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Jim Ward, director of McKenzie Special School District said the system fail short of meeting the state-approved standards by an average of one student. A target of 77.1 percent in reading and language was established. McKenzie scored a 76.4 percentage in that related area by students in the lower socio-economic class.  Ward said the school has already addressed the problem by adding reading as a separate course in middle school as well as a project known as writing across the curriculum.

At McKenzie, scores in grade 3 exceeded state-required levels for proficiency. Math, reading/language and attendance comprise the components for the requirements. In grades 5 and 8, scores from all reported groups except reading/language arts for economically disadvantaged students exceeded state-required levels for proficiency. At the high school, Gateway End of Course exams from the 2002-2003 testing and graduation rate were used to establish the baseline. Scores from all reported groups exceeded state-required levels for proficiency.

The nationwide program's goal is to ensure that all students in all schools are academically proficient in math, reading and language arts by 2014. Until that time, schools will be measured on their ability to move toward that goal. The first year of testing monitored math, reading, language arts, and writings in grades 3, 5, and 8. Algebra I and English I were tested in high school. In Algebra I, a total of 69 students had a proficiency of 85 percent and 51 students had a proficiency of 94 percent in English I.

Of the 1,650 schools in the state, 773 were listed as either "target" schools or "high priority" schools.  By comparison, Alabama schools had 33 percent and Florida had 13 percent of the related schools to meet their state required levels. Target schools are those identified for the first time this year for not meeting one or more of the criteria under No Child Left Behind. Schools that remain on the identified list for a second year become a "high priority school."

Next year, testing in K-8 will include reading/language arts, math, science, social studies, and a minimum of 93 percent attendance. System-wide, McKenzie had an attendance rate of 96 percent last year.

Huntingdon Special School District exceeded all mandates at the high school and primary while falling short in testing for the economically disadvantaged students at the middle school.

South Carroll (Clarksburg) passed all areas, but did not have to report the economically disadvantaged because the total number of students in that class was fewer than 45.

West Carroll did not meet proficiency in math for the economically disadvantaged students and for the white students in both math and reading, language arts, and writing sections at the primary school; reading, language arts and writing at the middle school; and the economically disadvantaged in the high school in both math and the reading, language arts, and writing portions.

Hollow Rock-Bruceton Middle School failed to meet proficiency in the reading, language arts, and writing portion at the elementary level for economically disadvantaged students.

Gleason School met all standards as well as Henry Elementary School.

James Neeley, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development speaks at the Jobs Cabinet meeting in Dresden. Neeley resides in Huntingdon.

The Governor's Jobs Cabinet was in Dresden on Monday to listen to concerns about declining unemployment in the area.  

Local leaders told of a regional industrial plan to collectively work to obtain industry in Weakley, Carroll, and Henry counties. The area is still reeling from the loss of some 1,200 jobs at Goodyear in neighboring Obion County, QueborcorWorld Printing massive downsizing in Dresden, which reduced its workforce from 1000 to 40 and relocated to Buffalo New York, and Murray Outdoor Products' closing in neighboring McKenzie.

Wayne McCreight of Hamilton-Ryker Company said that the job losses have created a compound effect on local government because the families of displaced workers are relocating to Jackson and other cities to find work.

Bredesen praised local leaders for working together within the county and with neighboring counties. He said each county should identify the jobs they would want to come to area and target those companies. When he was mayor of Nashville, Bredesen said the city hired a consulting company to help identify those companies.

Worker's Compensation has been a major issue for many employers, as evidenced by a recent meeting of  regional employers when they convened in McKenzie. The WC insurance rates in neighboring states is much less expensive than in Tennessee, causing jobs to relocate to those states. 

I want to move carefully and solve the issue correctly, said Bredesen of the workers' compensation issue. He said that Wayne McCreight had provided a tutorial on the issue. The Governor said he has assembled a group of people to identify the problems and seek solutions on the issue. James G. Neeley, Commissioners of Labor and Workforce Development, said the current workers' compensation plan is flawed. It is a court-based system instead of a commission-based system. Neeley said he will address the issues with the Roundtable in Jackson later this year.

Dr. Nick Dunagan, Chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin suggested the Department of Economic and Community Development develop a RED - Rural Economic Development - Team to help identify problems in the rural areas.

Matt Kisber, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development said he has directed his department to be more proactive, visit prospects in other states, and visit existing industry in Tennessee to determine their needs.

Junior Moore, chairman of the Weakley County Joint Economic Development Board questioned if Weakley County would be the home to the proposed new state prison. Bredesen said the final decision will be made in a few weeks. Weakley has the lowest expense to develop the project, however, West Tennessee has the most prison beds, said the Governor.

County Commissioner James Westbrooks questioned if Martin would be able to get a "spur" from the proposed I-69 that will pass through Union City. Gerald Nicely, commissioner of Transportation said the State has two options, one includes the spur.

Governor Bredesen said he heard that the State needs to be (1) proactive in recruiting new industry; (2) address the worker's compensation law; (3) and provide incentive packages for existing industries for retention.

State Senator Roy Herron told the Governor and cabinet that the three grand divisions of Tennessee are no longer east, middle, and west, but rather urban, surburban, and rural. Many jobs that have left the rural areas are simply not coming back, said Herron, who noted that the area's greatest export are the bright young people. Herron looked back on a similar situation when Weakley County native Ned Ray McWherter was elected. The State had high unemployment but by the time his eight-year tenure was complete, only one county remained with double digit unemployment.

State Representative Mark Maddox commended the Governor and his cabinet for coming to Weakley County.

As expected, voter turnout was very low in both uncontested races. Linda Radford, Carroll County Election Commission Registrar, said 5.63 percent of the towns 629 registered voters turned out to vote.

Mr. Halford is a salesman for G & C Supply, a water and sewer supply company, also serves as chairman of the West Carroll School.

Mr. Long is a farmer and replaces longtime alderperson Evelyn Allison, who did not seek reelection after 17 years on the board.

Jimmy Halford is the son of Mayor James Halford. The terms of Mayor Halford and two other aldermen, Jimmy Lewis and L.N. McNabb, will expire in 2005.

Board policies involving Parental Engagement and School Admissions were approved on second and final reading. The board also approved on first reading to amend the current sick leave policy involving support personnel.  Chairman Halford indicated his belief that when the TSBA updated the policy manual, they had not included a provision approved by the local board years before which allowed support personnel the same accumulative sick leave granted to tenured personnel. All board members believed the same and approved the policy to be amended to include all personnel employed by the board.

Director of Schools Eric Williams presented plaques to Nancy Blaylock who retired from teaching at the Primary School and Margaret McDaniel who retired as the food service coordinator. Mrs. McDaniel indicated she had served the system for 37 years while Mrs. Blaylock did not indicate how many years she had been employed as a teacher. Both thanked board members for the opportunities granted them as employees of the West Carroll system.

Board members will be placing some items up for bid as surplus property, such as the window air conditioning units recently removed at the elementary school. The school has had central units placed in all classrooms through grant monies. Also approved was tile flooring for the library at the Primary School from Color Shop in Martin. Color Shop placed the lowest bid at $2,932.90. Bathroom partitions will also be purchased at a cost of $6,572 from Com Tech. The partitions will be similar to those placed in the field house restrooms at the football field.

Board members were informed that West Carroll has been listed as a target school in the No Child Left Behind program. Mr. Williams stated that in all areas where the schools were deficient, it was by a minute amount and in one case due to having one child over the 45 children limit. Mr. Williams stated that he and Mrs. Betty Wallace, Supervisor of West Carroll Schools, were already working on a method for insuring they are not a target school for a second year.

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