Decatur schools face state-mandated annexation
Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/gentry/News/2644/
DECATUR ó Students from the Decatur School District could be heading off to school in Gentry, Gravette or Bentonville next fall.
The Arkansas Department of Education informed the Decatur School District Monday that it is in fiscal distress and could be forced to annex into another school district at the end of July.
The situation was made public the day before the deadline for Public School Choice applications, 3 p. m., July 1, giving parents little time to react.
The State Board of Education will make its official decision July 14 on whether or not to place the school district in fiscal distress, and will meet again July 31 to make a final decision on the annexation.
Superintendent Dave Smith explained notices from the ADE to the school board and a large gathering of teachers, students and community members. Teachers expressed shock over the issue, because school districts are usually given two years to reverse fiscal distress conditions.
The ADE can move so quickly because of phrasing in the law which states: ì This state board is charged with the general supervision and organization of the public schools of the state, taking such action as may be deemed necessary to promote the physical welfare of school children, promoting the organization and increasing the efficiency of the public schools, and securing and protecting the interests of the educational resources of the state. î
The ADE formally requested the Arkansas State Board of Education to ì Order the annexation of the Decatur School District with another proper district to take effect in the 2008-2009 school year, effective immediately after an order of annexation has been executed. î
The State Board of Education is the governing body of the ADE, and is composed of nine members from across the state appointed by the Governor.
According to the request, the school districts under consideration to annex Decatur schools would be the Bentonville School District, the Gentry School District and the Gravette School District. The State Board of Education will meet July 31 to make a final decision.
A letter from Dr. T. Kenneth James addressed to Smith and school board president Michael Wilkins states: ì This letter is to provide notice that the Decatur School District has been identified by the Arkansas Department of Education (Department ) as a school in fiscal distress. î
It cites the districtís declining balance and other conditions deemed to have a detrimental impact on the continuation of services by the district as the reason for its decision.
A second letter from James gives notice of the state departmentís intention ìto annex the Decatur School District to another school district based on the Decatur School Districtís failure to meet fiscal distress requirements and the State Boardís authority to annex fiscal distress districts. î
Smith said that while the Legislative Auditing Committee has been auditing the schoolís financial records for over a month and is still at work, the ADE has concluded the school will be $ 634, 104. 57 in the hole by the end of the 2008-2009 school year.
Smith agreed with school board members that this figure is inaccurate because it is based on the last two school years. School board member Vicky Tilley-Moore pointed out that the new elementary school was built during this time and many improvements were made to the existing middle school and high school. Smith said that if the school could get the amount they are in the hole to under $ 300, 000 the state might give them a chance to keep the school open.
ì Itís very heartbreaking for everyone in this room, î Smith said.
ì We have a right to file a petition to see if they will reconsider. I personally want to fight for the school. î
He said the school could set up their own budget, and see if it was a few hundred thousand less than that projected by the ADE.
ì I feel weíre being made examples of. They donít want to mess with us. î Smith said.
When a community member asked, ì Will we have school next year, î Smith answered that it would be entirely up to the state board.
Smith said that multiple accounting irregularities caused accounts to be posted incorrectly, making it seem that the school was doing well financially up until May.
ì Our accounts are so fouled up, we have nothing that balances, î he said.
Smith would not comment on the role Tina Murray, who resigned from her role as District Treasurer on May 28, played in problem.
Wilkins said no criminal charges had been filed against Murray at this point, and declined to comment if they would be filed in the future.
ì I hate to see people jump ship when we donít know the answers, î said Ike Owens, a community member attending the meeting. ì Parents are forced to make decisions without knowing. î
Staff under contract will have a position for one year at some school district in the state. Parents who file for Public School Choice will still have the choice to send their children to the Decatur school, should the school stay open in the fall.
The best course to keep the school open is for community members to appeal to their senators and state representatives, Smith said.
ì You care about this school; I care about this school. There are good things still to come to Decatur, î high school principal Bobby King said, ì Iím in this for the long haul... Decatur has persevered for years. There are enough people here tonight that if you start spreading the work, weíll see it happen. î