Millage Saves McGehee School District and Maintains Enrollment for UAM COT-McGehee

Arts & Entertainment Editor

  
   While the financial future of the McGehee School District seems secure, the benefits of a higher millage increase remains a year away.

   Nearly six weeks ago, voters from McGehee and other surrounding areas cast their ballots on an increased millage proposal for the school district. The efforts of those individuals who favored the increase, overwhelmingly paid off.

   Along with saving the school district came ensuring the stability of local businesses and maintaining student enrollment for the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s College of Technology at McGehee.

   Vice Chancellor of the McGehee campus, Bob Ware, said the passage of the millage creates positive benefits for UAM-CTM as well as for the entire community.

   Whether a parent of the school district attends UAM-CTM or a high school student enrolls in college level classes, relocation of the school district would affect the entirety of the community.

   “We do have high school students and parents of those students who attend UAM-CTM and if the millage proposal would have failed and those high school students had to be transported somewhere else, the distance would affect our enrollment,” Ware said.

   UAM-CTM offers college credit courses to students before graduating high school. Ware said approximately fifteen high school students enroll each semester at the campus and whether the class counts for one credit hour or three credit hours, those students’ enrollment makes a difference.

   “Many high school students from McGehee School District already attend UAM-CTM and by the millage passing, it benefits our institution and creates recruiting capabilities for future full time students,” Ware said.

   Ware along with faculty members and students conclude the community and UAM-CTM will continue to see positive results from the passed vote.

   UAM-CTM’S Special Projects Coordinator Dorissa Kaufman said the security of the school district stabilizes the benefits as an employee of the college campus and as a parent of two McGehee Elementary students.

   McGehee Superintendent Thomas Gathen said while the millage passed and many of the district’s goals have been met, the school remains on the fiscal distress list. From budget adjustments to hiring new employees, the district must get approval from the Arkansas State Board of Education before any changes come into effect.

   “Although the millage passed, the revenue from the increase will not be realized until October of 2011 and we still have to submit our district’s budget for the 2011-2012 school year to the state board of education,” Gathan said.

   Gathan said due to the Oct. 10 deadline for citizens to pay their taxes, the district must wait to receive any proceeds from the increased millage until the latter part of 2011. As the benefits of the higher millage remain a year away, he expects the fiscal distress status of the district to change by the summer of 2011.

   “Our hopes are that by at least July of 2011, we should be able to petition the board of education to remove us from the fiscal distress category,” Gathen said.

   With questions and concerns still circulating around the community of the district’s financial status, Gathen maintains an open door policy.

   “I owe it to the people of the community to address any questions or concerns they may have about our school district,” Gathen said.

   As the anticipation level of faculty members and students seems to be secure, Gathen said the certainty of McGehee Public Schools remains.

For additional reading:

Millage Increase Leaves Fate of McGehee School District Undetermined

McGehee School District Voters Approve School Millage

Have a comment? Please e-mail us.

©The Voice 2010