Cameras could catch violators of bus rules
Page 12A — THE GILMER MIRROR, Gilmer, Texas May 25, 2013
Consultant: Tax revision could increase state aid By PHILLIP WILLIAMS A consultant on school tax elections told the Gilmer School Board in a presentation by speakerphone Monday night that it could gain $1.2 million in state revenue without a tax rate increase by holding an election on revising the way the tax revenue is divided. The board took no immediate action on the proposal, which would require voter approval in a special election that could be scheduled for Sept. 14. However, the board would have to call an election for that date by Aug. 6. The tax rate is divided into two portions: (1) maintenance and operations (M&O), and (2) the “interest and sinking fund” (INS) for debt service. Dr. John Walch, who was paid by the hour for Monday’s presentation, told trustees that by raising the M&O portion 13 cents to the state maximum of $1.17 per $100 valuation—and lowering the other portion of the tax rate by 13 cents—Gilmer ISD could receive the additional state aid. “You don’t increase the (overall) tax rate,” Walch said. “It’s moving your pennies to the right state account so you make the most state money.” However, he also acknowledged that since the school district would have to use other fund balances to pay debt, the net gain to the district would be only about $400,000.
Nonetheless, the proposal would have a “positive economic impact on the community,” he said. Walch said 32 percent of the state’s school districts have approved such a switch in dividing up the tax rate, a move which he said was approved in 327 of the 390 districts who proposed it. (Some had more than one election before voters approved, though, he pointed out.) If the proposal was approved, tax bills for those age 65 and over and for the disabled would not increase unless they make improvements to their property, the consultant added. Board Member Mike Tackett asked Walch what “drawbacks” the proposal had, and the consultant replied “I don’t know what the negative is.” Asked by a representative of The Mirror about the possibility that the board might eventually restore the part of the tax rate for debt service, Walch replied such a move would be “dumb,” and would probably result in the superintendent being fired, and an entirely new school board being elected. In another major action Monday night, the board approved continuing to create a “nontraditional” high school for certain students at risk of not graduating. The action came after a presentation from Assistant High School Principal Lola
Hollis. The special school, which could be held at the school Administration Building for four hours a day, would be for such students at those who are married, who are parents, who don’t live at home due to family problems, or, in Mrs. Hollis’s words, do “not fit the traditional role.” That would include students who are disruptive, but she said it would not include pupils who chronically disrupt class. The school would have a “self-paced curriculum” and students would receive most of their instruction by computer, Mrs. Hollis said. The program would also be for “bright students with hardships,” not the “lazy,” she added. Students must have the “promise” of passing the state-required STARR test, must want to attend the school, and must enter a conract with their parents and the school district, she added. Said School Supt. Rick Albritton, “This can’t just be a dumping ground.” He also said he expected some classes to be held at night. Freshmen would not qualify for the program, since a student must have a minimum of 11 high school credits to enter it, Mrs. Hollis said. She said she would stay with the students, and that high school teachers also would come in.
By PHILLIP WILLIAMS A representative of a firm which arms school buses with cameras, partly to detect and levy “civil” fines against motorists illegally passing stopped buses, made a lengthy presentation to the Gilmer School Board Monday night about the possibility of contracting for utilizing his services. The board informally tabled for further study the proposal of Jack West, Chief Marketing Officer for Bus Shield in New Orleans, La. West said his firm is “first about safety,” noting that 12 American children were killed last year when they were run over after exiting buses. However, such a camera has also been used to clear a bus driver who was accused of improperly touching a girl, he noted. Motorists who are caught on camera illegally passing a bus can receive a $300 civil citation from the firm, and “we take 24 percent of those dollars and we put them back into the school,” West said. “We penalize people financially who will not adhere to
the traffic laws.” School Supt. Rick Albritton said the matter is civil, “not really a criminal” one. But he said those who don’t pay the fines will have that listed on their credit report, and West said that those who contest the fines in civil Justice of the Peace Courts generally end up seeing the amount doubled. Within 18 to 24 months, West said, his firm recovers enough revenue to cover the costs of installing cameras. The firm also has a “panic button” for bus drivers who are in trouble, and software which can detect if a bus needs repairs, West said. Because of the high expense of the service, he indicated, several small schools can band together to utliize Bus Shield’s services and a central “monitoring station” could be established in Gilmer to observe all those schools’ buses. The firm could lease space from Gilmer ISD for that purpose, and provide jobs for monitors, he said. Albritton said the firm’s service “looks like a very
good product for our kids,” but expressed the desire to have an attorney review the contract first. Board Member Todd Tefteller expressed concern about the length of the 5-year contract Bus Shield wanted.
Courtesy Photo / Troy Cox
THE COVERING OF THE ROOF of the Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative Auditorium was peeled back by high straight-line winds Tuesday evening, allowing a lot of water damage to the auditorium’s ceiling. The popular large meeting facility will be closed until repairs can be made, at a time yet to be determined at press time. See story, related pictures about storm damage on Page 1.
Cameras could catch violators of bus rules
WEATHER
DATA Reporting for Upshur County: Gilmer Municipal Airport Gordon Reynolds-Near Big Sandy Darrell Cook-Enon Kenneth Carroll - Near Bettie Flo Callahan - Diana Monday, May 20
Area Near Big Sandy Enon Gilmer Near Bettie Diana
High
Low
NA 89 88 89 88
NA 74 73 73 72
Rainfall
NA 0 0 0 0
Tuesday, May 21
Area Near BigSandy Enon Gilmer Near Bettie Diana
High
Low
Rainfall
NA 88 88 88 86
NA 63 62 63 75
NA 1.75” NA 1.40” 1.14”
Wednesday, May 22
Area Near Big Sandy Enon Gilmer Near Bettie Diana
High
Low
Rainfall
NA 84 84 84 81
NA 63 63 63 61
NA 0 0 0 0
Mirror Photo / Mac Overton
THE WESLEY HOUSE ASSISTED-LIVING facility in Gilmer recently dedicated a rose bush and garden to former resident Emma Richardson, who died in April. The rose garden is just off the dining/meeting room area at the north end of the main wing. A group of residents viewed the dedication. Taking part were, from left, Bro. Wayne Norvell, who gave the dedicatory prayer; administrator Francie Clampitt, and Mrs. Richardson’s daughters, Martha Reel, Lynda Turner and Betty Wallace.
Consultant: Tax revision could increase state aid By PHILLIP WILLIAMS A consultant on school tax elections told the Gilmer School Board in a presentation by speakerphone Monday night that it could gain $1.2 million in state revenue without a tax rate increase by holding an election on revising the way the tax revenue is divided. The board took no immediate action on the proposal, which would require voter approval in a special election that could be scheduled for Sept. 14. However, the board would have to call an election for that date by Aug. 6. The tax rate is divided into two portions: (1) maintenance and operations (M&O), and (2) the “interest and sinking fund” (INS) for debt service. Dr. John Walch, who was paid by the hour for Monday’s presentation, told trustees that by raising the M&O portion 13 cents to the state maximum of $1.17 per $100 valuation—and lowering the other portion of the tax rate by 13 cents—Gilmer ISD could receive the additional state aid. “You don’t increase the (overall) tax rate,” Walch said. “It’s moving your pennies to the right state account so you make the most state money.” However, he also acknowledged that since the school district would have to use other fund balances to pay debt, the net gain to the district would be only about $400,000.
Nonetheless, the proposal would have a “positive economic impact on the community,” he said. Walch said 32 percent of the state’s school districts have approved such a switch in dividing up the tax rate, a move which he said was approved in 327 of the 390 districts who proposed it. (Some had more than one election before voters approved, though, he pointed out.) If the proposal was approved, tax bills for those age 65 and over and for the disabled would not increase unless they make improvements to their property, the consultant added. Board Member Mike Tackett asked Walch what “drawbacks” the proposal had, and the consultant replied “I don’t know what the negative is.” Asked by a representative of The Mirror about the possibility that the board might eventually restore the part of the tax rate for debt service, Walch replied such a move would be “dumb,” and would probably result in the superintendent being fired, and an entirely new school board being elected. In another major action Monday night, the board approved continuing to create a “nontraditional” high school for certain students at risk of not graduating. The action came after a presentation from Assistant High School Principal Lola
Hollis. The special school, which could be held at the school Administration Building for four hours a day, would be for such students at those who are married, who are parents, who don’t live at home due to family problems, or, in Mrs. Hollis’s words, do “not fit the traditional role.” That would include students who are disruptive, but she said it would not include pupils who chronically disrupt class. The school would have a “self-paced curriculum” and students would receive most of their instruction by computer, Mrs. Hollis said. The program would also be for “bright students with hardships,” not the “lazy,” she added. Students must have the “promise” of passing the state-required STARR test, must want to attend the school, and must enter a conract with their parents and the school district, she added. Said School Supt. Rick Albritton, “This can’t just be a dumping ground.” He also said he expected some classes to be held at night. Freshmen would not qualify for the program, since a student must have a minimum of 11 high school credits to enter it, Mrs. Hollis said. She said she would stay with the students, and that high school teachers also would come in.
By PHILLIP WILLIAMS A representative of a firm which arms school buses with cameras, partly to detect and levy “civil” fines against motorists illegally passing stopped buses, made a lengthy presentation to the Gilmer School Board Monday night about the possibility of contracting for utilizing his services. The board informally tabled for further study the proposal of Jack West, Chief Marketing Officer for Bus Shield in New Orleans, La. West said his firm is “first about safety,” noting that 12 American children were killed last year when they were run over after exiting buses. However, such a camera has also been used to clear a bus driver who was accused of improperly touching a girl, he noted. Motorists who are caught on camera illegally passing a bus can receive a $300 civil citation from the firm, and “we take 24 percent of those dollars and we put them back into the school,” West said. “We penalize people financially who will not adhere to
the traffic laws.” School Supt. Rick Albritton said the matter is civil, “not really a criminal” one. But he said those who don’t pay the fines will have that listed on their credit report, and West said that those who contest the fines in civil Justice of the Peace Courts generally end up seeing the amount doubled. Within 18 to 24 months, West said, his firm recovers enough revenue to cover the costs of installing cameras. The firm also has a “panic button” for bus drivers who are in trouble, and software which can detect if a bus needs repairs, West said. Because of the high expense of the service, he indicated, several small schools can band together to utliize Bus Shield’s services and a central “monitoring station” could be established in Gilmer to observe all those schools’ buses. The firm could lease space from Gilmer ISD for that purpose, and provide jobs for monitors, he said. Albritton said the firm’s service “looks like a very
good product for our kids,” but expressed the desire to have an attorney review the contract first. Board Member Todd Tefteller expressed concern about the length of the 5-year contract Bus Shield wanted.
Courtesy Photo / Troy Cox
THE COVERING OF THE ROOF of the Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative Auditorium was peeled back by high straight-line winds Tuesday evening, allowing a lot of water damage to the auditorium’s ceiling. The popular large meeting facility will be closed until repairs can be made, at a time yet to be determined at press time. See story, related pictures about storm damage on Page 1.
Cameras could catch violators of bus rules
WEATHER
DATA Reporting for Upshur County: Gilmer Municipal Airport Gordon Reynolds-Near Big Sandy Darrell Cook-Enon Kenneth Carroll - Near Bettie Flo Callahan - Diana Monday, May 20
Area Near Big Sandy Enon Gilmer Near Bettie Diana
High
Low
NA 89 88 89 88
NA 74 73 73 72
Rainfall
NA 0 0 0 0
Tuesday, May 21
Area Near BigSandy Enon Gilmer Near Bettie Diana
High
Low
Rainfall
NA 88 88 88 86
NA 63 62 63 75
NA 1.75” NA 1.40” 1.14”
Wednesday, May 22
Area Near Big Sandy Enon Gilmer Near Bettie Diana
High
Low
Rainfall
NA 84 84 84 81
NA 63 63 63 61
NA 0 0 0 0
Mirror Photo / Mac Overton
THE WESLEY HOUSE ASSISTED-LIVING facility in Gilmer recently dedicated a rose bush and garden to former resident Emma Richardson, who died in April. The rose garden is just off the dining/meeting room area at the north end of the main wing. A group of residents viewed the dedication. Taking part were, from left, Bro. Wayne Norvell, who gave the dedicatory prayer; administrator Francie Clampitt, and Mrs. Richardson’s daughters, Martha Reel, Lynda Turner and Betty Wallace.
