Below is a Letter to the Editor of the Mississippi Press as submitted February 3, 2012:

 

Support the Election of School Boards

Two of Jackson County's state Senators - Tony Smith (R-47) and Michael Watson (R-51) - have co-authored Senate Bill 2190, an act that would require all Mississippi school district Boards of Trustees to be elected and all school superintendents to be appointed by said Board.

This is indeed a much needed change and one that hits home locally.

As it is currently structured, the Pascagoula City Council appoints three members to the Pascagoula Municipal Separate School District Board of Trustees; the citizens of Gautier elect the other two Board members.  Once the three members are appointed by the Pascagoula City Council and barring any legal or ethics violations by an appointee, the Council has no governing authority over the appointed members, and until recent years the appointees were routinely reappointed with little question.

It has always baffled me why as citizens we have allowed this structure to stand.  Why would we not want to elect our Pascagoula School Board representatives?  After all, allowing the public the right to elect these officials would both hold the Board members responsible for their decisions and require the members to listen intently to the public.  Removing the buffer of appointment only encourages accountability to the taxpayers.

As a City Councilman, it is curious to appoint someone who isn't legally required to be accountable to your board.  One would think if the City Council appointed a member to any board or commission, that member would be responsible and accountable to the Council, but that is not the case with School Board appointees.  Often little to no dialogue is required during the members' five year terms.

It also places City Councilmen in a precarious situation when addressing matters related to the school district.  Some twist reality and believe the actions of a concerned parent are attempts to insert influence or pressure connected to a position.  It inhibits the parent-Councilman from participating in school related dialogue.

There is really no upside for a City Council to appoint School Board members; the process only insulates the School Board from the public.

It is true that electing School Board members could increase the political nature of that board but it also places such wrangling in its appropriate place instead of passing it through to those that should be apolitical, such as Superintendents and other staff within a school district.  The politics of our democratic republic is not a bad thing if it gives the public access to a governing body, especially one that is spending your tax dollars and affecting the lives of your children and grandchildren.

Under this bill - SB 2190 - all school districts would be required to hold Board of Trustees elections coinciding with municipal elections, meaning when you vote to elect the City Council, you would also vote to elect School Board members.  The School Board's length of term would also be reduced from 5 years to 4 years, bringing it in line with municipal officials.  This bill would not affect the Pascagoula School's Superintendent in that the School Board already appoints that position.

The ultimate goal for any School Board is to successfully educate our youth, making them productive, contributing members of society.  Giving the taxpayers the opportunity to elect the Board of Trustees would make the processes and policies used to achieve this goal more transparent while increasing accountability and dialogue.

I encourage you to support SB 2190 by contacting the Mississippi Senate Education Committee and your local State Representative and Senator.

Frank Corder
Pascagoula City Councilman

PASCAGOULA CITY COUNCIL

 

Regular Meeting -Tuesday, February 7, 2012 6:00 P.M.

 

1.           WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER:

 

2.           INVOCATION:  Councilman Milstead

 

3.           PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

 

4.           REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL:

           

A.                James L. Hinkel re: Alcohol permit application

 

B.                 Jamie Cowart and Tommy Dorsey re: Solicitation of a $10,000 sponsorship for the 3^rd Annual Live Oak Arts Festival to be held May 12, 2012

 

C.                 Janice Mabry re: Annual report for the Jackson County Small Business Incubator

 

D.                Richard Lucas re: Strategic Plan Committee

 

E.                 Jim Estabrook and Doug Dale re: Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority

                       

            5.         HEARINGS

 

F.         Resolution for property cleanup at 1303 Commanche, 5007 Machpelah and 2214 Taft (continued from December 6, 2011 meeting)

 

            6.         CONSENT AGENDA:*

 

G.        Minutes of recessed regular Council meeting of January 19, 2012

Recommended Action:  adopt and approve minutes of Council meeting of  

January 17, 2012.

 

H.        Minutes of Historic Preservation Commission meeting of January 25, 2012

Recommended Action: Acknowledge receipt of minutes.

 

I.          Minutes of Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority meeting of December 29, 2011

Recommended Action: Acknowledge receipt of minutes.

 

J.          Historic Preservation Commission Regional Training Workshop Travel

Recommended Action: Approval for travel in city vehicle for Training Workshop in Hattiesburg, MS, February 15, 2012.

 

K.        4^th of July Fireworks Show 2012

Recommended Action: Authorize City Clerk to advertise for proposals/quotes for Fireworks Show.

 

 

 

L.         Advertise for Bids for a 27' Boston Whaler Challenger

Recommended Action: Authorize City Clerk to advertise for bids and will be funded by Port Security Grant Program (PSGP).

 

M.        Award Annual Bid #318 - Zinc Orthophosphate

Recommended Action: Approval to award Annual Bid #318 to the lowest and best bidder Shannon Chemical Corporation of Malvern, PA, in the amount of $0.57 (.57) per pound. Contract dates are February 8, 2012 thru February 7, 2013, with a one-year renewal option.

 

                        N.        Pascagoula High School Baseball 2012

Recommended Action: Approve advertising the resources of the City through the Pascagoula High School Baseball 2012 Season for a full page ad in the amount of $200.00 (manual check). The City is given legal authority to provide support to this group by Section 17-3-1, Mississippi Code of 1972.

 

O.        Renewal of Termite Plan for Gibson Field Concession Stand/Press Box, located at 1803 Tucker Avenue

            Recommended Action: Approval of renewal of termite plan for Gibson Field Concession Stand/Press Box, located at 1803 Tucker Ave in the amount of $188.00. Contract dates are March 1, 2012 thru March 31, 2013.

 

                        P.         Renewal of Termite Plan for the Depot, located at 504 Yon Avenue

Recommended Action: Approval of renewal of termite plan for the Depot, located at 504 Yon Avenue in the amount of $245.00. Contract dates are March 1, 2012 thru March 31, 2013.

 

Q.        Order to determine whether the parcels of land, 7 lots on Krebs Ave., 816 Krebs Ave. and 2616 Forrest St., are in such a state of uncleanliness as to be a menace to the public health and safety of this community

            Recommended Action: Approval of Order

 

R.        Budget Amendment 12.11 in the Special Tax (Recreation) Fund for the preparation of a Parks & Recreation Master Plan

            Recommended Action: Approval of Budget Amendment 12.11

 

S.         Budget Amendment 12.12 in the Special Revenue Projects Fund for the FY2011 Solid Waste Grant

            Recommended Action: Approval of Budget Amendment 12.12 and this has no effect on the fund balance.

           

T.         Budget Amendment 12.13 in the Community Development Fund for the CDBG Grant

            Recommended Action: Approval of Budget Amendment 12.13

 

 

 

 

 

U.        Budget Amendment to transfer $210,000.00 in funds from the Police Department Forfeiture and Seizure Revenue Account

            Recommended Action: Approval to transfer $210,000.00 in funds from forfeiture and seizure revenue account to the forfeiture and seizure expenditure account for us in departmental projects.

 

V.        Budget Amendment 12.14 in the Forfeiture and Seizure Fund for equipment purchase

            Recommended Action: Approval of Budget Amendment 12.14

 

                        W.       Tidelands 2012 Grant Agreement

Recommended Action: Authorize Mayor to execute the Agreement for the Beachfront Promenade Enhancements.

 

X.        Wayfinding Signs Proposal

            Recommended Action: Authorize Mayor to execute Neel-Schaffer's proposal for Professional Services to complete the permitting work for the City's Wayfinding Signs.

 

Y.        Revised Environmental Trail Agreement with Christian Preus Landscape Architecture

            Recommended Action: Authorize Mayor to execute the revised Agreement with Christian Preus Landscape Architecture for the Pascagoula River Bridge Environmental Trail.

 

Z.         MDEQ EECBG Closeout Documents

            Recommended Action: Authorize Mayor to execute Closeout Documents submitted to MDA for MDA/MDEQ EECBG Recycling Grant.

 

AA.     Revised Change Order No. 3 for WTP Retaining Wall Contract

            Recommended Action: Approval of Change Order No. 3 with Ben Radcliff Contractor, Inc. and authorize City Manager to execute documents.

 

BB.      Bid Award for Hurricane Katrina Emergency Repairs City-Wide Building Mitigation (Library, City Hall, Community Development/Utilities/Senior Center

            Recommended Action: Award bid to the lowest and best bid of Delta Construction, Inc. in the amount of $804,602.3 and authorize City Manager to execute documents.

 

CC.      Statewide Mutual Aid Compact (SMAC)

            Recommended Action: Authorize Mayor and City Attorney to execute Compact on behalf of the City.

 

DD.     Request for Proposals for CDBG Administration Services

            Recommended Action: Authorize City Clerk to advertise for proposals.

 

 

 

 

            7.         CITY MANAGER

 

EE.      Travel for the City Council to meet with our Congressional Delegation in Washington, DC, March 28-29, 2012.

 

8.         CITY ATTORNEY

 

FF.       Order calling for a Public Hearing on Ward and Voting Precinct Changes

 

GG.     Resolution outlining the principles to govern proposed boundary changes for wards and voting precincts

 

HH.     Memorandum of Understanding between City and Jackson County pertinent to the establishment of LaPointe-Krebs Foundation, Inc.

 

            9.         OPERATIONS MANAGER

 

                        II.        Paving List

 

            10.       PROGRAM MANAGER

 

                        JJ.        Point Park Improvements

 

                        KK.     LaFont Inn Redevelopment Expenses

 

11.       DOCKET OF CLAIMS

 

                        LL.      Order for Docket of Claims

 

12.       RECESS OR ADJOURN

 

 

* Consent Agenda - All matters listed under Item 6 Consent Agenda, are considered to be routine by the
City Council and will be enacted by one motion.  There will not be separate discussion of these items.  If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be considered separately.