FC School Board works with FCPD to secure campuses

The Forrest City School Board heard updates regarding a new security contract with the City of Forrest City from FC School District Superintendent Dr. Zrano Bowles during the group’s meeting last week. The board also voted to stop live streaming meetings on Facebook moving forward and heard an update from Bowles regarding the HVAC project on the junior high campus. Bowles said he was happy to report that after working closely with FC Mayor Larry Bryant and FCPD Chief Ronald Broussard that they had come to a final agreement that could be handled by both parties. "I have been working tirelessly with the city and Chief Broussard,” said Bowles. “We started off a little rocky in terms of staffing and making sure that we had proper security for our building. However, I am happy to report here that what you have in front of you now is an updated agreement that actually consists of not only the signature of Chief Broussard, but it also consists of the signature of the Mayor. This was also reviewed by the City Attorney (Marshall Wright)." Bowles told the board that this agreement will still save the district money from what it was paying previously for private security. "The only modification that you are going to see in this agreement is that the city did agree to provide us with five school resource officers," said Bowles. "Those officers are currently going through the trainings that they are needing to be able to secure our campuses. So, again, we have had the opportunity to work together. I think that you will find that this agreement is still going to save the district money.” Bowles told the board the district would pay $40 per hour for five SROs daily and pay $25 per hour for those officers to cover athletic and other school events. "The city agreed that we would only pay $40 an hour and we were able to work out a rate when it comes to our athletic events that is a little more comparable to what we actually pay the workers of our games," said Bowles. "We are looking at a rate of $25 an hour for those officers. They have actually taken a little bit of a reduction there to try and save the district money. So, I am asking that the board approve the MOU agreement for SRO security officers with the Forrest City Police Department. I just got this today." Board member Tarzan Lee shared that he was uncomfortable voting on something that he had not yet read. "We shouldn't put anything on the floor unless we look at it and read it," said Lee. "We just got it. He said he just got this today. Why are we going to vote on something we haven't had time to read? There my be something that we disagree with that we want to come back and change. I see it says amended. If we can take a 30-minute break and read it, or maybe come back and do it next time. We need to read it. We don't know what is on here." Bowles explained a lot of work had been done to get the MOU completed and that the board did not make mistakes passing the initial contract, but instead the issues were on the city's side of the contract. "If you recall the last meeting that we had, Chief Broussard said that he would make sure that the district was secure and that the games were covered," said Bowles. "It has been a little bit of work to get that part of it done, but the games have been covered and we have had security on campus. It has been a little bit spotty as he as pieced this together, but he has agreed that he is going to make sure that officers are actually paid." "We made mistakes on the last one, so we had to do it over because we didn't read it," said Lee. "This is in our favor and we are going to vote on something that we haven't read or amended since last time?" "I'll say this," said Bowles. "You didn't make any mistakes on the last contract. I'll tell you why you didn't. You received the contact, the last contract was in your packet. The board read the contract and you agreed and made the motion to accept the contract. The city was unable to fulfill that obligation in that contract." Bowles stated that if this is what gets out children the security they need, then this is the deal he believes the board should accept. "However, in working with the city, they did make a valiant effort to honor that agreement," said Bowles. "After having the conversation with the Mayor and with the Chief of Police, it was decided that this would be a better deal and one they could actually support. If this is what gets our children the security they need, then this would be the deal that I think the board should really take a hard look at." The board voted six-to-one in favor of accepting the new contract, with Lee voting against it. Bowles also told the board that he had been asked to look into regulations regarding live streaming board meetings on social media. "I got with Brad (Beavers) and asked him if he would provide the board with a brief update. Then, at that point, you guys can then open up for discussion,” said Bowles. According to Beavers, recordings of board meetings, whether audio or video, are required by law to be kept for at minimum one year. "The law requires that the board records its meetings, whether that be through voice recordings, video recording or live streaming,” said Beavers. “But, for us to do the livestream, it has to be a recording that can be saved. I think we are doing two ways to do that with voice recording and live streaming. I don't know if we want to do a live stream. There has been a request that it stays up longer. You have to save voice recordings for a year, as I understood. I have gone back two or three years with those and that is a lot that you have to do." Board member Tamara Johnson said there are no other boards streaming their meetings on social media and that the FCSB should only have the video available on the district’s website. "I don't like it being on Facebook live," said Johnson. "You don't see other boards live streaming their meetings on Facebook. I don't mind it being on our website and the public having access to it, but we don't have to serve it up on a platter or make it easy. I think we should put audio and video on our website, so if anyone wants to see our meetings, they can." "I like that," said board member Annie Norman. "How do we do this?" "Why do you want it being taken off of the TV?” asked board member Larry Devazier. "You don't want people at home taking pot shots at us?" "I don't like it on social media," said Johnson. "We could say the same thing about the newspaper," said Lee. "Sometimes we don't want our name in the newspaper when we rob a bank but you put us on there. You agree to that Dr. Bowles?" "If that is the pleasure of the board, then yes," said Bowles. "Y'all don't want us on TV," said Lee. "The only time I get seen." "You're saying not to stop the live stream, but to put it on our site, our school site," said Norman. "State law mandates that it is on our school site," said Johnson. "So the audio and video will be on our site," said Norman. "So Mr. Lee's face will still be on there." "If someone wants to see it they can go to the district's website and see it there," said Johnson. "If it's not live you can't see," said Lee. "People are looking at it now because they can't make it to the meeting. They would have to wait and see it later. It seems like you're trying to hide something from folks. You can go back and change something you don't want somebody to see." The board voted six-to-one in favor of removing Facebook live streams of their meetings going forward with recordings appearing on the district's website in the future. Lee voted against the motion. Bowles told board members that the HVAC project on the junior high campus was nearing completion with talks of the work being done by the end of this month. "The last conversation I had with Mizell, the company, they actually should be completing their work this month. They should be done by the end of the month. We are almost there and almost done. The Junior High would tell you that the building is cold and everything is blowing well. My hope is that by the end of the month we should be done."

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