Published: September 03, 2008 11:55 am            

Request for extra millage by Newton schools denied

NEWTON — No seconds were heard as Mary Kate Garvin, Superintendent of Newton City Schools, waited for the Newton County Board of Supervisors to make a decision to reconsider increasing the millage rate to help fund a GED program for the school system.

Garvin and Rebecca Stevens, Chief Financial Officer for the city schools, pleaded with the board to increase the millage to go toward their fund balance.

“Our GED program is a requirement or part of the drop out prevention plan that is required by our state Governor and state superintendent of education,” Garvin said. “Newton City Schools has the second highest drop out rate in the state of Mississippi. Our GED program at the present has 16 children involved in it that would have dropped out of school if we hadn’t had this program for them. It is a benefit to the community, to the county and to the families of our community.

“It is a very valuable program that will keep these kids from dropping out and get them a GED that will provide them the opportunity to go on to East Central, or another Junior College of their choice and to be able to provide to the county a pay back in the way of being a productive citizen. We would like for you to reconsider funding the GED program for Newton City Schools.”

Stevens told the board half of the salary for the GED program is paid out of the federal program and the other half will be paid from local sources.

President Charles Moulds asked Garvin how much does the federal fund?

Garvin: The program costs about 45,000 a year for salary. It is federally funded half of the salary and other sources will pay for with money you can give us or it will come out of our fund balance because we are already operating in the deficit as it is.

Moulds: That is what I wanted to clear up I didn’t know what other sources.

Garvin: My main concern is just for the students. If we keep going in a deficit budget every year we are going to end up running out of money.. We have about 850,000 dollars and that doesn’t last long.

Moulds: What is Newton school millage now?

Stevens: It is 54.89, the problem we are running into is we are losing property value for the past two years and we have lost right at a million dollars.

Moulds: We have all had kids in school and we are in a situation here state and federal has slacked off, they come out with a program then they want fund it and it falls back on the county to fund it. It is a decision I have thought a lot on. We usually have to rubber stamp it from a school and this time I have chosen not to do it, for reasons of not knowing the program. No one asked us about it they just sent in a request for that amount. We have already gone though hoping to approve the budget today. I am not for it, but not against Newton schools. I don’t know where it is going to keep coming from but I am not changing my vote.

Garvin: I appreciate your opinion on that, but it is a very important program, right now we have 16 kids that we would have lost $4,000 apiece for, they are in school and we are getting funds for them, if we don’t have the program we are not going to have those kids. It is not for any ones benefit except for the students of that school district and they are part of Newton County. I would like for you to reconsider your vote, we don’t ask for anything that we don’t feel is necessary for the education for the students but I do understand where you are coming from also.

Supervisor District One Kenneth Harris: I want to see all the kids do good. I understand about the taxes maybe I am from a different class but I look at it from a different perspective. I feel like anytime I can do something to help a child to better his or herself I don’t mind doing it, that is why I don’t mind doing things for the school system and would do the same thing for the county if I was asked. I don’t have a limit on what I will do for the Newton city school system. I know a lot of kids that have come out of that school, I went to school there too. I am not going to just sit back and do nothing, I will try to help them. Everyone is entitled to there own opinion.

Moulds: If somone wants to bring up a motion to reconsider the millage rate they can, if not we will move on. The table is open to make a motion to reconsider this.

Harris: I make that motion.

Moulds: Anyone want to second it? Going twice does anyone want to second it?

No seconds were given and the meeting adjourned.

Garvin: We appreciate your attention today and thanks.

        

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