NCLB waiver

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011

The

Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

ROSE BUD LOOKS TO REBOUND FRIDAY STORE TO HOST LOCAL'S BOOK SIGNING The Ramblers hope to get their first conference win on the road at Arkansas Baptist. — PAGE 1B

Hastings will host a book signing for a local children's book author this weekend. — PAGE 3A

State seeking NCLB waiver Local superintendents discuss federal act

BY MOLLY M. FLEMING

No Child Left Behind

mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Arkansas could join a growing list of states seeking a waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act. The 2001 bill was implemented by former President George W. Bush and required all students to meet the same standards of testing.

Since its implementation 10 years ago, the bill has received

Several states seeking waiver Arkansas could seek waiver.

■ If waiver awarded, will be implemented by 2012-13 school year ■ ■

mixed reviews from educators.

This has led the U.S. Department

of Education to create opportunity for waivers for the 2012-13 school year.

“I think the No Child Left Behind Act has made [educators] put more emphasis on trying to close some of the achievement gaps,” said Diane Barrett, Searcy School District superintendent.

“But I do think that expecting every child to be 100 percent proficient sets the school district up for failure. I do think it’s a worthy

goal, but I don’t know how realistic that goal can be when you are holding every child to the same standards.”

The Arkansas Department of Education is seeking a waiver, which would allow the districts to not have to meet the annual yearly progress of improvement, though the students will still have standardized testing.

Please see NCLB | 2A

Greyhound service What: No longer offering bus service between Little Rock and Memphis, via Searcy, Bald Knob, Newport, Jonesboro, Marked Tree and West Memphis.

Effective: Today

Bus no longer serving Budget cuts cause service reductions The Daily Citizen

Christmas lights put up in Berryhill Park

Molly M. Fleming/mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Karen Archer of McRae (left) and Akasha Johnson of Searcy fight the blustery winds of Wednesday morning to put up Christmas lights at Berryhill Park in Searcy. Searcy Parks and Recreation Director Brian Smith said the city will also put up lights at Spring Park for the holiday season.

Kensett pays back overtime Trunk or treat on Halloween night

BY ERICA SIRRATT Special to The Daily Citizen

KENSETT — After a complaint to the Labor Board, Kensett paid $21,699.74 in back overtime pay for the past two years to the police officers in Kensett.

Police Chief James Dwyer received $9,245.79 in gross pay, Sgt. Debby Bailey $4,644.60, Erek Balentine $3,633.88, Terry Evans $1,262.18, Fred Furgus $232.06, Timothy Gabbard $77.96, Wayne McBride $953.16, and John Pollard $1,645.11.

All of the officers signed a waiver stating that since they received this pay, they cannot sue the city of Kensett for any overtime not paid prior to 24 months ago.

According to Mayor Max McDonald, the law states that if a city has less than five police officers, they’re not required to pay overtime. Kensett has four

Kensett City Council Next meeting: 7 p.m.

Nov. 15 Where: 101 NE First St. full-time officers and four part-time officers. McDonald said they were under the impression that the law meant five full-time officers and that it didn’t include part-time officers.

McDonald also said that Terry Evans, although he’s still employed with the police department, has been overseas with the military for the past several months.

In other business, the council passed an ordinance annexing into Kensett a mobile home dealership owned by Elaine Gode, Taylor Farm, and property owned by Ron Campbell for a total of 265.8 acres. The vote was

WEATHER Today: Partly sunny.

Highs in the upper 50s.

NW winds 15 to 20 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy.

Lows in the mid 30s. NW winds 10 to 15 mph.

Vol. 157, No. 252 ©2011 The Daily Citizen

passed 5-0 with Paul Williams abstaining.

T h e council also approved a bid by Spurlock McDonald Inc. to do some work on the sewer line from Highway 36 to West Searcy Street. The bid was for $73,709 with an add on alternative for $16,795 that would prevent sewer problems in the future.

Williams said he was concerned that there were other areas within Kensett that needed sewer work done before taking on another project. Williams said that there were several sink holes around the sewer on Searcy Street bePlease see KENSETT | 2A

Greyhound will no longer provide bus service to the Searcy area, according to a letter sent from the company to Searcy Mayor David Morris this week.

The change will be effective today.

Randy Isaacs, state government affairs representative, said the decision was made because of budget cuts in reaction to loss of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding. Isaacs said the company could reinstate service if federal funding returns.

The full text of the letter is as follows: “Pursuant to the loss of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding for intercity bus service between Little Rock and Memphis, via Searcy, Bald Knob, Newport, Jonesboro, Marked Tree and West Memphis, I must notify you that efPlease see BUS | 2A

McRae to build a storage building Body armor for police department ordered

BY M. A. WEBB Special to The Daily Citizen

McRAE — The city of McRae took a small step toward controlling the stray dog issue by the decision to build a storage building.

Mayor Robert “Bob” Sullivan told the city council at the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, that in order to expand the dog pound area, a storage building housing various city tools would need to be removed. Sullivan stated that the building was poor condition and the wood was rotting.

“It’s fixing to fall down,” Sullivan stated.

Sullivan presented the council with several prices for storage buildings then recommended that the council chose a bid from Lions Brothers from Judsonia. According to Sullivan, Lions Brothers would construct a 16x30 storage area for $3,700. Sullivan stated that the new

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

McRae City Council Next meeting: 7 p.m. Nov. 15 Location: McRae City Hall structure would be used to house water department supplies, a mosquito fogger, weed-eaters, lawn mower parts, and various tools and equipment for the city. Sullivan told the council that the project was paramount for the continuance toward a solution for the stray dog issue that city is experiencing.

“We really need to do something pretty quick, “Sullivan said, “if we want to get moving on the dog pound.”

The council unanimously voted to use money from the water revenue fund to

“

build a 16x30feet storage facility behind the lab if the structure did not interfere with the sewSullivan age system air lines. If the air lines hindered construction, the council approved that Sullivan could build a 12x30 building instead.

Sullivan reported that Ridout Lumber and Razorback Concrete were willing to make material donation toward the dog pound project.

In other business, Chief of Police Chris Ward presented the police department report to the council and stated that the department had received the $3,500 grant check.

Please see MCRAE | 2A

The photograph itself doesn't interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality.

HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON French photographer, 1908-2004

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”

Page 2A • Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Daily Citizen

FROM PAGE ONE Briefs

MCRAE: Council mandates new policy on opening mail delivered to city hall Judge rejects AG’s request to stop FOI ruling

Associated Press

FBI searches for 26 suspects in sting TEXARKANA — At least 26 people remain at large in connection with a drug trafficking investigation in western Arkansas.

Seventy-six people are accused of selling crack cocaine and methamphetamines near schools, housing projects and a playground in Texarkana.

The FBI says authorities have arrested 42 people on federal charges and three people on state charges in “Operation State Line Sweep.”

U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge announced results of the yearlong investigation Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the agency posted photos of 26 suspects still at large on the website of its Little Rock office Wednesday. A spokesman says investigators don’t have photos of some others still at large.

Plane makes emergency landing; no injuries HARRISON — Authorities say no one was hurt but an aircraft was damaged when it made an emergency landing south of the Boone County Airport runway in Harrison.

Officials say the plane went down Tuesday night near Arkansas Highway 392. Airport manager Judy McCutcheon told the Harrison Daily Times the plane touched down in a field and went through a fence before stopping.

McCutcheon says the pilot, Richard Dutton of Monett, Mo., told her he and his wife were flying from Star City, Ark., to Monett when the plane started having problems. She says he was planning to land in Harrison when the aircraft shut down.

Federal Aviation Administration records show the Piper PA-28 is registered to Aurora Aviation LLC in Aurora, Mo. The FAA is investigating the crash.

Associated Press

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Conner Eldridge speaks at a press conference about a 190-count drug trafficking conspiracy indictment Tuesday in front of the U.S. Courthouse in Texarkana.

Micro-loan program for businesses announced HELENA-WEST HELENA — The Delta Regional Authority and the U.S. Small Business Administration say a new partnership with the largest microlender in the country will expand access to credit for Arkansas small businesses and entrepreneurs Authority Co-Chairman Chris Massingill and SBA District Director Linda Nelson on Wednesday announced a partnership with micro-lender Accion Texas to create Accion Arkansas and expand the existing Accion Delta.

The partnership will provide a projected $1.2 million in loans a year to small businesses in Arkansas and the Delta region. It will provide up to $50,000 for start-up businesses and up to $250,000 for established enterprises.

Officials say the new partnership will target small business owners in the Delta who are shut out from the commercial lending market and forced to turn to predatory lenders.

LITTLE ROCK — A western Arkansas judge has refused a request from Attorney General Dustin McDaniel to review a ruling against part of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, a move likely to send the case to the state Supreme Court.

Sebastian County Circuit Judge James Cox said in a brief letter Tuesday that he didn’t see the need to temporarily halt the effect of his Oct. 4 ruling declaring that the criminal penalty of the state sunshine law was unconstitutional.

The judge also denied the attorney general’s request to intervene in the case so his office could formally defend the law in court.

“I conducted a trial in this case in which the issues were thoroughly presented after notice had been given to all interested parties,” Cox said in his letter. “I have been unable to discern any new information ... which compels me to amend the final order which was entered in this case.”

Fort Smith company may shut down plant, lay off 93 LITTLE ROCK — A plastics company that supplies Whirlpool says it might have to close its Fort Smith plant and lay off 93 workers.

Fort Smith city administrator Ray Gosack tells the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that Fortis Plastics has told the city it is having trouble finding the money to stay open.

Fortis says in a letter that it could close its plant early next month without any change.

Whirlpool has laid off more than 20 employees at its refrigeration plant in western Arkansas and has said it might need to cut hundreds more jobs.

Messages left for the plastics company were not returned.

CONTINUED FROM 1A

According to Ward, the in-car cameras and surveillance equipment had been purchased. Ward reported that officers had been fitted for body armor and the armor should arrive in approximately a month.

Ward presented an amendment to the police department’s discipline policy to the council for approval. According to Ward, the policy was being amended to include a disciplinary board. Ward stated that the inclusion of a disciplinary board would eliminate appearance of improprieties. According to Ward, the disciplinary board would consist of one member of office personnel, the mayor, one city council member and an officer from the police department. The council unanimously approved the amendment to the police department’s discipline policy.

Frankie Miller presented the council with an audit of the water and sewage departments for 2009-10 and requested that the council approve the audit. According to Miller, no discrepancies were detected in the audit and the council’s approval was necessary in order to proceed with the paperwork for a USDA loan. The council unanimously approved the audit.

The recorder/treasurer position has been extended to the end of

the year for Verne Egan. Sullivan stated that the council must appoint a recorder/treasurer in order to proceed with the meeting and recommended that the position be extended to Egan until the end of the year. The council unanimously agreed.

Sullivan reported that a bank account had been set up for the grant money for the sewer project. Sullivan said he was optimistic about the project.

“You don’t set up a bank account unless you are pretty sure you are going to get the money,” he said.

Alderman Wayne Harrison recommended that council enact a policy on the opening of mail.

Harrison recommend that the city adopt a policy that allows individuals employed by the city to open their own mail delivered to city hall rather than have one person that opens all of city hall’s mail. According to Harrison, mail could contain confidential or sensitive information. The council unanimously approved the recommendation.

Harrison also recommended that an additional form be given to the council that specifies the hours worked and the rate of pay of city employees. That recommendation unanimously passed.

The next meeting of the McRae City Council will be 7 p.m. Nov. 15.

The council meets the third Tuesday of each month at the McRae City Hall

KENSETT: Motion carries for highway CONTINUED FROM 1A

tween Third and Fourth streets.

Williams said he was concerned that if the city pays for the project on the highway, that there wouldn’t be enough to cover the sewer repairs between Third and Fourth streets.

“If you want the city to grow and prosper, I say we do the project,” McDonald said. “I think we can handle it.”

The motion for the bid passed 5-1 with Williams casting the nay vote.

The Kensett Heritage Fest

Committee told the council that there would be a city-wide trunk or treat on Halloween night on Searcy Street in town. Committee officials said everyone is invited to come and that if anyone wants to set up and pass out candy the volunteers need to be there between 5-6 p.m. since Halloween is on a school night and children will not likely be out late.

The next regular monthly council meeting will be 7 p.m.

Nov. 15. The council meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at 101 NE First St.

NCLB: Area superintendents weigh in on Common Core State Standards curriculum CONTINUED FROM 1A

The No Child Left Behind Act requires each student to meet the reading and math adequacy standard by 2014, and in order to meet that requirement, the yearly testing requirements have increased each year.

“The U.S. Education Department realizes that NLCBA is outdated and that we need to move past this ‘one size fits all’ approach to education,” said Seth Blomeley, communications director for the Arkansas Department of Education.

“If states can come up with innovative programs to demonstrate that we have specific and realistic and thoughtful ways to raise the achievement of not only the students as a whole, but also specific groups of students in low-performing school districts and present it to the U.S. Department, then

we’ll feel confident we’ll be able to get a waiver.”

While the waiver would allow for every student to not have to be held to the same level, some superintendents are concerned that this lack of requirement could be detrimental to the state education system.

“I do not think that we should do anything that lowers expectations,” said Kieth Williams, Bald Knob superintendent.

“There may be a modified or different version [of the act] that connects with our Common Core State Standards, but doing away with the requirements to improve performance is not good.”

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more realistic.

“I don’t have any problem with the school districts being held accountable,” Morris said. “But I think it needs to be something more reachable. It’s not that we shouldn’t educate every child to the best of our ability; I think it should be something reasonable.”

The Common Core State Standards that Williams mentioned is a new curriculum program that the state has adopted, and it will join 43 other states in the nation on the venture.

The Common Core State Standards will require every state to teach the same curriculum at the same time, therefore setting the same standards across the country in education. This will also make it easier for

students who move outside the state, as they will be learning the same curriculum as other students their age, no matter where they live.

The program is already being implemented in kindergarten through second grades this school year.

In the next school year, the program will start in the third through eighth grades, and by 2013/2014, the program will be in every grade level in each school district.

The implementation of this program is another reason why Arkansas is seeking a waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act. “The participation in the Common Core State Standards will really show the federal education department that we are inter-

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ested in providing career and college opportunities to our students,” Blomeley said.

Blomeley said the state department of education will hold meetings with local educators around the state before they apply for the waiver. After the meetings, the department will formulate a plan and then send the plan to the federal education department by February. If the state receives the waiver, it will be in place by the 2012/2013 school year.

“From what we’ve heard, everyone is really excited about [the waiver],” Blomeley said. “I think it will be a good opportunity. Educators across the state have struggled with No Child Left Behind, so I think this waiver will be a welcome opportunity.”

BUS: Lines will no longer run through Searcy CONTINUED FROM 1A

fective tomorrow, October 19, 2011, Greyhound Lines, Inc. will discontinue service to and from your community. The loss of FTA funding makes it impossible for Greyhound to continue operating the service.

“The company is willing to reinstate this service in the future, as Congress appropriates the remainder of FFY2012 funding, and we would be pleased to coordinate with you and any other officials to seek future assistance.

“Please do not hesitate to let us know if we can be of assistance in this regard or if we can answer any questions.”

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