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
