McNeece clarifies numbers

Dear editor:

I would like to take the opportunity to clarify what could be a misunderstanding of the number of employees housed in the county superintendent’s office. Several numbers were being discussed in the meeting, but there are not 10 employees housed in the superintendent’s office. There is a total of 17 people who have offices in the superintendent’s office. Of those, five are funded through special education funding, one and one-half are funded through federal dollars, two are paid from food services funds and eight and one-half are funded through a combination of local and state dollars.

The school district also provides office space for the school attendance officer as a courtesy to the board of supervisors as well as the Big Brothers/Big Sisters representative who works to provide mentors to our students. The district does not pay any salaries for either of these positions.

Thank you

Teresa McNeece

Superintendent of education

Confused taxpayer

Dear editor:

I read with interest some articles in The Itawamba Times on April 14, and have some questions for the board and superintendent. According to the Itawamba Times , Mrs. McNeece stated to the Tremont Group that “McNeece and the board have put a freeze on hiring and employing substitutes since early March in order to save money” yet the same paper has a picture of the new coach for IAHS that was just approved for hire last Wednesday. Really?

Mrs. McNeece also stated according to the paper that they only have 10 employees, many of which are federally funded. I am surprised that she doesn’t know that federal money comes out of the same pocket as State and County so it is taxpayer money, and I and every other taxpayer has a right to know how it is spent. I have a problem with using “Federal Money” to hide behind.

Go to the Superintendent’s office, look around for yourself and count how many are there. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how much that office is costing the taxpayers. I also think we need to look to the Feds to see how federal money can be spent. We might find more can be used in the schools.

After all, our priority is to teach the children of Itawamba County so in my opinion our best equipment should be in the schools. Why should we have to fund so many things for our schools when federal taxpayer money seems to be available to fund the top. I have found that when the top gets too heavy it always tumbles.

Yvonne Hughes

Taxpayer of federal, state and

county taxes for many years

Thrash remembered as ‘one of a kind’

Dear editor:

James A Thrash - one of a kind would describe him perfectly. He never looked for flaws in people or expected any. He looked for the good in everyone he met and expected your best, always. He brought out the best in everyone around him.

A man who walked in Jesus’ footsteps would be another apt description of this fine Christian. James A. Thrash left this world on Saturday, April 10, 2010, for a much better place. I could hear him shout as if he were calling to me across the yard, “Hey, Judy, I’m here. It is more than you can imagine. You have a great day!” A humble man, he wanted no frills. Just make it simple, no trouble for anyone.

James and Janice came to Itawamba County and made a difference in the county that they chose as their home and the place to raise their children. J.A. was proud of his home place in Neshoba County as well and liked to be known as Bloomo for the community where he grew up. Students from IJC remember him as Dean Thrash. Those who banked with him, knew he would help them all that he could and more. The bank grew and prospered under his leadership.

He became one of the key leaders in Itawamba County, helping the county to grow and acquire businesses and industries. Business and community leaders sought his insight.. He and Buster Davis had a friendship that lasted from the time they met at IJC until his death. The jokes they played on each other kept them young, and the stories they told on each other grew each time they were retold. Itawamba Community College was always in his heart. He loved how it grew and what it meant to the community of Fulton and Itawamba County.

It has been a privilege to know him as a mentor, boss, friend and neighbor.

Judy Reynolds

Aters begs Tremont stay open

Dear editor:

I am one of many concerned parents from Tremont. I believe I speak for many other parents in this letter. Our children are safe at home where they belong. We have small classes and high test scores. We have a low dropout rate because we are close enough for parents and teachers to work together. We do not have gangs or gun violence at Tremont.

Everyone looks out for each other’s children. My children are excelling because we have one-on-one time with smaller classes. I do not think my children will do as well at a crowded larger school.

My whole family has attended Tremont. I would like for my children to be allowed to excel and graduate as Tremont Eagles.

There are many families like mine in that respect. We are very proud of our students. Here at Tremont, we focus more toward academics than sports, unlike larger schools. Our goal is to achieve academic excellence and have proud and respectful young adults. Many pillars of our community and yours came from Tremont.

I can think of doctors, pharmacists, computer programmers, town leaders, construction supervisors, business owners, internationally recognized singers, college women, a naval intelligence officer, law officers and a federal judge who all graduated from Tremont.

Yes, we are a small school, but we produce great minds, upstanding members of the community, county, state and country.

Our small town values and smaller environment make this possible. I urge the school board to please consider all these things before making a decision.

Consider what you wold be destroying by closing any part of our school. Tremont is our school and we are very proud of it. Please do not take away the very thing that makes our kids strive for success, pride in our local school.

Sincerely,

Charity A. Aters

A tale of two eagles

Dear editor:

The stately bald eagle stood proudly as an emblem of a great country - USA. At one time, it appeared to be complete annihilation facing the bald eagle family. Our government had this eagle placed on the endangered species list. However, this was not the last of our bald eagle. With proper protection and proper nesting by the bald eagle parents, bald eagles have survived and stand proudly on their talon feet today.

Another eagle that recently has been threatened to be placed on the endangered list is the Tremont eagle. Since 1909, the Tremont eagle has been the emblem of a proud Tremont High School. In order to facilitate a financial shortage in our schools, our county school board has placed Tremont High School on the endangered list. This would mean the end of all Tremont Eagles and Eaglettes athletic activities, the closure of the most active school PTA in Itawamba County and then loss of school traditions held so dear. Some people, evidently board members, have the mistaken idea that “quantity insures quality.” Tremont school scores on state tests have consistently been among the top county scores. We, the Tremont alumni, have one final question for the Itawamba County School Board: Why destroy the strongest link in your school system, Tremont High School? On guard Tremont Eagle.

George E. “Jack” Brown

Valedictorian, Class of 1944