This post is being written in response to a back page article in the 31 Jul 2015 issue of the Tunica Times. Title: Employee appeals discharge.
In my opinion, this article is wrong on so many levels. You could start with the Board of Supervisors' Meeting on 30 Jul 2015. In this meeting, Supervisor Burnett, in his never ending tirade against Road Manager, Joe Eddie Hawkins, tried to bring up this personnel matter in open session. Yada. Yada. Yada.
And now this article in the Tunica Times. At what point did a personnel matter become news? Maybe when it's decided by TC how to settle this appeal? Since when does telling one side of a story stop being news and starts being a manipulation of the public trust? And right before an election no less.
Hey, the Tunica Times did get one thing right: "When Beat 4 Supervisor Henry Nickson offered to help get him a job, he was grateful." And there you have it folks. The employee's Supervisor is Cedric Burnett. Why didn't this employee go to his own Supervisor? People are getting very tired of doing Cedric's job.
And not to miss anther opportunity to inform the public of what a fine job Burnett is doing for Beat 2, he voted against payroll...AGAIN! Ya know, I'm willing to bet that Burnett was behind this Tunica Times story.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Updated 31 Jul 2015: About our schools
There was a meeting of the Tunica County Educational Improvement Committee this evening. If you would like to join this group...you will certainly be welcome. Just send along your email address so you will be notified of upcoming meetings.
Now, onto the reason for this post.
As I was driving to GW for the meeting, I noticed more than a few political signs for the former Superintendent of Education. Now, I realize he is still on the ballot...that his name couldn't be removed but to be campaigning for election? What gall! Gives a whole new meaning to: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!
It is my understanding that teachers and administrators have been or will be called back to work. Some of the lawsuits brought against TCSD are being settled and there will be large sums paid because of the actions of the former Superintendent and/or 3 of the former School Board Members.
In the coming weeks, I am going to attempt to find the amounts being paid to settle these cases. Why am I doing this? Because we need to know to the penny what it costs to vote for someone on the basis of friendship or kinship or fellowship or any other kind of ship. Maybe if folks see the financial cost, they will think twice before voting for the wrong person.
UPDATE: There is too much going on with the election for anyone to settle down and compile the final monetary costs of the TCSD cases that are being settled. However, the first estimate for just the Dr. Burks case is upwards of $200k.
Be careful at the polls. Tunica County can't afford mistakes either in the Superintendent's race or other elected offices.
Now, onto the reason for this post.
As I was driving to GW for the meeting, I noticed more than a few political signs for the former Superintendent of Education. Now, I realize he is still on the ballot...that his name couldn't be removed but to be campaigning for election? What gall! Gives a whole new meaning to: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!
It is my understanding that teachers and administrators have been or will be called back to work. Some of the lawsuits brought against TCSD are being settled and there will be large sums paid because of the actions of the former Superintendent and/or 3 of the former School Board Members.
In the coming weeks, I am going to attempt to find the amounts being paid to settle these cases. Why am I doing this? Because we need to know to the penny what it costs to vote for someone on the basis of friendship or kinship or fellowship or any other kind of ship. Maybe if folks see the financial cost, they will think twice before voting for the wrong person.
UPDATE: There is too much going on with the election for anyone to settle down and compile the final monetary costs of the TCSD cases that are being settled. However, the first estimate for just the Dr. Burks case is upwards of $200k.
Be careful at the polls. Tunica County can't afford mistakes either in the Superintendent's race or other elected offices.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
From the Jul 2015 Delta Business Journal
There is an article in the above periodical by Becky Gillette. The article is:
Tunica Gaming: Tunica may have turned the corner on declining gaming revenues.
Let's all hope so. Oh boy, do I hope so. However,...and here it comes...we need to look at a few more numbers to see if this is true.
The article states: "But now it appears Tunica could be turning the corner on declining revenues. 'April revenue for 2015 was greater that 2014 with one less casino,' says Mississippi Gaming Commissioner Nolen Canon."
Hold on here a minute. Although any upward tick of revenue is good news, we will need to wait until the 2015 annual figures are in before making this type of forecast. We would have to see an annual increase of around $3M to even think about "turning the corner."
Let's look at the following list of total general fund revenue from gaming:
2006; 33,166,315
2007: 32,873,895
2008: 30,757,057
2009: 27,764,117
2010: 24,935,465
2011: 22,060,202
2012: 22,505,411
2013: 20,577,025
2014: 18,485,914
Let's hope total revenue for 2015 comes in at around $21M.
PS: I will find out where we are as of 30 Jun 2015 and will report back.
Let's look at the following list of total general fund revenue from gaming:
2006; 33,166,315
2007: 32,873,895
2008: 30,757,057
2009: 27,764,117
2010: 24,935,465
2011: 22,060,202
2012: 22,505,411
2013: 20,577,025
2014: 18,485,914
Let's hope total revenue for 2015 comes in at around $21M.
PS: I will find out where we are as of 30 Jun 2015 and will report back.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
22 Jul 2015 Update: 15 Jul 2015 Board of Supervisor's Meeting
Hopefully, I can get back to a more extensive report of this meeting soon. However, I did want to get this info out there.
There are no flights scheduled into Tunica Airport in Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov of 2015. This is not good news. Makes me wonder why we built this entity in the first place. Again, there is not a feasibility study to help us to understand the basis for this decision.
We have to start seriously getting more money into Tunica County. More events at the Arena and maybe it is time to repurpose the RiverPark.
22 Jul 2015: Update from a reader:
Just a quick update on scheduled flights into Tunica – there have been 3 to 5 flights each week during July. There are negotiations underway with Horseshoe to continue these flights. If there is a continuation in a upturn of people returning to the Casinos then I’m sure this will weigh heavily in the their decision to continue the flights. .
Blogger: I've contacted Administration for an update and/or response. The new info says there are no flights scheduled for Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov 2015. The original post above has been corrected.
There are no flights scheduled into Tunica Airport in Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov of 2015. This is not good news. Makes me wonder why we built this entity in the first place. Again, there is not a feasibility study to help us to understand the basis for this decision.
We have to start seriously getting more money into Tunica County. More events at the Arena and maybe it is time to repurpose the RiverPark.
22 Jul 2015: Update from a reader:
Just a quick update on scheduled flights into Tunica – there have been 3 to 5 flights each week during July. There are negotiations underway with Horseshoe to continue these flights. If there is a continuation in a upturn of people returning to the Casinos then I’m sure this will weigh heavily in the their decision to continue the flights. .
Blogger: I've contacted Administration for an update and/or response. The new info says there are no flights scheduled for Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov 2015. The original post above has been corrected.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Updated 24 Jul 2015: What was learned in Washington: 21 Sep 1994
On 21 Sep 1994, the 103rd Congress held a hearing in the House of Representative. This meeting was called by the Committee on Small Business to discuss the national impact of casino gambling proliferation. The original document is 189 pages long. I will attempt to use information that is useful to our situation in Tunica County.
You may be asking yourself why I am going back to research a Congressional Hearing that is more then 20 years old.
1. We got a lot of what was done wrong because we failed to heed the voice of experience. This hearing shows that we were in the presence of helpful information and a special effort was made by hearing participants to give Tunica advice. We all have to understand what went wrong and come together to put Tunica back together again. We can't make the same mistakes again and we can't keep repeating the same information over and over and expecting different results.
2. The Jul 2015 issue of the Delta Business Journal is out and it appears to me that there is a lack of understanding about how we went wrong. We've got to stop putting out stories that don't give the correct information.
These are the cast of character at the 1994 Hearing, listed in the order of their testimony.
Goodman, Robert: Director of the US Gambling Study, Lemelson Professor of Environmental Design, Hampshire College, and Professor of Regional Planning, University of Massachusetts
Grinols, Earl: Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois
Bloomberg, Jeffery: State's Attorney, Lawrence County, South Dakota
As stated above, the purpose of this hearing was to discuss the "national impact". However, many examples and much of the testimony centered around gambling and what happens to small businesses when gambling moves into an area. Also, a part of the Hearing was devoted to giving helpful advice to Tunica County, MS.
Here we go:
Goodman, Robert
I was "...surprised by the intensity of some of the attacks against the study by political leaders and people in the gambling industry."
"The intent of the study was to look at the economic consequences of gambling."
There are "limited opportunities for economic development in many parts of this country, and the introduction of gambling is really a symptom of that problem rather than a long-term solution to it."
"...any new enterprise which promises large numbers of jobs and revenue can give the appearance of salvation and economic revival."
"...using gambling as government policy to create jobs is a dangerous form of economic development."
What happened in Tunica "is different than what happened,,,in the 1930's in Nevada and...the late 1970's in Atlantic City." In Nevada and Atlantic City...people came...they gambled...and they left a great deal of money" when they returned home.
What we have in Tunica is known as convenience gambling. Convenience gambling is when a consumer spends descretionary dollars that might have been used on other forms of entertainment, restaurants or retail sales to gamble. This is not economic development. This is shifting dollars. This is taking dollars from other businesses.
What we have learned from Mr. Goodman's testimony is that those who visit Nevada and Atlantic City are considered destination gamblers and those who visit Tunica are convenience gamblers.
So here's my take: In the Delta Business Journal, Jul 2015 issue there is an article by Becky Gillette. The title is: Tunica Gaming...Tunica may have turned the corner on declining gaming revenues.
In this article, Webster Franklin, Executive Director of the Tunica Convention and Visitor's Bureau (CVB), is quoted as saying: "Tunica grew under the model of destination gaming, which was all the industry knew at the time. Today, convenience gaming has become much more prevalent over destination gaming."
Blogger: I disagree. Although I have heard it said many times that Tunica was the third destination site for gamblers after Las Vegas and Atlantic City, this 1994 Congressional Hearing testimony makes it clear that is not the case. Tunica always has been convenience gambling and convenience gambling is not economic development.
Will stop for now and will pick-up later with the testimony of Earl Grinols, Professor of Economics, University of Illinois.
Update: 19 Jul 2015
Next is the testimony of Earl Grinols, Professor of Economics, University of Illinois.
Grinols: "A factory, when it locates in an area, sells to the rest of the country. Its payroll, materials purchases, and profits spent locally are new money to the area that represents tangible goods produced.
On the other hand, adding a new restaurant that caters to local population in an area simply takes business from local (food establishments). The question for a particular region therefore is: Is a casino more like a factory or a restaurant?
In Las Vegas, casinos are more like factories because they sell gambling services to the rest of the Nation. In most other parts of the country, gambling is like a restaurant,... drawing money away from other businesses, creating no economic development, but leaving social costs in its wake."
"A study I did of Illinois casinos...examines 10 counties where casinos were opened from September, 1990 to June, 1993. ...When the job gains that would have occurred anyway in those counties were accounted for, the net effect of gambling was that roughly one job was lost for each gambling job created, an increase in the gambling industry, but not economic development."
"In the case of gambling,...Government restrictions prevent other small businesses from competing. Casinos can offer food, liquor and entertainment, but existing small businesses cannot offer gambling."
..."food purchases within 10 miles of the casino are ...negatively impacted. A sudy conducted for the State of South Dakota shows similar declines for clothing stores, recreation services, business services, auto dealers and service stations."
"In Minnesota, restaurant business within a 30-mile radius of casinos with food service was reported to have fallen by 20 to 50 percent, and this has been verified in press accounts by restaurant owners near Illinois casinos. It is well-known that in Atlantic City the number of restaurants declined from 243 in 1977, the year after casinos were legalized, to 146 (ten) years later, and that retail business and employment in Atlantic City has continued to decline, despite the presence of gambling."
Blogger: The next person to testify is Valerie Lorenz, Director, Compulsive Gambling Center, Baltimore, Maryland. This post is focusing on the economic impact of gambling. The social issues, which are tremendous, are presented at this Hearing and may be read by clicking on the link provided elsewhere on this blog for the entire document.
Next up is Jeffrey Bloomberg, State's Attorney, Lawrence County, South Dakota.
In 1988, "the citizens of South Dakota, voted to approve limited casino gambling within the boundaries of Deadwood, South Dakota, a very small community of 1,800. Almost immediately, dramatic changes began within our community, and since that time I have had the opportunity to talk to journalists and government officials and private citizens throughout the United States regarding some of the very issues that we have come across in our community and some of the same issues that they are now running into in their community as they either adopt gambling or consider it.
In every community or State that I have gone to or people who I have talked to, the same sales pitch is used in regard to gambling. That is, economic development, new jobs and lower taxes. Every State, the pitch is the same."
"The infrastructure of our community was totally inadequate for the number of visitors that came and the number of new employees. The water lines, sewer lines, parking and other governmental infrastructure was inadequate and had to be replaced. But the city government had no funds with which to make those kinds of changes.
So, they made...a critical decision and one which in hindsight it is easy ...to criticize, but they decided to bond, sell revenue bonds to develop that infrastructure and pledged the proceeds from gaming taxes, future gaming taxes to pay off those bonds.
...if the citizens of Deadwood today wanted to get rid of casino gambling they could not do so without going into total bankruptcy."
Blogger: It is my understanding that the Diamond Lakes Bond is the sole responsibility of Harrah's. In thewording of the TCUD Bond, Tunica County is responsible for this bond debt if TCUD cannot make the payments. Since TCUD has never made their bond payment, why is is just now that they have applied for and received a rate increase? Additionally, from meetings I have attended and reports I have read, TCUD in past due on many of their operating bills.
As you will read later from this hearing, Tunica County was advised not to borrow money for infrastructure and we did it anyway. Somehow we are going to have to figure out a way to dig ourselves out of this financial mess.
Back to Bloomberg's testimony:
"As to the claim that tax relief will be brought about by gambling, that has simply proven to be not true in Deadwood. Taxes, in fact, in terms of real estate taxes have gone up each and every year since gambling came to our community.
I think that is because of two reasons, First of all, the profits that have come in terms of gaming taxes have been eaten up by the additional costs that have come to our community.
Second, real estate assessments jumped dramatically when the property values jumped. So the individual that had a business that was non-gaming before and didn't want to get into gaming was certainly looking at a much larger tax bill because the assessment of his property had jumped."
"In Deadwood,...virtually every decision on a local level is dictated by what is best for the gaming industry. ... We haven't been willing to say we are going to cut service. We haven't been willing to say we will raise taxes. So we, as government officials, have taken the easy way out, which is to say let's go with this painless form of revenue, which is gambling."
Will stop for now. Next up will be Webster Franklin, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce, Tunica County, Mississippi.
Update: 24 Jul 2015:
Franklin: "...it is an honor for me to appear before you on behalf of Tunica County t express my views on the effects of the gaming industry on our local community.
Historically, Tunica County has been known as 'the poorest county in the Nation.'"
Unemployment as recently as January of 1992 was as high as 26.2 percent, one of the highest in the State Of Mississippi. Per capita income was 11,865, one of the lowest in the State. Fifty-three percent of all Tunica County residents received food stamps. We were known for our substandard housing, poor health care delivery and sanitation problems caused by inadequate or antiquated sewage systems.
Over the years Tunica County received national attention due to several studies, one of them being the Harvard Medical School Committee on Poverty, your own Committee on Hunger, and the congressionally mandated study of the lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission.
These studies all recommended basically the same thing: Government assistance. Due to this national attention, we received much needed government money and assistance. But that did not solve our problem - which was jobs for our citizens. It was not until the gaming industry came into our county that those jobs surfaced.
The Mississippi legislature in 1990 passed what is known as our 'dockside gaming law,' that authorized dockside gaming on a local county option basis for those counties on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and along the Mississippi River. Tunica County followed in passing its local referendum in 1991, which le to the economic explosion that we are now seeing.
Our first casino, Splash Casino, opened its doors at Mhoon Landing in October of 1992. For 11 months it enjoyed a monopoly on the gaming area and quickly became the envy of the national gaming industry n that its revenues were (un)precedented.
The gaming industry realized that Tunica County had the potential, because of its location, to become the Nation's third regional gaming destination resort. Investors flocked into our county nd bought control or rights to all available casino sites from Mhoon Landing north to our neighboring count of DeSoto County. Land prices that in 1990 were valued at $250 an acre, now sell for some $25,000 an acre.
Since the arrival of gaming, oour once defunct planning commission...has issued over $1 billion worth of building permits.
In 1993, we had 12 major casino(s) in the construction phase. This allowed our citizens to go to work in the construction industry at salaries of $10 and upwards an hour. Every able-bodied person in the county was afforded...the opportunity to acquire as many overtime hours as they could withstand. Therefore, they had a skill that they could take to other jobs once these facilities had been constructed.
Also, each casino set up employment schools for their casinos to teach the local people the necessary skills to provide blackjack dealers, craps dealers, slot machine technicians, and security guards. The service industry employment in Tunica County for our residents has gone up 435 percent since 1990.
Blogger's Note: If Tunicans were trained for these jobs, how did many of these jobs wind-up in the hands of people who do not live in Tunica? Did our employees not perform as expected or did more highly educated individuals fill vacancies?
Nine casinos currently operate in our county, employing approximately 9,000 people. There have been more jobs in our county in 20 months than there were people, according to the 1990 census. Our unemployment rate...was 26.2 percent in January 1992. It has gone as low as 4.9 percent in October of 1993. Child support collections in the county have increased from $38,000 per month to $65,000 a month in 1994. The number of welfare recipients has decreased 42 percent. Food stamp recipients have decreased 13percent from 1992 to 1993, and that trend continues in 1994.
Business in Tunica County is...booming. We are in the secondary development stage. We have new housing, RV parks, restaurants and motels. However, there are many service sector jobs that are needed. For instance, I am the first paid director of the Tunica County Chamber of Commerce. We now have a push for a new Department of Tourism that is being currently organized.
To illustrate to you the totality that this money and influx of people have brought into our area, the tax collector responsible for giving out the car tags in our county ra out last year and had to reorder In fiscal year 1994, our county recorded the highest percent increase of retail sales of all of Mississippi's 82 counties, a 299 percent increase representing sales of $256.5 million compared to $64.2 (million) in fiscal year 1993.
The Mississippi law provides that part of the gaming revenue that is established in the State of Mississippi be returned to its counties. In fiscal year 1995 it is anticipated that $2.5 million will b put into the county budget with additional impact fees of $12 million. This new revenue source has allowed the county to continue the much needed infrastructure improvements.
Blogger's Note: Need to know if this new revenue was used to improve infrastructure throughout the county or to put in infrastructure for the casinos.
For example, just yesterday our county has embarked on a five-lane major highway that will link five of our casinos together and link them to U.S. Highway 61, our State artery that leads into Tunica County. Another local highway connecting all of our casinos throughout the county has been approved and is now in the planning stages.
We have had two new utility districts created. Funding has been gained for long-range land use development planning, and our county school system is being completely overhauled.
Blogger's Note: I believe these two utility districts would be Tunica County Utility District (TCUD) and Diamond Lakes. There is an outstanding TCUD bond that the County is obligated to pay. The Diamond Lakes bond is the sole responsibility of Harrah's. I'm not sure what the last sentence of the above paragraph means.
Revenue from gaming has allowed our county to provide an additional $1.4 million of funding for this school year. This funding will go to new classes, much-needed equipment and increase in teacher salaries. Everyone in Tunica County is committed to updating our public school system.
Our Board of Supervisors also recently voted to reduce its tax on property in the county by 32 percent.
Blogger's Note: In 1994, the BOS Members were: Dunn, Henderson, Battle, Tucker and Bailey.
...gaming has had an extremely positive impact on our local economy. However, we are experiencing several growing pains which ought to be expected. All of us in Tunica County are committed to developing our area into major destination resort. We envision a major airport, a first-class, family oriented theme park and championship golf courses."
Next up: Advise from Deadwood, SD to Tunica County, MS.
You may be asking yourself why I am going back to research a Congressional Hearing that is more then 20 years old.
1. We got a lot of what was done wrong because we failed to heed the voice of experience. This hearing shows that we were in the presence of helpful information and a special effort was made by hearing participants to give Tunica advice. We all have to understand what went wrong and come together to put Tunica back together again. We can't make the same mistakes again and we can't keep repeating the same information over and over and expecting different results.
2. The Jul 2015 issue of the Delta Business Journal is out and it appears to me that there is a lack of understanding about how we went wrong. We've got to stop putting out stories that don't give the correct information.
These are the cast of character at the 1994 Hearing, listed in the order of their testimony.
Goodman, Robert: Director of the US Gambling Study, Lemelson Professor of Environmental Design, Hampshire College, and Professor of Regional Planning, University of Massachusetts
Grinols, Earl: Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois
Bloomberg, Jeffery: State's Attorney, Lawrence County, South Dakota
Webster Franklin: Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Tunica County, MS
As stated above, the purpose of this hearing was to discuss the "national impact". However, many examples and much of the testimony centered around gambling and what happens to small businesses when gambling moves into an area. Also, a part of the Hearing was devoted to giving helpful advice to Tunica County, MS.
Here we go:
Goodman, Robert
I was "...surprised by the intensity of some of the attacks against the study by political leaders and people in the gambling industry."
"The intent of the study was to look at the economic consequences of gambling."
There are "limited opportunities for economic development in many parts of this country, and the introduction of gambling is really a symptom of that problem rather than a long-term solution to it."
"...any new enterprise which promises large numbers of jobs and revenue can give the appearance of salvation and economic revival."
"...using gambling as government policy to create jobs is a dangerous form of economic development."
What happened in Tunica "is different than what happened,,,in the 1930's in Nevada and...the late 1970's in Atlantic City." In Nevada and Atlantic City...people came...they gambled...and they left a great deal of money" when they returned home.
What we have in Tunica is known as convenience gambling. Convenience gambling is when a consumer spends descretionary dollars that might have been used on other forms of entertainment, restaurants or retail sales to gamble. This is not economic development. This is shifting dollars. This is taking dollars from other businesses.
What we have learned from Mr. Goodman's testimony is that those who visit Nevada and Atlantic City are considered destination gamblers and those who visit Tunica are convenience gamblers.
So here's my take: In the Delta Business Journal, Jul 2015 issue there is an article by Becky Gillette. The title is: Tunica Gaming...Tunica may have turned the corner on declining gaming revenues.
In this article, Webster Franklin, Executive Director of the Tunica Convention and Visitor's Bureau (CVB), is quoted as saying: "Tunica grew under the model of destination gaming, which was all the industry knew at the time. Today, convenience gaming has become much more prevalent over destination gaming."
Blogger: I disagree. Although I have heard it said many times that Tunica was the third destination site for gamblers after Las Vegas and Atlantic City, this 1994 Congressional Hearing testimony makes it clear that is not the case. Tunica always has been convenience gambling and convenience gambling is not economic development.
Will stop for now and will pick-up later with the testimony of Earl Grinols, Professor of Economics, University of Illinois.
Update: 19 Jul 2015
Next is the testimony of Earl Grinols, Professor of Economics, University of Illinois.
Grinols: "A factory, when it locates in an area, sells to the rest of the country. Its payroll, materials purchases, and profits spent locally are new money to the area that represents tangible goods produced.
On the other hand, adding a new restaurant that caters to local population in an area simply takes business from local (food establishments). The question for a particular region therefore is: Is a casino more like a factory or a restaurant?
In Las Vegas, casinos are more like factories because they sell gambling services to the rest of the Nation. In most other parts of the country, gambling is like a restaurant,... drawing money away from other businesses, creating no economic development, but leaving social costs in its wake."
"A study I did of Illinois casinos...examines 10 counties where casinos were opened from September, 1990 to June, 1993. ...When the job gains that would have occurred anyway in those counties were accounted for, the net effect of gambling was that roughly one job was lost for each gambling job created, an increase in the gambling industry, but not economic development."
"In the case of gambling,...Government restrictions prevent other small businesses from competing. Casinos can offer food, liquor and entertainment, but existing small businesses cannot offer gambling."
..."food purchases within 10 miles of the casino are ...negatively impacted. A sudy conducted for the State of South Dakota shows similar declines for clothing stores, recreation services, business services, auto dealers and service stations."
"In Minnesota, restaurant business within a 30-mile radius of casinos with food service was reported to have fallen by 20 to 50 percent, and this has been verified in press accounts by restaurant owners near Illinois casinos. It is well-known that in Atlantic City the number of restaurants declined from 243 in 1977, the year after casinos were legalized, to 146 (ten) years later, and that retail business and employment in Atlantic City has continued to decline, despite the presence of gambling."
Blogger: The next person to testify is Valerie Lorenz, Director, Compulsive Gambling Center, Baltimore, Maryland. This post is focusing on the economic impact of gambling. The social issues, which are tremendous, are presented at this Hearing and may be read by clicking on the link provided elsewhere on this blog for the entire document.
Next up is Jeffrey Bloomberg, State's Attorney, Lawrence County, South Dakota.
In 1988, "the citizens of South Dakota, voted to approve limited casino gambling within the boundaries of Deadwood, South Dakota, a very small community of 1,800. Almost immediately, dramatic changes began within our community, and since that time I have had the opportunity to talk to journalists and government officials and private citizens throughout the United States regarding some of the very issues that we have come across in our community and some of the same issues that they are now running into in their community as they either adopt gambling or consider it.
In every community or State that I have gone to or people who I have talked to, the same sales pitch is used in regard to gambling. That is, economic development, new jobs and lower taxes. Every State, the pitch is the same."
"The infrastructure of our community was totally inadequate for the number of visitors that came and the number of new employees. The water lines, sewer lines, parking and other governmental infrastructure was inadequate and had to be replaced. But the city government had no funds with which to make those kinds of changes.
So, they made...a critical decision and one which in hindsight it is easy ...to criticize, but they decided to bond, sell revenue bonds to develop that infrastructure and pledged the proceeds from gaming taxes, future gaming taxes to pay off those bonds.
...if the citizens of Deadwood today wanted to get rid of casino gambling they could not do so without going into total bankruptcy."
Blogger: It is my understanding that the Diamond Lakes Bond is the sole responsibility of Harrah's. In thewording of the TCUD Bond, Tunica County is responsible for this bond debt if TCUD cannot make the payments. Since TCUD has never made their bond payment, why is is just now that they have applied for and received a rate increase? Additionally, from meetings I have attended and reports I have read, TCUD in past due on many of their operating bills.
As you will read later from this hearing, Tunica County was advised not to borrow money for infrastructure and we did it anyway. Somehow we are going to have to figure out a way to dig ourselves out of this financial mess.
Back to Bloomberg's testimony:
"As to the claim that tax relief will be brought about by gambling, that has simply proven to be not true in Deadwood. Taxes, in fact, in terms of real estate taxes have gone up each and every year since gambling came to our community.
I think that is because of two reasons, First of all, the profits that have come in terms of gaming taxes have been eaten up by the additional costs that have come to our community.
Second, real estate assessments jumped dramatically when the property values jumped. So the individual that had a business that was non-gaming before and didn't want to get into gaming was certainly looking at a much larger tax bill because the assessment of his property had jumped."
"In Deadwood,...virtually every decision on a local level is dictated by what is best for the gaming industry. ... We haven't been willing to say we are going to cut service. We haven't been willing to say we will raise taxes. So we, as government officials, have taken the easy way out, which is to say let's go with this painless form of revenue, which is gambling."
Will stop for now. Next up will be Webster Franklin, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce, Tunica County, Mississippi.
Update: 24 Jul 2015:
Franklin: "...it is an honor for me to appear before you on behalf of Tunica County t express my views on the effects of the gaming industry on our local community.
Historically, Tunica County has been known as 'the poorest county in the Nation.'"
Unemployment as recently as January of 1992 was as high as 26.2 percent, one of the highest in the State Of Mississippi. Per capita income was 11,865, one of the lowest in the State. Fifty-three percent of all Tunica County residents received food stamps. We were known for our substandard housing, poor health care delivery and sanitation problems caused by inadequate or antiquated sewage systems.
Over the years Tunica County received national attention due to several studies, one of them being the Harvard Medical School Committee on Poverty, your own Committee on Hunger, and the congressionally mandated study of the lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission.
These studies all recommended basically the same thing: Government assistance. Due to this national attention, we received much needed government money and assistance. But that did not solve our problem - which was jobs for our citizens. It was not until the gaming industry came into our county that those jobs surfaced.
The Mississippi legislature in 1990 passed what is known as our 'dockside gaming law,' that authorized dockside gaming on a local county option basis for those counties on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and along the Mississippi River. Tunica County followed in passing its local referendum in 1991, which le to the economic explosion that we are now seeing.
Our first casino, Splash Casino, opened its doors at Mhoon Landing in October of 1992. For 11 months it enjoyed a monopoly on the gaming area and quickly became the envy of the national gaming industry n that its revenues were (un)precedented.
The gaming industry realized that Tunica County had the potential, because of its location, to become the Nation's third regional gaming destination resort. Investors flocked into our county nd bought control or rights to all available casino sites from Mhoon Landing north to our neighboring count of DeSoto County. Land prices that in 1990 were valued at $250 an acre, now sell for some $25,000 an acre.
Since the arrival of gaming, oour once defunct planning commission...has issued over $1 billion worth of building permits.
In 1993, we had 12 major casino(s) in the construction phase. This allowed our citizens to go to work in the construction industry at salaries of $10 and upwards an hour. Every able-bodied person in the county was afforded...the opportunity to acquire as many overtime hours as they could withstand. Therefore, they had a skill that they could take to other jobs once these facilities had been constructed.
Also, each casino set up employment schools for their casinos to teach the local people the necessary skills to provide blackjack dealers, craps dealers, slot machine technicians, and security guards. The service industry employment in Tunica County for our residents has gone up 435 percent since 1990.
Blogger's Note: If Tunicans were trained for these jobs, how did many of these jobs wind-up in the hands of people who do not live in Tunica? Did our employees not perform as expected or did more highly educated individuals fill vacancies?
Nine casinos currently operate in our county, employing approximately 9,000 people. There have been more jobs in our county in 20 months than there were people, according to the 1990 census. Our unemployment rate...was 26.2 percent in January 1992. It has gone as low as 4.9 percent in October of 1993. Child support collections in the county have increased from $38,000 per month to $65,000 a month in 1994. The number of welfare recipients has decreased 42 percent. Food stamp recipients have decreased 13percent from 1992 to 1993, and that trend continues in 1994.
Business in Tunica County is...booming. We are in the secondary development stage. We have new housing, RV parks, restaurants and motels. However, there are many service sector jobs that are needed. For instance, I am the first paid director of the Tunica County Chamber of Commerce. We now have a push for a new Department of Tourism that is being currently organized.
To illustrate to you the totality that this money and influx of people have brought into our area, the tax collector responsible for giving out the car tags in our county ra out last year and had to reorder In fiscal year 1994, our county recorded the highest percent increase of retail sales of all of Mississippi's 82 counties, a 299 percent increase representing sales of $256.5 million compared to $64.2 (million) in fiscal year 1993.
The Mississippi law provides that part of the gaming revenue that is established in the State of Mississippi be returned to its counties. In fiscal year 1995 it is anticipated that $2.5 million will b put into the county budget with additional impact fees of $12 million. This new revenue source has allowed the county to continue the much needed infrastructure improvements.
Blogger's Note: Need to know if this new revenue was used to improve infrastructure throughout the county or to put in infrastructure for the casinos.
For example, just yesterday our county has embarked on a five-lane major highway that will link five of our casinos together and link them to U.S. Highway 61, our State artery that leads into Tunica County. Another local highway connecting all of our casinos throughout the county has been approved and is now in the planning stages.
We have had two new utility districts created. Funding has been gained for long-range land use development planning, and our county school system is being completely overhauled.
Blogger's Note: I believe these two utility districts would be Tunica County Utility District (TCUD) and Diamond Lakes. There is an outstanding TCUD bond that the County is obligated to pay. The Diamond Lakes bond is the sole responsibility of Harrah's. I'm not sure what the last sentence of the above paragraph means.
Revenue from gaming has allowed our county to provide an additional $1.4 million of funding for this school year. This funding will go to new classes, much-needed equipment and increase in teacher salaries. Everyone in Tunica County is committed to updating our public school system.
Our Board of Supervisors also recently voted to reduce its tax on property in the county by 32 percent.
Blogger's Note: In 1994, the BOS Members were: Dunn, Henderson, Battle, Tucker and Bailey.
...gaming has had an extremely positive impact on our local economy. However, we are experiencing several growing pains which ought to be expected. All of us in Tunica County are committed to developing our area into major destination resort. We envision a major airport, a first-class, family oriented theme park and championship golf courses."
Next up: Advise from Deadwood, SD to Tunica County, MS.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
New Rules
Up late working on various projects...taking a break.
Lately, I have received some nasty and off the wall emails and there is another person who just recently set up a FB account with a fake name who is attacking me personally. (I also received one very nice letter containing some very nice words and I sure thank the sender.)
I have worked very hard to bring facts to the public. I've done this for many years and I will continue to do this whether or not I am elected.
Ask yourself, have you ever had a service like this made available to you? This blog is not like a newspaper. Why? Because at the bottom of each post is a comment section for your use. Do you have different or additional information? Don't be shy. I'm not afraid to be corrected...nicely.
So, on to the new rules. I am going to delete any comment that attacks me personally. I am not going to try to explain my post to you. I have reached my limit with this nastiness and made-up accusations
Please understand, I have plenty of other things to do then spend my time explaining things to nasty people..
Here's an example: A campaign door hanger was left on our door. The candidate said he had a degree from the University of Memphis, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. I've never heard this about this candidate before and quite frankly, I am tired of being lied to by politicians. I also don't take too kindly to people saying they have a degree when they don't because I worked so hard for mine. So, I called U of M to find out.
The answer I was given was no. There was no degree listed for this person. Maybe U of M has made a mistake. Who knows? I not only called once, I called twice and got the same answer.
When FB friends from other areas weighed in to say how a degree was listed the folks from our area just wanted to argue.
Now for the nasty emails. I have asked both people to not contact me again. Should they choose to do so, I will post their message on this blog. If you have something constructive to add, post it here.
In conclusion, anyone is welcome to post a comment on this blog. You start calling me nasty names and accusing me of things I did not do, you will be deleted. This blog is for the sharing of information.
Enough said.
Oh one more thing...I might as well get this off my chest too. I am still waiting for the Tunica Times to apologize to Michael Thompson for the false statements they made against him back in Dec 2014. That is a pretty long time to wait for an apology.
Lately, I have received some nasty and off the wall emails and there is another person who just recently set up a FB account with a fake name who is attacking me personally. (I also received one very nice letter containing some very nice words and I sure thank the sender.)
I have worked very hard to bring facts to the public. I've done this for many years and I will continue to do this whether or not I am elected.
Ask yourself, have you ever had a service like this made available to you? This blog is not like a newspaper. Why? Because at the bottom of each post is a comment section for your use. Do you have different or additional information? Don't be shy. I'm not afraid to be corrected...nicely.
So, on to the new rules. I am going to delete any comment that attacks me personally. I am not going to try to explain my post to you. I have reached my limit with this nastiness and made-up accusations
Please understand, I have plenty of other things to do then spend my time explaining things to nasty people..
Here's an example: A campaign door hanger was left on our door. The candidate said he had a degree from the University of Memphis, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. I've never heard this about this candidate before and quite frankly, I am tired of being lied to by politicians. I also don't take too kindly to people saying they have a degree when they don't because I worked so hard for mine. So, I called U of M to find out.
The answer I was given was no. There was no degree listed for this person. Maybe U of M has made a mistake. Who knows? I not only called once, I called twice and got the same answer.
When FB friends from other areas weighed in to say how a degree was listed the folks from our area just wanted to argue.
Now for the nasty emails. I have asked both people to not contact me again. Should they choose to do so, I will post their message on this blog. If you have something constructive to add, post it here.
In conclusion, anyone is welcome to post a comment on this blog. You start calling me nasty names and accusing me of things I did not do, you will be deleted. This blog is for the sharing of information.
Enough said.
Oh one more thing...I might as well get this off my chest too. I am still waiting for the Tunica Times to apologize to Michael Thompson for the false statements they made against him back in Dec 2014. That is a pretty long time to wait for an apology.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Went to a TCUD Meeting last night...
Another meeting I attended yesterday was TCUD.
What I have recently learned is that the TCUD Bond was set-up so that if TCUD could not pay their Bond payment, the Board of Supervisors would have to make the payment for them. This Bond was issued before Williams, Nickson and Daley became Supervisors. Both Dunn and Burnett were members of the BOS when the TCUD Bond was issued.
Recently, TCUD has had to start coming to the BOS for money to pay their monthly expenses. The BOS has given TCUD $100,000 to go toward these past due bills. This donation to TCUD was not reflected in their reports from TCUD. TCUD is holding several hundred thousand dollars in past due bills.
Then there is the Management Fee of $10,000 per month and rent of $2,500 per month.
After the meeting recessed, I asked some questions:
1. Who owns the building TCUD is renting? Answer: It is held by an LLC "who are adult kids."
2. Who are the principals in the Management Company. I was told the principals are John Almond and Matt Young's father.
I hope I have all of this information correct. Will be making an appointment with Matt to learn more.
What I have recently learned is that the TCUD Bond was set-up so that if TCUD could not pay their Bond payment, the Board of Supervisors would have to make the payment for them. This Bond was issued before Williams, Nickson and Daley became Supervisors. Both Dunn and Burnett were members of the BOS when the TCUD Bond was issued.
Recently, TCUD has had to start coming to the BOS for money to pay their monthly expenses. The BOS has given TCUD $100,000 to go toward these past due bills. This donation to TCUD was not reflected in their reports from TCUD. TCUD is holding several hundred thousand dollars in past due bills.
Then there is the Management Fee of $10,000 per month and rent of $2,500 per month.
After the meeting recessed, I asked some questions:
1. Who owns the building TCUD is renting? Answer: It is held by an LLC "who are adult kids."
2. Who are the principals in the Management Company. I was told the principals are John Almond and Matt Young's father.
I hope I have all of this information correct. Will be making an appointment with Matt to learn more.
Counting our Ballots
Just returned from the Election Commission Meeting. This is what I discovered. The answer as to why it always takes so long to count our ballots.
When a jury notice is returned through the mail, the person's name is placed on the inactive roll. Then this same person shows up to vote and has to fill out an affidavit ballot because this same person's name does not appear on the active voter rolls.
In Jun about 60-75 jury summons were returned to the Circuit Clerk's Office. This happens every month that there is a trial.
So, how do we correct this? Answer your jury summons. Otherwise, it's going to be a long night.
When a jury notice is returned through the mail, the person's name is placed on the inactive roll. Then this same person shows up to vote and has to fill out an affidavit ballot because this same person's name does not appear on the active voter rolls.
In Jun about 60-75 jury summons were returned to the Circuit Clerk's Office. This happens every month that there is a trial.
So, how do we correct this? Answer your jury summons. Otherwise, it's going to be a long night.
Will keep my promise
Yesterday I promised to post a copy of the door hanger that has been under discussion. Don't give up. It will be posted as soon as I can.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Article in the works...
I'm working on an article that I hope to post soon. The document I'm working from can be found at the link below. It's 189 pages and yes, I've read it all. I can't remember it all but I did read it. So, I'm a nerd....whate-v-e-r.... Here's the link if you too want to read it...
www.archive.org/stream/nationalimpactof00unit/nationalimpactof00unit/_djvu.txt
This is the transcription of a hearing in the House of Representative before the Committee on Small Business. The hearing was called to discuss the national impact of casino gambling proliferation.
www.archive.org/stream/nationalimpactof00unit/nationalimpactof00unit/_djvu.txt
This is the transcription of a hearing in the House of Representative before the Committee on Small Business. The hearing was called to discuss the national impact of casino gambling proliferation.
In the Washington Post today, 12 Jul 2015
A series of articles started today in the Washington Post. The focus of the series is Tunica, MS. Please take the time to read this article and the others that will follow each Sunday.
Just yesterday, I visited with a lady who admitted she never attended Supervisors' Meeting. She went on to say she strongly stood behind a longtime Supervisor. Folks, we cannot afford to keep re-electing the same people and expecting a different result. When you vote for someone, you are in part responsible for the actions of your choice. It is your civic responsibility to show up and hold elected officials accountable. Tunica County can no longer afford to elect people just because the candidate is your friend or relative.
If you don't have a copy of the information the community received on 4 Mar 2015, please go by the County Administrator's Office and ask for a copy. Read it and understand it. Your personal vote effects all of us; your friends, your relatives and your neighbors.
Just yesterday, I visited with a lady who admitted she never attended Supervisors' Meeting. She went on to say she strongly stood behind a longtime Supervisor. Folks, we cannot afford to keep re-electing the same people and expecting a different result. When you vote for someone, you are in part responsible for the actions of your choice. It is your civic responsibility to show up and hold elected officials accountable. Tunica County can no longer afford to elect people just because the candidate is your friend or relative.
If you don't have a copy of the information the community received on 4 Mar 2015, please go by the County Administrator's Office and ask for a copy. Read it and understand it. Your personal vote effects all of us; your friends, your relatives and your neighbors.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Dr. Jeremiah Burks vs TCSD......
I have been working with a PDF file for over two hours...trying to copy it to this blog. So, I'm going to type it in as I think it is important enough for you to read for yourselves. Here we go...
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF
TUNICA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI
JEREMIAH BURKS PLAINTIFF
VS CIVIL CAUSE NO. GN2014-54
TUNICA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT,
BERNARD STEPHEN CHANDLER, Individually
and in HIS official capacity as SUPERINTENDENT:
TOMEKA COTTON, Individually; JOE ANDERSON,
Individually: and DELORIS HARDMAN, iNDIVIDUALLY DEFENDANTS
ORDER
THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Complaint filed by the Plaintiff,
Jeremiah Burks (hereinafter Dr. Burks) against the Defendent, Tunica County School
District, Bernard Stephen Chandler, Individually and in His official capacity as
Superintendent: Tomeka Cotton, Individually: Joe Anderson, Individually: and Deloris
Hardman, Individually (hereinafter TCSD) on June 27, 2014. The Defendant, TCSD,
filed an Answer and Affirmative Defenses To Plaintiff's Complaint on August 11, 2014.
The Court having considered the arguments made by the parties, reviewed the
correspondences and supporting information submitted by the parties, having examined
the record and otherwise being fully advised in the premises, finds as follows:
PROCEDURAL FACTS AND HISTORY
This case involves the termination of Dr. Jeremiah Burks from the position of
principal of the Robinsonville Elementary School with the Tunica County School District
effective May 22, 2014. Dr. Burks was given the notice of his termination on May 21,
2014. On May 21, 2014 Dr. Burks requested a hearing pursuant to Miss Code Annot*
37-9-109. Superintendent Bernard Stephen Chandler notified Dr. Burks on May 23, 2014
that his hearing had been set for Monday, June 9, 2014. On June 6, 2014, Dr. Burks sent
an e-mail to Superintendent Chandler and Tunica County School Board President Cotton
requesting a continuance of the termination hearing due to the death of a loved one. On
June 9, 2014 Attorney Willie Griffin, counsel for Dr. Burks, faxed a letter to Tunica
County School Board Attorney David L. Tisdell and Superintendent Stephen Chandler
requesting a continuance of the personnel hearing due to Dr. Burks' inability to attend the
hearing. Tunica County School District did not respond to Mr. Burkes' and Attorney
Griffin's continuance request. The termination hearing on Dr. Burks was convened on
June 9, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. and concluded at 7:22 p.m. Dr. Burks filed a Complaint on
June 27, 2014 seeking reinstatement of his job with all lost benefits. On August 11, 2014
the Defendants filed an Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Plaintiff's Complaint. The
matter was set for trial on May 29, 2015. The Tunica County School Board has never
rendered a written decision from the termination hearing had on June 9, 2014.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
This Court is always mindful of the far reaching harm that can and will be done to
the citizens of a poor underprivileged district such as the Tunica County School System.
The list of procedural errors committed by TCSD are as follows:
1. The Board of TCSD did not set the June 9, 2014 hearing as required by
Miss Code Annot*37-9-59.
2. The Board of TCSD did not record within its minutes the setting of the June
9, 2014 hearing as required by Miss Code Annot*37-9-59 and *37-6-9.
3, The Board of TCSD did not record within its minutes the decision to grant
or deny Mr. Burks' request for a continuance of the termination hearing set
for June 9, 2014 as required by Miss Code Annot *37-9-59 and *37-6-9.
4. The Board of TCSD failed to render and record within its' minutes a final
decision on Mr. Burks' termination as required by Miss Code Annot *37-9-111 and *37-6-9.
This Court cannot turn a blind eye to the willful wanton blatant contemptuous
actions of TCSD. It is amazing to this Court that more than a year has passed since the
June 9, 2014 personnel hearing was held and this Board still has not rendered a written
decision regarding the validity of Mr. Burks' termination. It is clear to the Court TCSD
has no respect for the rule of law and shall continue to operate as a fiefdom unto
themselves until they are made aware of the real repercussions of their lawlessness.
This Court wholeheartedly rejects TCSD's argument that the Court must wait
indefinitely until it renders a written decision before it can grant unto this plaintiff any
relief. This Court will not be held hostage by a group of individuals who clearly feel that
they are above any court and any law.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the action
of the Board of Trustees of the Tunica County School District to terminate Dr. Jeremiah
Burks from his position as Principal of Robinsonville Elementary School is hereby
reversed, vacated, held for naught. That Jeremiah Burks is granted and restored all pay
and benefits that he has been wrongfully deprived of due to the aggressed lawless action of
the Tunica County School Board. That Jeremiah Burks is entitled to full compensation up
to and including the entire 2014-2015 school year.
SO ORDERED, this the 1st day of JULY, 2014.
CATHERINE L. FARRIS-CARTER
CHANCELLOR
Blogger's notes: I've done my best to be accurate in the transcribing of this document. The back and forth of Dr. Burks' name from Dr. to Mr. are included in the document. Also, I am wondering if the final date should be 2015 rather then 2014.
This is just one life and family and career that has been tainted by this band of 4. We learned in Jackson the other day that there are at least 3 more like this and 10-15 other suits being brought against our School District. It is so very important to vote for the right people and then hold them accountable.
Please be mindful that Larry Braziel and Marilyn Young were not sued Individually.
CHANCELLOR
Blogger's notes: I've done my best to be accurate in the transcribing of this document. The back and forth of Dr. Burks' name from Dr. to Mr. are included in the document. Also, I am wondering if the final date should be 2015 rather then 2014.
This is just one life and family and career that has been tainted by this band of 4. We learned in Jackson the other day that there are at least 3 more like this and 10-15 other suits being brought against our School District. It is so very important to vote for the right people and then hold them accountable.
Please be mindful that Larry Braziel and Marilyn Young were not sued Individually.
In My Humble Opinion: Tunica County School District
As soon as the Governor signs the state of emergency for our schools, this unfortunate chapter in our history will be over and the healing and the work will begin.
The first thing I want to say is that the demise of our School District may be blamed on 4 individuals: Former Superintendent of Education, Bernard Stephen Chandler and Board of Education Members Tomeka Cotton, Delois Hardimon and Rev. Joe Anderson. Both Larry Braziel and Marilyn Young consistently voted against the destructive insistence of the other 3 members. That being said, it is time to start healing and time to get to work for all of us. And...by all of us, I mean each and every one of us and that includes me and you.
I am responsible for my vote for Tomeka Cotton. I am not responsible for BS Chandler as I did not vote for him. No matter, I will do all that I can do to help clean up this mess. What will you do?
IMHO, we all need to step up for our various reasons. The most important reason is the children who attend our public schools. The next important reason is attracting businesses and jobs to Tunica. We are not going to attract either businesses or people to Tunica with a failing school system.
It does not matter whether you send or have sent your children to the private school or not. Businesses do not look at the success of a private school when they are thinking about locating in our area. If you choose the private school for education, you are not relieved of your school tax and you are not relieved of your public education responsibilities. Your vote still counted at the polls and therefore you share in the responsibility of the educational improvement of our public schools.
Let's all get to work.
The first thing I want to say is that the demise of our School District may be blamed on 4 individuals: Former Superintendent of Education, Bernard Stephen Chandler and Board of Education Members Tomeka Cotton, Delois Hardimon and Rev. Joe Anderson. Both Larry Braziel and Marilyn Young consistently voted against the destructive insistence of the other 3 members. That being said, it is time to start healing and time to get to work for all of us. And...by all of us, I mean each and every one of us and that includes me and you.
I am responsible for my vote for Tomeka Cotton. I am not responsible for BS Chandler as I did not vote for him. No matter, I will do all that I can do to help clean up this mess. What will you do?
IMHO, we all need to step up for our various reasons. The most important reason is the children who attend our public schools. The next important reason is attracting businesses and jobs to Tunica. We are not going to attract either businesses or people to Tunica with a failing school system.
It does not matter whether you send or have sent your children to the private school or not. Businesses do not look at the success of a private school when they are thinking about locating in our area. If you choose the private school for education, you are not relieved of your school tax and you are not relieved of your public education responsibilities. Your vote still counted at the polls and therefore you share in the responsibility of the educational improvement of our public schools.
Let's all get to work.
The Supervisor Debates are OVER....
The Supervisor debates are over. There are rumors flying all over the place that some candidates for Supervisor didn't think it was necessary for them to participate in these 5 events. We know of one candidate who told the sponsor that he didn't have to participate as everyone knew who he was and what he stood for. Absolutely ridiculous.
In light of these circumstances and the importance of electing Supervisors who are willing to serve you and can be counted upon to show up, I am posting each debate in the order they were held. One thing I know for sure is that those who did not show up for the debates, do not show up for each and every Board of Supervisors' Meeting. Some of the candidates for Supervisor who showed up for the debates hardly ever attend Board of Supervisors' Meetings. If their name isn't listed, they didn't show for the debates and I am not listing them because I am not going to advertise for them on this Blog. You be the judge.
District 3 Supervisor:
Incumbent: Phillis Williams
Candidate: Keith Willis
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Robert Hall: District 1
Mario Watts: District 1
Barbara Tuchel: District 2
Sonny Nickson: District 4
District 5 Supervisor:
Incumbent: McKinley Daley
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Robert Hall: District 1
Mario Watts: District 1
Barbara Tuchel: District 2
Phillis Williams: District 3
Sonny Nickson: District 4
McKinley Daley: District 5
District 4 Supervisor:
Incumbent: Sonny Nickson
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Robert Hall: District 1
Mario Watts: District 1
Robert LeFlore: District 2
Barbara Tuchel: District 2
Perry Turner: District 2
Phillis Williams: District 3
McKinley Daley: District 5
District 2 Supervisor:
Incumbent: No Incumbent
Candidate: Lynn Henson
Candidate: Barbara Tuchel
Candidate: Ed Walls
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Robert Hall: District 1
Mario Watts: District 1
Phillis Williams: District 3
Sonny Nickson: District 4
McKinley Daley: District 5
District 1 Supervisor:
Incumbent: James Dunn
Candidate: Robert Hall
Candidate: Mario Watts
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Barbara Tuchel: District 2
Ed Walls: District 2
Yes, I am highlighted and underlined and blown-up. I want you to know that not only will I show up, I will do the job as is evidenced by this blog. I've worked to find answers and I've worked to share what I have learned with you. My full platform is located elsewhere on this blog. Find my platform under:
In light of these circumstances and the importance of electing Supervisors who are willing to serve you and can be counted upon to show up, I am posting each debate in the order they were held. One thing I know for sure is that those who did not show up for the debates, do not show up for each and every Board of Supervisors' Meeting. Some of the candidates for Supervisor who showed up for the debates hardly ever attend Board of Supervisors' Meetings. If their name isn't listed, they didn't show for the debates and I am not listing them because I am not going to advertise for them on this Blog. You be the judge.
District 3 Supervisor:
Incumbent: Phillis Williams
Candidate: Keith Willis
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Robert Hall: District 1
Mario Watts: District 1
Barbara Tuchel: District 2
Sonny Nickson: District 4
District 5 Supervisor:
Incumbent: McKinley Daley
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Robert Hall: District 1
Mario Watts: District 1
Barbara Tuchel: District 2
Phillis Williams: District 3
Sonny Nickson: District 4
McKinley Daley: District 5
District 4 Supervisor:
Incumbent: Sonny Nickson
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Robert Hall: District 1
Mario Watts: District 1
Robert LeFlore: District 2
Barbara Tuchel: District 2
Perry Turner: District 2
Phillis Williams: District 3
McKinley Daley: District 5
District 2 Supervisor:
Incumbent: No Incumbent
Candidate: Lynn Henson
Candidate: Barbara Tuchel
Candidate: Ed Walls
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Robert Hall: District 1
Mario Watts: District 1
Phillis Williams: District 3
Sonny Nickson: District 4
McKinley Daley: District 5
District 1 Supervisor:
Incumbent: James Dunn
Candidate: Robert Hall
Candidate: Mario Watts
Other Supervisor Candidates for other Districts who came to the podium and spoke:
Barbara Tuchel: District 2
Ed Walls: District 2
Yes, I am highlighted and underlined and blown-up. I want you to know that not only will I show up, I will do the job as is evidenced by this blog. I've worked to find answers and I've worked to share what I have learned with you. My full platform is located elsewhere on this blog. Find my platform under:
Beat 2 Supervisor Platform dated 6/8/2015.
I am ready, willing and able to do the job
and I am ready to go to work.
I am asking for your vote in the General Election on 3 Nov 2015.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
News FLASH
The MS Dept of Education (Accreditation) has just voted to move to the State Board of Education with a recommendation to ask them to abolish the Tunica County School District.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
An Interesting Article from Bob
The author of the book, “Collapse,”
Jared Diamond, succinctly described the conditions that determine a society’s
response to any given challenge. “A
society’s response (to challenges) depends on the societies political,
economic, and societal institutions and its values.”
Tunica County has had more than a
century to develop and settle into its political, economic, and societal
institutions and its values. The advent
of the casinos in this county did not change those four elements of Tunica
society. Rather, it substantiated
them. It rewarded the keepers of those
four elements of our society. The
creation of the airport, event center, recreation center, museum, golf and
tennis facility, and river park are little more than monuments to their belief
that their political, economic, and social institutions and values, that for
more than a century dominated the county, were correct and justified. I hope we now know better.
About a decade ago, Tunica County
leaders were strongly advised against building a dependency on income
from the casino industry by well experienced experts during a hearing in
Washington, DC. That sage and learned
advice could not change the entrenched belief that the political, economic and
social leaders of Tunica County were the keepers of the holy grail of decision
making. In short, that they knew best
what was good for Tunica County. This is
why property taxes were almost abolished, why services were performed at no
expense to the county residents, why the monuments were constructed, and why
the county is now deeply in debt.
Instead of creating a method for
developing the young people of the county for careers at all levels in the
economy of our country, instead of creating an environment friendly to and
supportive of diverse economic growth, they built monuments to their political,
economic and societal institutions and to their values. You and I will be paying for those monuments
for a long, long time.
Now that the money has (not so
suddenly) decreased, the people of Tunica County are faced with difficult
times. Changes must be made to how the
money is allocated to all aspects of the operation of the county, the Town of
Tunica, and to the Tunica County School District. What stands in the way? It is the keepers of the political, economic,
societal institutions, and their values.
If we fail to escape the bondage of those deeply entrenched beliefs, we
will make poor decisions leading to failures that are far more destructive than
we can tolerate.
This county has more resources and
more opportunity than were available to us prior to the casino tax
revenue. It is not as much as we had in
our recent past but with careful adjustments to our expenditures, we can become
financially sound. Will there be pain?
Yes! We have been living in a false
economy. It has not collapsed but is
shrinking and is predicted to continue shrinking. It is time to put on our “big boy drawers” and
make the requisite changes to our political, economic, and societal institutions,
and our values which led us to this destructive situation.
So, where do we begin
rebuilding? We do so by putting in place
persons who have the knowledge, the experience, and the courage to squarely
face the challenge and who will make well considered change.
The people of Tunica County must
vote for candidates who are well versed in the condition of our County and in
the opportunities that remain available to us.
These persons must be leaders with compassion and strength. They must see the broad scope of needs of the
people of Tunica County.
Single issue
candidates are destructive to our economic health. Uninformed candidates are equally
destructive. Self serving candidates, by
definition, fail to serve the public.
The challenge to you and to me is to put in the time to determine the
candidate’s knowledge and experience. Ask yourself, does this candidate want the job
because of a desire to serve, a desire to put us back into financial
stability? Do we want the problem fixed
or are we going to put in place persons whose only qualification is their
relationship to family and friends, or to those who offer us jobs or some other
advantage?
Time is growing short. You are urged to vote and to vote for the
candidates who will provide policy and direction that will lead us to financial
stability.
No more monuments to our
indebtedness.
Monday, July 6, 2015
6 Jul 2015 Board of Supervisors' Meeting
This morning's meeting was a disappointment in the way James Dunn conducted himself. Dunn has this very annoying habit of talking over people who are talking at the podium when he doesn't want others to hear what the speaker has to say. Very rude. What are you trying to hide, King James?
And then there was Burnett and his never ending remarks about Michael Thompson not being a resident of Tunica County. On any level, does Burnett comprehend that there are a lot of us who don't believe he is a full time resident of Tunica County? Besides, why isn't Burnett mentioning that both Adrian McKay and Hylon Oliver live in Desoto County? What about all of the other employees who live out of the County?
Oh, but wait, there's more. This morning Burnett added to his diatribe against Thompson by saying there are residents of Tunica County who have Michael's credentials and experience. Really? Who?
Cedric, you want to constantly bring this up. Okay, each time you bring this up, I'm going to post on this blog that you vote "no" on payroll and claims and yet cash your own paycheck. Now that is SHAMEFUL!!!
Then there was the discussion of hiring an energy consultant to find out what we have to do to cut down on our very expensive utility bills. Burnett said we could ask the Maintenance Dept to change the light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs and that would take care of it. Dunn mentioned he had consulted with someone at a Supervisors' Meeting in Biloxi and this guy would do the same thing for free. The Mayor was sitting behind us and said Entergy would perform the same service for free. Did any of you think to pass this information on to the County Administrator after the Energy Consultant made his presentation? Except for Burnett's ridiculous bit about changing the light bulbs, you could have helped the Board to come to some kind of conclusion TODAY. This is important why? Because as you all are putting off making the best decision, the meters are running.
Also, this morning the Board voted to increase the monthly allotment to the Chamber of Commerce to $9,300 per month. All Board members voted yes. What? This isn't an essential service. How about a report about the benefits of this expense. Since this subject was brought up after the Executive Session and there was no explanation for this expense given to the public, we are left to think something is being hidden from us.
There will be another meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Wed, 8 Jul 2015 @ 9a for the purpose of hiring an attorney to replace Ellis Pittman. I've been assured there is no other subject on the table.
What is the problem with continuing with Pittman and Associates? I'm going to step out on a limb here and say that I feel sure that King James and Burnett will try to persuade the new Supervisors to go along with who they propose. Please, Sonny, Phillis and McKinley, don't listen to them. You three did a very good job in finding Ellis Pittman. He was a blessing to us all.
And then there was Burnett and his never ending remarks about Michael Thompson not being a resident of Tunica County. On any level, does Burnett comprehend that there are a lot of us who don't believe he is a full time resident of Tunica County? Besides, why isn't Burnett mentioning that both Adrian McKay and Hylon Oliver live in Desoto County? What about all of the other employees who live out of the County?
Oh, but wait, there's more. This morning Burnett added to his diatribe against Thompson by saying there are residents of Tunica County who have Michael's credentials and experience. Really? Who?
Cedric, you want to constantly bring this up. Okay, each time you bring this up, I'm going to post on this blog that you vote "no" on payroll and claims and yet cash your own paycheck. Now that is SHAMEFUL!!!
Then there was the discussion of hiring an energy consultant to find out what we have to do to cut down on our very expensive utility bills. Burnett said we could ask the Maintenance Dept to change the light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs and that would take care of it. Dunn mentioned he had consulted with someone at a Supervisors' Meeting in Biloxi and this guy would do the same thing for free. The Mayor was sitting behind us and said Entergy would perform the same service for free. Did any of you think to pass this information on to the County Administrator after the Energy Consultant made his presentation? Except for Burnett's ridiculous bit about changing the light bulbs, you could have helped the Board to come to some kind of conclusion TODAY. This is important why? Because as you all are putting off making the best decision, the meters are running.
Also, this morning the Board voted to increase the monthly allotment to the Chamber of Commerce to $9,300 per month. All Board members voted yes. What? This isn't an essential service. How about a report about the benefits of this expense. Since this subject was brought up after the Executive Session and there was no explanation for this expense given to the public, we are left to think something is being hidden from us.
There will be another meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Wed, 8 Jul 2015 @ 9a for the purpose of hiring an attorney to replace Ellis Pittman. I've been assured there is no other subject on the table.
What is the problem with continuing with Pittman and Associates? I'm going to step out on a limb here and say that I feel sure that King James and Burnett will try to persuade the new Supervisors to go along with who they propose. Please, Sonny, Phillis and McKinley, don't listen to them. You three did a very good job in finding Ellis Pittman. He was a blessing to us all.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Email requesting Emergency Special Bd of Ed Meeting
The following is an email requesting an Emergency Special Board of Education Meeting for Mon, 6 Jul 2015 @ 5p. As of this evening we have not heard back from Cotton. Be sure to read the second post about the Wed, 8 Jul 2015, meeting in Jackson, MS.
Tunica Educational Improvement
Jul 5 at 4:16 PM
To
cottont@tunicak12.org tess5tess@bellsouth.net
CC
marilynyoungtunicams@gmail.com youngm@tunicak12.org
lrrybraziel@yahoo.com braziell@tunicak12.org hardimand@tunicak12.org and 14 more...
lrrybraziel@yahoo.com braziell@tunicak12.org hardimand@tunicak12.org and 14 more...
July 5, 2015
Tunica County Board of Education
Mrs. Tomaka Cotton, Board Chair
744 School Street
Tunica, MS 38676
RE: Request to convene an Emergency Special Board of Education Meeting to Update the
Community on the threat of State Takeover/Abolishing the School District
Dear Board of Education Members:
WE are respectfully requesting that the Tunica County Board of Education hold an
Emergency Special Board of Education Meeting for Monday 07/06/2015 afternoon after 5:00 pm.
The purpose for this meeting should include at least the following items:
Update the community on the status of the MDE Final Audit Report and how the
Board of Education will help to address the deficiencies.
What is the official position that the Tunica County Board of Education will take at
the Commission on Accreditation Hearing in Jackson, MS on Wednesday?
Allow for the community to have meaningful community input in the discussion
about the education viability of the Tunica County School District by allowing
meaningful public comment.
As citizens in the community we are very concerned about our Tunica County School District.
At this point, the community has not been informed by the Superintendent or the Board of Education
in an official capacity about possibility of the school district being abolished and reconstituted.
Positive communication with the community is a must since we elected you to represent our educational interests.
We know time is of the essence and there is no greater concern then to inform the students, parents, and community
that will be impacted by this process. We are looking forward to getting a positive response from you this evening.
Thanks,
Tunica County Committee for
Educational Improvement in Tunica County, MS
Your help is need in Jackson
Following this post you will find the cover letter for the reports
and documentation that was delivered to each Board of Education Member and the
now former Tunica County Superintendent of Education.
The Educational Improvement Committee has been working with the
Mississippi Department of Education for many months. We have continuously
asked them to remove the former TC Superintendent of Education. It looks
like the State may be getting ready to take over the TC School District.
To those of you who have not kept up on a daily basis with what is
happening in our school system, I'm saying it is time we were all involved.
So much of what develops in our County will be based on the success of
our schools; not the least of which is the lives and futures of our children.
We adults voted the former Superintendent and
the current School Board into office. and now it is our collective
responsibility to hold these elected officials accountable for what they have
allowed to happen to our School District. I did not vote for the former
Superintendent of Education but I did vote for the District 2 Representative
who is also the Board President. I am very disappointed in the actions of
my representative. This is why I am going to do my part and travel to Jackson
this Wednesday to participate in the hearings.
It is my understanding that if the State makes the decision to
take over our Schools, the Superintendent and the entire Board will be removed.
What I hope will happen is that Ms. Young and Mr. Braziel will be allowed
to remain on the Tunica County Board of Education as they were the two opposing
voices to all of the foolishness brought forth by the other three Board
Members.
Additionally, there have been some requests to see a copy of the
full audit that was presented to the School Board in May 2015. The
document is about 300 pages long. Over this weekend, I sent an email to
MDE asking them to put this document on their website so that everyone who is
interested may read it.
Okay, here is the cover letter.
Note: This letter was retyped as I am the owner of a computer with
Microsoft 8 and Microsoft 8 is a piece of junk. Trying to copy and paste
to the blog is not possible. Any misspelled words or incorrect language is the
fault of the Blogger.)
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF ACCREDITATION
Paula A. Vanderford, Ph. D.
Executive Director
June 30, 2015
VIA HAND DELIVERY
Mr. Bernard Stephen Chandler, Superintendent
Tunica County School District (7200)
744 School Street
Tunica, MS 38676
Mrs. Tameka Cotton, Board Chair
Tunica County School District (7200)
744 School Street
Tunica, MS 38676
Dear Mr. Chandler and Mrs. Cotton:
Enclosed is the Mississippi Department of Education's Final Report
addressing deficiencies outlined in the May 13, 2015, Preliminary Report of
On-Site Findings for the Tunica County School District (Attachment B) conducted
February 10, 2015 through March 20, 2015.
Based on responses received from the District on June 12, 2015
(Attachment C), and additional documentary evidence provided by the District,
the following citations of noncompliance have been cleared: 15, 16, 17.5,
17.5.1, 29, 29.1, and 29.2. The District remains in violation of the
following Accreditation Standards: 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,2, 2,1, 2.3, 3, 6, 6.1,
6.2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12.1, 12.2, 13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.5, 14, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3,
14.4, 14.5, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.6, 17.8, 18, 18.1, 18.2, 19, 19.1, 19.2,
20, 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, and 31. In addition to violations noted above,
the District remains noncompliant with Accreditation Policy 2.1.
Also enclosed is a Supplemental Report (Attachment A) of
additional citations to the findings of the on-site evaluation conducted in the
Tunica County School District February 10, 2015, through March 20, 2015.
The additional citations for standards 8 and 17.4 outlined in the
Supplemental Report are consolidated into the Final Report of On-Site Audit
Findings.
In accordance with Section 37-17-6(12)(b) of the Mississippi Code
of 1972, as amended, and the Accreditation Policies published in the
Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2014, a report
will be made to the Commission on School Accreditation in a special-called
meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. The Commission meeting will begin at
10:00 a.m. in the 4th Floor Board Room of the Central High School Building in
Jackson, Mississippi. The Commission will determine if an extreme
emergency situation exists that jeopardizes the safety, security and
educational interests of the children enrolled in the Tunica County School
District pursuant to Section 37-17-6(12)(b) of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as
amended.
According to the enclosed Accreditation Audit procedures
(Attachment D), the superintendent and the board president will be allowed to address
the Commission prior to the Commission's determination.
If the Commission makes any recommendation(s) at
this meeting, the recommendation(s) will be presented to the State Board of
Education during a special-called meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at 2:00
p.m. in the 4th Floor Board Room of the Central High School Building in
Jackson, Mississippi. The State Board of Education will also allow the
superintendent and board president the opportunity to make comments.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (601) 359-3764.
Sincerely,
Paula A. Vanderford, Ph. D.
Executive Director
Office of Accreditation
Enclosures
Attachment A: Supplemental Report of On-Site Findings
Attachment B: Preliminary Report of On-Site Findings
Attachment C: Tunica County School District Corrective Action Plan
Attachment D: Accreditation Audit Procedures
c: Carey M. Wright, Ed. D.
Pat Ross
Regina May, Esq.
Tunica County School Board
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Boykin back on the ballot
A rebuttal of a Tunica Times story on the front page of the 3 Jul 2015 issue: DEC's appeal of Boykin order dismissed.
1. "The DEC withdrew its challenge to Dishmon-Boykin just prior to a May 14 hearing before Special Circuit Judge Henry Lackey."
There is still a lot of confusion about this proceeding. I have been told by several members of the DEC that they voted to not certify Boykin to run for election. So, who made this agreement? No one on this committee had the authority to make such an agreement and that includes the chair.
2. "...the panel finds that the appeal in the matter was untimely filed and the appeal should be dismissed." I have been told by several members of the DEC that they were told they had 10 days to file an appeal. Later, they found an appeal had to be filed within 3 days.
Go back and review the facts presented on this blog. The date is 23 May 2015. The post is Justice Court Judge for the Southern District. The facts are still the same. Jacqueline Dishmon-Boykin did not and does not meet the requirements to be elected as a Justice Court Judge for the Southern District in Tunica County, MS.
Letter from MDE to Chandler and Cotton
I have been attempting to upload this letter for over 24 hours now. If anyone is in the market for a new computer, do yourself a favor and make sure your new purchase doesn't operate with Microsoft 8. I recently spoke with a friend of mine who is pretty technically inclined. He too had purchased a computer with Microsoft 8. He said he had fixed his problem by throwing money at it and buying another computer. I thought that was pretty funny.
Anyway, here is the letter.
Anyway, here is the letter.
; MISSISSIPPI
I DEPARTMENT OF
; ED"CCATION
I DEPARTMENT OF
; ED"CCATION
June 30, 2015
VIA HAND DELIVERY
Mr. Bernard Stephen Chandler, Superintendent
Tunica County School District (7200)
Tunica County School District (7200)
744 School Street
Tunica, Mississippi 38676
Mrs. Tameka Cotton, Board Chair
Tunica County School District (7200)
744 School Street
Tunica County School District (7200)
744 School Street
Tunica, Mississippi 38676
Dear Mr. Chandler and Mrs. Cotton:
Office of Accreditation
Paula A. Vanderford, Ph.D.
Paula A. Vanderford, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Enclosed is the Mississippi Department of Education's Final Report addressing the deficiencies
outlined in the May 13, 2015, Preliminary Report of On-Site Findings for the Tunica County
School District (Attachment B) conducted February 10,2015 through March 20, 2015.
outlined in the May 13, 2015, Preliminary Report of On-Site Findings for the Tunica County
School District (Attachment B) conducted February 10,2015 through March 20, 2015.
Based on responses received from the District on June 12, 2015 (Attachment C), and additional
documentary evidence provided by the District, the following citations of noncompliance have
been cleared: 15,16,17.5, 17.5.1,29,29.1, and 29.2. The District remains in violation of the
following Accreditation Standards: 1,1.1,1.2,1.3,2,2.1,2.3,3,6,6.1,6.2,8,9,10,11,12,12.1,
12.2,13,13.1,13.2,13.5,14,14.1,14.2,14.3,14.4. 14.5, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.6, 17.8, 18,
18.1, 18.2, 19, 19.1, 19.2,20,21,22,23,26,27,30, and 31. In addition to violations noted above,
the District remains noncompliant with Accreditation Policy 2.1 .
documentary evidence provided by the District, the following citations of noncompliance have
been cleared: 15,16,17.5, 17.5.1,29,29.1, and 29.2. The District remains in violation of the
following Accreditation Standards: 1,1.1,1.2,1.3,2,2.1,2.3,3,6,6.1,6.2,8,9,10,11,12,12.1,
12.2,13,13.1,13.2,13.5,14,14.1,14.2,14.3,14.4. 14.5, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.6, 17.8, 18,
18.1, 18.2, 19, 19.1, 19.2,20,21,22,23,26,27,30, and 31. In addition to violations noted above,
the District remains noncompliant with Accreditation Policy 2.1 .
Also enclosed is a Supplemental Report (Attachment A) of additional citations to the findings of
the on-site evaluation conducted in the Tunica County School District February 10,2015, through
March 20, 2015. The additional citations for standards 8 and 17.4 outlined in the Supplemental
Report are consolidated into the Final Report of On-Site Audit Findings ..
the on-site evaluation conducted in the Tunica County School District February 10,2015, through
March 20, 2015. The additional citations for standards 8 and 17.4 outlined in the Supplemental
Report are consolidated into the Final Report of On-Site Audit Findings ..
In accordance with Section 37-17-6(12)(b) of the Mississippi Code oj 1972, as amended, and the
Accreditation Policies published in the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2014,
a report will be made to the Commission on School Accreditation in a special-called meeting on
Wednesday, July 8,2015. The Commission meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the 4th Floor
Accreditation Policies published in the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2014,
a report will be made to the Commission on School Accreditation in a special-called meeting on
Wednesday, July 8,2015. The Commission meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the 4th Floor
Central High School Building
359 North West Street
359 North West Street
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205-0771
Phone (601) 359-3764
Fax (601) 359-1979
Fax (601) 359-1979
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