FAST FACTS:
danya.bacchus@wreg.com
(Senatobia, MS 3/25/2009) A state of emergency has been declared in Tate County, Mississippi. It's not a natural disaster but the school system is one-point-four million dollars in debt leaving the state no choice but to step in. Thursday, the government is calling a community meeting to let the town know about the school system takeover.
In 2004, the school board passed a bond issue to build three new schools. They ended up spending more than the bond allowed, forcing them to use other resources.
"We actually had to use some of our district money that we had. Then we had to hire teachers, extra utilities all those things it put us in a tight situation," said Superintendent Gary Walker.
The tight situation ended up being over an one million dollar deficit. The only way to get out was asking the State Department of Education to step in meaning the state will now take over the schools.
"We probably did overspend in some areas. We were anticipating that revenue that did not materialize," said Walker.
To fix the situation, a State Conservator will come in and act as the school district head. he will determine how much money Tate County schools needs to see green. County Officials are hoping a consolidation of Coldwater Elementary and High school will also help but parents feel that will only cause more trouble.
They need to keep the little kids here and the big kids there," said Loula Edwards as she was picking up her granddaughter from Coldwater Elementary.
Walker says they're finding anyway they can to cutback as long as it doesn't hurt the education of students.
"You know utilities, turn lights off, turn computers off all of those things, anything we can do to conserve."
Thursday's meeting will take place at Coldwater High School's gym. Again, state and county officials will be there to discuss the state takeover of Tate County Schools.
- State Taking Over Tate County Schools
- Governor Declares State Of Emergency
- Budget Deficit Could Reach $1.4M By End of Fiscal Year
danya.bacchus@wreg.com
(Senatobia, MS 3/25/2009) A state of emergency has been declared in Tate County, Mississippi. It's not a natural disaster but the school system is one-point-four million dollars in debt leaving the state no choice but to step in. Thursday, the government is calling a community meeting to let the town know about the school system takeover.
In 2004, the school board passed a bond issue to build three new schools. They ended up spending more than the bond allowed, forcing them to use other resources.
"We actually had to use some of our district money that we had. Then we had to hire teachers, extra utilities all those things it put us in a tight situation," said Superintendent Gary Walker.
The tight situation ended up being over an one million dollar deficit. The only way to get out was asking the State Department of Education to step in meaning the state will now take over the schools.
"We probably did overspend in some areas. We were anticipating that revenue that did not materialize," said Walker.
To fix the situation, a State Conservator will come in and act as the school district head. he will determine how much money Tate County schools needs to see green. County Officials are hoping a consolidation of Coldwater Elementary and High school will also help but parents feel that will only cause more trouble.
They need to keep the little kids here and the big kids there," said Loula Edwards as she was picking up her granddaughter from Coldwater Elementary.
Walker says they're finding anyway they can to cutback as long as it doesn't hurt the education of students.
"You know utilities, turn lights off, turn computers off all of those things, anything we can do to conserve."
Thursday's meeting will take place at Coldwater High School's gym. Again, state and county officials will be there to discuss the state takeover of Tate County Schools.
