OBITUARIES
Now Updated Daily

Click Here To See
Our Front Page!
Requires Adobe  Acrobat
Reader, available for Free!
Click Here for the Reader.

Mike Foster, center, makes the case of selling the former Trezevant gym during the West Carroll School Board meeting. Also pictured are Jim Pirtle (left) and Jimmy Halford.

TREZEVANT - West Carroll School Board approved the sale of the former Trezevant High School Gym, central office building, shop, and approximately four acres of land to Farmers and Merchants Bank for a price of $150,000. The locally owned bank plans to raze the building and construct a new banking facility and headquarters for the Trezevant main office and its four branches in West Tennessee.

In a unanimous vote, the West Carroll Board accepted the lone purchase offer from bank CEO George Atwood. The property, located at the intersection of U.S. 79 and College Street, was advertised for sale in local newspapers.

"I haven't had anyone else approach me interested in paying that much money," said Chairman Jimmy Halford. He said Atwood is eager to get started on the construction as soon as possible.

Board member Mike Foster said it's the chance to sell the land and building, which is in disrepair after damage from an ice storm before Christmas.

"We need to get rid of the gym because it's no good. It's a safety issue and it's going to get worse in a few years," said Foster. "The ice this last winter has done some things to it. We need to get rid of that thing before something happens and then we are going to be liable." He continued by saying the location of the central office is truly the main issue. Many people wish for the central office to remain in Trezevant, said Foster.

Board member Jim Pirtle suggested negotiating with Atwood to retain a small portion of land on a back parcel for the construction of a central office and shop building. Halford said he would ask Atwood if he would consider it.

The board spoke briefly about constructing two steel buildings to house the central office and shop. Costs estimates ranged from $76,000 to $100,000 for the outer metal shell, windows, doors, and insulation, but not finished on the interior. Pirtle said the two could probably be constructed for $150,000. Bids will be sought for the construction of the buildings.

Farmers & Merchants Bank officials have long anticipated the construction of a new banking facility for the citizens of Trezevant, according to a news release issued by the bank. The institution's board of directors has been seriously considering various options for two years. The bank moved a mobile unit onto a rented portion of the school property early last year in anticipation of using it as a temporary operational site while demolishing and rebuilding the bank at its existing location on Front Street. Last year, the bank explored the possibility of purchasing the displaced school gymnasium along with the acreage, as it would be a more attractive location for Trezevant's new banking center. The property is aligned with existing churches, the U. S. Post Office, and the elementary school. This idea would provide some comfort to bank officials in that the building program represents a 40-year future commitment to the town and traffic patterns are certain to change over that time span.

According to information obtained from the Carroll County Sesquicentennial Book, Trezevant School was first built on that site in 1891 on land donated by Mr. Abe White, Sr. The building was later enlarged, but burned in 1929. A new high school was built in its place in 1930 and stood until it was razed in 1987, leaving the gymnasium and the former home economics classrooms, now used as the central office.

Members of the McKenzie Special School District, upon the recommendation of Superintendent James Ward, voted to deny teachers leave with pay while chaperoning events for the 4-H trapshooting teams they sponsor.

Joe Fortner made the motion to allow the sponsors to chaperone events without having to use personal days after prolonged discussion regarding the equity of denying the measure. The motion was seconded by John Austin, "just to get the matter on the table." Fortner's was the only vote for the motion while Van Ramsey declined to vote, saying he was confused regarding the issues.

Ward had supplied board members with a written recommendation outlining three reasons he felt the issue should be denied: (1) possible loss of instruction time, (2) "never ending requests" for similar paid absences, and (3) implied liability.

Ward noted the four trap team sponsors (Paula Doster, Larry Joe Smith, Betty Highfil, and George Ognibene) would be absent due to team-related events three to four days each, in addition to personal and professional days off.

"The mission of the school is to educate kids," he said, "Each day (a teacher) is gone that mission is not being carried out as well as it could be."

He said the board presently provides for about 12 types of leave and that some staff had already questioned what other events would be considered school sponsored and therefore merit paid absence. Some of the leave types mentioned were sick, personal and professional, sabbatical, short and long term medical, longevity, bereavement, and school-sponsored leaves.

The liability issue carried the greatest weight, however, as Ward, backed by board chair Ruth Carroll, reiterated that providing leave for employees to attend non-school sponsored events could be construed as tantamount to sanctioning the event despite any disclaimers to the contrary.

Said Ward, "If we choose to accept liability we're putting each of the members of this board and the taxpayers at risk because we have no insurance coverage for it."

Carroll repeatedly noted that official school sports were a different issue as the school had insurance to cover those events. The board in previous session had agreed to excuse students involved in the trapshooting events but declined to accept trapshooting as a school sport.

BOARD LAYS FOUNDATION TO INCREASE TAXES

The board approved a letter requesting a private act that would provide the school district authority to raise the general fund tax cap up to $2.00 from the current $1.53.

Ward said he didn't expect to have to raise tax rates but added, "We would find ourselves in a pretty tough predicament if we can't do the budget with 86 cents: this is our ace in the hole."

Currently, 86 cents of the $1.53 tax goes to the general fund and 67 cents to debt service maintenance. Ward noted an attorney's general opinion in 2001 that prior years' approvals to raise the cap expire if not used.

He said he would be in a better position to project whether a tax rate increase would be necessary following a meeting with state officials regarding the determination of next year's Basic Education (BEP) Program, which is the funding formula for kindergarten through twelfth grade education in Tennessee.

It is difficult to predict the local budget until the state budget is finalized, he said, recalling that two years ago the local budget had to be amended after state government mandated a two percent salary increase for teachers.

He noted one penny would generate $8,000 if 100 percent of property taxes were collected. The budget, however, is based of a 93 percent collection ratio, he said, resulting in the generation of $7,400 per penny.

Part of the cause for speculation was less than expected sales tax collections, which he said could be due in part to ten days of ice and snow plus two businesses being lost to fire. He further noted investments were reaping poorer returns.

Four elementary and three middle school teachers were approved for re-election, at which time they also gained tenure status. Elementary teachers gaining tenure included Melissa Bartley, Beverly Bennett, Brandy Turman, and Courtney Kee. Middle school teachers were Brad Chappell, Grant Elinor, and Jill Renfro.

In other matters the board:

* Approved the local textbook adoption committee's recommendation for mathematics and computer education textbooks. Ward noted math books were among the most expensive texts, with the cost system wide being approximately $90,000. He further mentioned textbook providers have predicted a paperless system within about three years. Coach Richard Chappell noted it was difficult to choose books offered by American companies and that most textbook companies originated from England and Canada;

* Approved on second and final reading amendments to the board's policy manual regarding board members' legal status and the use of private vehicles. The first issue applies to county systems and does not affect special school districts. The second requires volunteer adult drivers to show proof of insurance and lowered the amounts required by about one half;

* Approved the school calendar for 2005-2006; and

* Approved a measure to allow varsity basketball practice to take place during the school day as recommended by high school Principal Terry Howell.

Mildred Sneed was absent