Teachers Voice Support For Fall Break, School Calendar Approved As Presented

At Tuesday's School Board meeting policy trumps calendar concerns

Jackson TN, (February 12, 2103) - Jackson Madison County School Board members heard from Tony Blankenship, President of the Jackson Madison County Education Association, at Tuesday night's meeting but before that they heard from teachers and others throughout the day. They majority, according to board members, were supporting the existing calendar which includes a week-long Fall Break.

The Fall Break school holiday falls in the month of October. It is one of the reasons the start of school is so early in August. The early start is what has some residents upset and some board members concerned.

During the Monday night public comment time of the work session, Julia Duin asked members of the Board to consider a later start date for the upcoming 2013-14 school year. Duin suggested a late August date was more reasonable than the current first week of August. Duin told the Board members the problems and expense the early start created for her family when they relocated to Jackson.

AUDIO: JMCS Board Chairman, David Clifft

Some Board members agreed or expressed an interest in listening to options. Board member George Neely gave several reasons why he felt a later start date was better for children including safety, citing the potential August heat related danger such as heat- exhaustion, burns from hot playground equipment, over-heated classrooms, and the difficulty students and teachers have concentrating when temperatures or high. Neely also said the long break creats a burden on some parents to find child care.

Board members Alvey and Murray also expressed concerns. Those members of the Board and community members who supported the late August start calendar all agreed that not enough input was received from parents.

Director of Schools, Buddy White, also acknowledged he felt parents should be heard from and agreed the early start did mean heat was an issue for students and faculty.

In the end it was policy that made the difference in the decision.

Specifically, the policy which states, in part, The director of schools shall plan each year’s program accounting for a 200-day year and shall recommend it to the Board for approval. http://boardpolicy.net/documents/detail.asp?iFile=5267&;;iType=1&iBoard=15

Board Chairman David Clifft told fellow Board members he had read the policy just prior to the start of the meeting after it was brought to his attention. He posted the policy on the projection screen for others to see.

With no other comment a motion was made and seconded to approve the recommended calendar as is. Before the vote Alvey, Murray, and Neely all said that it was only their intention to suggest that before another calendar was created in the future it would be useful if more public opinion was included in the planning.

The board approved the calendar unanimously.

Fincher Reaction to State of the Union Speech

President Obama delivers his fourth State of the Union

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Stephen Fincher (R-Frog Jump), issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address:

Fincher said, “The time is now to fix our economy and create job opportunities. I was disappointed that now that the campaign is over, President Obama has made it abundantly clear that he has all but given up on reducing spending. I had high hopes that he would follow through on his campaign promises to lower the national debt. Instead it seems he continues to press forth massive government spending. Currently, 42 cents of every tax dollar is used to service our national debt.” 

Fincher continued, “The President already has raised taxes, and now he again wants to raise taxes. We all know raising taxes is counter-productive in growing an economy. It time for the President to come through and outline a specific plan to cut spending and reform programs to get our economy moving in the right direction.”  

School Board May Vote On Superintendent Contract At Tuesday Board Meeting

School Board May Vote On Superintendent Contract At Tuesday Board Meeting

February 11, 2013, JACKSON, TN - The Board has spent months working through job description, performance goals, candidate interviews, and evaluations to come to a choice for the next Jackson Madison County Director of Schools.

It appears that decision may be one vote away.

At the Monday night work session board members heard several questions about amendments to the draft that were raised by candidate nominee Verna Ruffin.

Board Chairman David Clifft explains

AUDIO: Cut 1 David Clifft, JMCS Board Chairman

AUDIO: Cut 2 David Clifft, JMCS Board Chairman

AUDIO: Cut 3 David Clifft, JMCS Board Chairman

Clifft will talk with Ruffin on Tuesday and the Board could vote as soon as Tuesday night.

Director of Operations Stan Parker addressed the board on security measures taken to further assure student and faculty safety while at school.

Parker told the members that all schools now have a buzzer and intercom system and that it is the only entrance available during school hours.  Of course this does not apply when students are arriving or being dismissed but Parker said other safety options are being explored.

Mr Parker also stated that during school hours and when children are present any room with children is locked at all times.  Several board members raised concerns that this rule may not be enforced citing occasions when they have been in schools where rooms were unlocked.  Parker said this rule should always be followed and said he would look into the matter.

Parker also told the board that both the central office and county and city law enforcement have included School Resource Officers in their upcoming budgets for all middle and high schools.

In other agenda discussion

Members of the community and Board members raised questions about the fall break in the school calendar. Director Buddy White has promised to have an alternative calendar that offers the Board an option of eliminating fall break and starting school later in August.

The Board will meet again Tuesday night, 6:00 PM, at which time action can be taken on items discussed in the work session

West Tennessee Drug Task Force Makes Multiple Arrests

The West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force in Gibson County has been busy working methamphetamine manufacturing investigations in Gibson County.

On Monday January 28th 2013 four drug task force agents executed a search warrant at 293 State Rt. 187, Milan TN. This is the home of 39 year-old Michael Tracy Grimes. Grimes was not at home when the agents executed the search warrant but was arrested on January the 29th at his parents home in Humboldt. The house at State Rt. 187 was quarantined by the agents and Grimes faces charges of:

1. Manufacture of methamphetamine

2. Promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing

3. Possession of drug paraphernalia

4. Simple possession of methamphetamine

5. Possession with intent to sell a schedule I controlled substance

6. Possession with intent to sell a schedule IV controlled substance -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Tuesday February 5th 2013 four drug task force agents executed a search warrant at 23 Trenton highway, Milan Tennessee. This is the home of 45 year-old Daniel Corley and 42 year-old DonnaMarie Chartrand. Both were at home at the time of the search and were arrested without incident.

Daniel Corley faces charges of:

1. Initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine

2. Promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing

3. Manufacturing a schedule ii controlled substance – meth

4. Possession of drug paraphernalia

DonnaMarie Chartrand faces charges of:

1. Promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing

2. Possession of drug paraphernalia

On Saturday February 9th 2013 a drug task force agent along with officers from the Humboldt Police Department executed a search warrant at # 10 Waddell Trailer Park in Humboldt TN and quarantine the trailer. This is the residence of 31 year-old April Hardy and 38 year-old Russell Treadwell.

April Hardy was charged with:

1. Warrant for aggravated child abuse/neglect

2. Manufacture of methamphetamine

3. Promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing

4. Possession of drug paraphernalia

5. Simple possession of methamphetamine

6. Initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine

7. Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine

Russell Dean Treadwell was charged with:

1. Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine

2. Manufacture of methamphetamine

3. Simple possession of methamphetamine

4. Possession of drug paraphernalia

5. Initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine

6. Promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing

7. Simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance

The state of Tennessee methamphetamine and pharmaceutical task force response truck was called out on all three of these meth labs and remains a vital tool for law enforcement.

In the state of Tennessee there were 207 meth labs seized in the month of January 2013. This is a 35.29% increase from the 153 meth labs seized in January 2012. January 2013 total was also higher than any other month in all of 2012. The highest number of labs seized in 2012 was in March at 176 labs.