking account signature card. In response, Ms. Burzler
said Ms. Reynolds could only retrieve information on
bank balances if she was on the signature card. That was
an "executive decision", said Burzler. Brandon
questioned why the board would establish a policy and it
be reversed. Burzler suggested Brandon direct his
questions to her prior to the board meetings.
Brandon also noted that one of the persons in Memphis
working on the Center's accounting had improperly
presented himself as a certified public accountant. He
submitted to a consent order requiring a $500 civil fine
and surrendered his license. Mrs. Gray said that the
gentlemen in question had been used as a tax consultant
only.
Brandon also questioned the loan for a 1997 Ford Taurus
that was signed by employee Jennifer Waldrup. Brandon
said the board took no action on the transaction.
While Brandon was questioning some of the recent
transactions, board member Daisy Butler said, "I'm not
going to listen to this mess" to show her displeasure
with Brandon's questions.
The Board also agreed to write a letter to the news
media to address the information recently published
about the center's financial problems. She indicated
that some of the information was incorrect. Chairman
Burzler indicated that the State of Tennessee even made
some incorrect statements about the financial condition
of the center in letters addressed to her and published
in the newspapers. She questioned the appropriateness of
publishing that particular letter in the newspaper. On a
motion by Board Member Wade Allen, the board voted to
respond to the news articles.
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McKenzie Schools Face Decreased Funding |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
Declining state funding associated with a declining
student population, uncertainty over the state budget, a
loss of funding from the county, and new state and
federal mandates are factors creating a squeeze on the
McKenzie Special School District's budget.
During a Monday public hearing concerning the upcoming
2002-2003 fiscal year budget, Director of Schools Jim
Ward outlined the situation faced by the MSSD and other
school systems throughout Tennessee.
MSSD will lose approximately $100,000 in Basic Education
Plan (BEP) funds because of the declining enrollment -
mostly in the upper grades. The system has experienced a
drop of 76 students in the past three years. The state's
ongoing uncertainty over budget funding and a proposed
Downsizing Ongoing Governmental Services (DOGS) at the
state level has all public school systems concerned. And
the County of Carroll will no longer provide any subsidy
to the special school districts, creating a $32,000
reduction in funding to MSSD. Despite the gloomy
outlook, Mr. Ward said the school system could provide
the present level of services without a tax increase.
However, he said that prediction is based on several "if's",
one of which is the state fulfilling its financial
responsibility to the school.
The DOGS budget could reduce school funding making it
necessary to increase the student/teacher ratio from a
maximum of 20 students per class to possible 25
students.
Board Member Clay Kirk said the state, county, and local
government should each take a share of the funding. "The
state and county are balking," said Kirk, "and honestly,
I'm balking too." The elimination of county funds "galls
me more than state money," said Kirk.
While the 6:30 meeting was a public hearing, only
teachers and staff members and two spouses attended the
hearing.
MHS Principal Terry Howell said the state has added the
new Gateway exams and required remedial training for
students who cannot successfully complete the test.
Funding has not been provided for the remedial training,
said Howell. Every student in the Class of 2005 must
successfully complete the test prior to receiving a
diploma. Howell opined that the state needs a stable
source of funding other than sales tax.
Diana Crawford, supervisor of instruction at MSSD, said
new federal mandates for the "no child left behind"
legislation will be imposed on every public school. The
extent of the requirements is not yet known, but Mrs.
Crawford said schools could be placed on probation if
standards are not met.
MMS Principal Lynn Watkins said his school was
considering adding reading across the curriculum, but
funding concerns could force the system to reduce staff.
The reduction of the number of students in high school
was partly blamed on the home-schooling program known as
Gateway, with a satellite location in Paris. Students
can receive the necessary school credits in a shorter
period of time. Mr. Howell estimated 20 to 25 students
left MHS in 2001 to participate in the Gateway
curriculum.
On a positive note, Mr. Ward said an industrial prospect
visited the Murray Outdoor Products building last week.
He said the local industrial recruitment team did a
wonderful job with the nine-member visiting team, who
were very secretive, according to Ward. The visitors
gave only their first names and did not reveal the
product their company manufactures. Ward said they were
interested in the public schools, the Tennessee
Technology Center at McKenzie, and Bethel College. They
were also interested in the proposed 977-acre lake near
Leach, and real estate prices. One local industrial
recruiter told the Banner that a member of the visiting
team had previously and secretly visited McKenzie
MSSD, like all public schools, must await the state's
funding decision before finalizing a budget.
In conclusion, Mr. Ward said, "MSSD has two concerns -
the students they serve and the staff they employ."
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Phil Fulmer to Speak at Hall of Fame Banquet |
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The Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame will be hosting
its First Annual Banquet on April 16 at the Carroll
County Civic Center in Huntingdon. The banquet will
begin at 6:30 p.m. The guest speaker for the banquet
will be University of Tennessee head football Coach Phil
Fulmer.
The Sports Hall of Fame was first discussed in November
of 2000 when several local leaders from throughout
Carroll County met to see if there was enough interest
to go forward. At that meeting, it was decided that
Carroll County needed a way to honor past athletes,
coaches and administrators for their long hours of
dedication to county-wide student athletes. In March of
2001, a charter was established along with a set of
by-laws to govern all the activities associated with the
Hall. It was also decided that a banquet should be held
to honor the inductees nominated by Carroll County
residents.
This year's banquet will honor five outstanding
contributors to Carroll County athletics. The first
class of inductees will include James McLemore of
Huntingdon, Homer Spain, formerly of Clarksburg; Julian
Nunamaker, posthumously from Bruceton, Kermit Holland
from McKenzie, Dale Kelley from Huntingdon and Richard
Welch from Cedar Grove. Each of these men have
demonstrated throughout their years their loyalty and
dedication not only to athletics but to Carroll County
as a whole.
Tickets for the banquet can be purchased at all the
local high schools throughout the county. They can also
be purchased at First Bank in Huntingdon, Carroll Bank
and Trust in Huntingdon, Carroll Bank and Trust in
McKenzie, and City Drug Store in Huntingdon. Tickets may
also be purchased form board members John Roberts,
Robert Barger, Marilynn Putman, W.D. "Cotton" King,
Paulette Crews, Kenny Peterson, Billy Murphy, David Hale
and Glendon Rich.
The cost of tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for
children under 12. Individual tables that seat eight are
also available for $160.
If you need any further information about the banquet
please call John Roberts at 986-0572 or 986-0210.
Another event scheduled by the Hall of Fame is the
Second Annual Golf Tournament scheduled for April 4 at
Carroll Lake Golf Club. The format will be a four-man
scramble. The tournament will cost $200 per team or $50
per individual. It will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m.
and the start of play will begin at 12:30. If you would
like to enter a team, you can call John Roberts at
986-0572 or Robert Barger at 987-2477. Also anyone who
would like to volunteer to help with these two events
can contact the board of directors.
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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