^KANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE *. SATURDAY. MAY 30.1992 7B Police beat BY JIM BROOKS AND UINDA SATTER Democrat-Gazette Staff Wnters McClellan student brings gun to school McClellan High School officials told police that a 17-year-old student brought a gun onto school grounds shortly after noon Friday. Police were called to the school at 9417 Geyer Springs Road about 12:15 p.m. and were told that the student had pulled the gun while running from school officials. School employee Steve Neely told police that he saw the student near the schools main entrance and was escorting the 17-year-old from school grounds when the youth ran. Neely said the student pulled an automatic weapon from inside his clothes and kept running. The student didnt point the gun at him or fire the weapon, Neely said. He said the student got into a gold Chevrolet Monte Carlo with several other men. The car left the parking lot and headed west on Queensboro a Drive, Neely said. Police had made no arrests Friday night. ( THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1992 LR teen arrested with gun McClellan student says rifle protection BY JIM BROOKS Democrai-Gazefte Pcxice Reporter Little Rock police arrested an 18-year-old McClellan High School student about 1:30 p.ni. Wednesday for possession of a gun a .22-caliber rifle found in his car trunk on school property. It was the Little Rock School Districts second arrest for bringing a gun to school in the 12 days since classes began on Aug. 31. In both cases, the suspects said they were acting out of concern for their own safety. Michael Hornes of 4315 Arapaho Trail was being held on $1,500 bail Wednesday night in the Little Rock Jail. Jodie Carter. McClellan principal, said that an anonymous caller to the school office reported that Hornes had a gun in his car. I asked him if we could look, and he didn't mind. I opened the trunk, saw the gun. closed the trunk, and contacted the central office" of the school district. Carter said. Police said the rifle's stock had been sawed off. They also found a bag containing several kinds of ammunition in the trunk of the 1977 Ford LTD, which was parked on the schools parking lot. Homes told the principal that he brought the gun to school because he had been threatened. I have never had a problem with Michael Hornes, Carter said. I dont think that he would have brought the gun to school if he hadnt been threatened. Carter said that though Hornes was safe at school, these kids are just terrified. The student didnt have to have the gun here at school, Carter said. Weve got security and personnel trained to make the school safe. But hes going to have some problems when he goes back to the neighborhood, so he protects himself the best way he knows. On Sept. 10, Little Rock police arrested a 14-year-old Mabelvale Junior High pupil for possession of a gun on school property. Police said the eighth-grade boy had a .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun in his locker. The boy told police he needed the gun for protection.Arkansas Demcxzrat (gazette FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1992 B McClellan program critiqued Report cites lack of equipment, shabby looks of school BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer The new business-communications magnet program at McClellan Community High School has a strong, deeply committed staff but has not been problem- free, according to a short-term status report compiled by the federal desegregation monitors office. The report was submitted to :U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright on Thursday. The district is offering enhanced business and communications courses at McClellan to improve the achievement level , of black students and to attract white students to a school that was losing its white enrollment. Ann Brown, the court-appointed desegregation monitor, said the report was done during the first two weeks of school this year to ensure that the high- quality program implied by the magnet designation actually exists. Horace Smith, an associate monitor and principal author of the report, said the school program has a solid foundation. Problems at the school included an overall poor or grubby appearance of the building and a lack of some of the computer equipment and other materials ordered by the school several weeks ago, the report said. The missing equipment made it difficult for teachers to fully teach some of the airbrush and computer programming skills included in the courses, the report said. Electrical wiring for the computers had not been installed. it found. Smith said the school did reverse its declining white enrollment, which increased this year by 17 students, or 5 percent. The black enrollment also rose, by 21 students or 3 percent. Overall, the schools enrollment totaled 994 students, 66 percent black and 34 percent white, the same as last year. Smith also reported that the school filled 63 of its available 200 magnet program seats. Recruitment for the magnet was most successful in the 10th grade, as 46 of the magnet students are sophomores. Only two students from North Little Rock and Pulaski County Special school districts are enrolled at McClellan. On the subject of staffing, the report said the curriculum specialist for the magnet program had not been hired, and neither had one of the computer aides. A few of the staff members were involuntarily assigned to McClellan by the district without demonstrating an interest or commitment to the magnet program, the report stated. The cost for the magnet program is $435,240, less than half the figure projected in March. District officials attributed much of the difference to a change in the way teachers were scheduled to cover the seven class periods each day. Smith praised the program and the school for its strong business education department and its support from the community and businesses. He said students and staff were orderly and the classroom atmosphere was one in which students could learn and teachers could teach.FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1992 Arkansas Democrat Tfr(DazcUc Bernd makes a commitment to SWLR schools BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer Little Rock Superintendent Mac Bernd told about 50 people at McClellan Magnet High School on Thursday that he is determined to overcome public perception that Southwest Little Rock schools are stepchildren to the rest of the district. The southwest community has great people, he said. Rs a great area. The people here deserve 100 percent from us. McClellan is one of 14 schools annexed in 1987 to the Little Rock district from the Pulaski County Special School District as the result of a federal court order in the ongoing school desegregation lawsuit. Bernd made the comments during a public hearing, the last of seven he has held in recent weeks. As in the earlier forums, parents questioned the superintendent about security measures at the schools. They also had questions about the districts commitment to making the new business and communications magnet program work at McClellan. Staff members said Thursday night that some of the equipment for the magnet classes has not been installed. Also, some of the staff members were transferred involuntarily to the school this . year and are not particularly interested in working with the program, they said. Parents complained about disrepair of some buildings. Bernd agreed, saying there is a disparity in school maintenance in the district. He did say he had made it a priority to repair all school intercommunications systems as a safety measure for teachers. On another matter, Bernd and the group exchanged ideas on incentives for students and staff to improve student achievement. Bernd questioned the feasibility of asking voters for a ta.x increase. the money from which would be used to pay cash awards to schools that excel.Arkansas Democrat ^(Gazelle WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11. 1992 ? Lawyer for suspect in McClellan shooting sees federal loopholt BY LARRY AULT 09n9cm G4j*I RepoYtef A court lest appears likely for the federal charge pending against a Little Rock man accused of violating a firearms law prohibiting possession of a gun on or near a public school, the man s attorney said Tuesday. Derrick Lamoni Campbell. 18. appeared before ITS. Magistrate Henty L Jones Jr. on Tuesday after being charged in an Oct. 26 incident in which a spray of gunfire shattered the glas.s door of a McClellan Community High School classroom In Lil tic Rock, sending 12 students to the floor. No one was injured, but H .S, Attorney Chuck Ranks charged Campbell, of 7.505 Vega Drive, with violating a new federal law that punishe.s people who lake guns on or near .school property. Campbell also faces 14 state rharge.s of felony n.ssnult In the ineideiit. During the preliminary hearing Tuesday, his attorney. Michael Rooker of Little Rock, challeugcd the new federal law zXssisInnt U S. Attorney Robert Govar sai<l .Iones is be ing asked to decide whether the federal law. which exempts weapous on nearby private properly, would apply to Campbell who Govar said fired the shots while on private property. Police allege that Campbell fired up to five rounds from a .,32 caliber pistol while standing across Geyer Spring.s Road from the McClellan campus. "Its pretty clear. If there is an exemption, then Mr. Campbell would not be charged." Booker said. Tills staliile is poorly writ- ten" despite having good intentions. Booker said. The rpiestion being raised deals with (he circumstances under which the law applies. Rooker asked whether the statute would apply if someone carrying a gun for hunting or target practice dropped a child off at school. "This one has the polnl' to go to the t V,S.> Suprer Court. he .said. Even though the law make- "a crime to discharge a g within l.(HH) feel of a sch<> properly." Rooker said, he * dered what happen.s when weapon is lired on private pr* erly that falls within those lilts.THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1992 5B Federal charges unlikely in case of gun at school BY WARD PINCUS Democrat-Gazene Start Writer U.S. Attorney Chuck Banks said Wednesday he likely will not bring federal charges against a McClellan Community High School student arrested and charged with possession of a weapon on school property Tuesday afternoon. Randall D. Ghere, 16. of 8706 Stanton Road was arrested for brandishing the gun. police said. Vice Principal Cherrie Walker took the gun and a box of pellets from Ghere. police said. It is not known what Ghere intended to do with the .177-cal- iber Marksman Repeater, police said, adding they do not know if the gun was loaded at the time. Banks said he likely will not charge Ghere under a law making it a federal crime to bring ' weapons or drugs within 1,000 feet of school property, both be- , cause Ghere is a minor and because the pellet gun may not ' count as weapon under the law. Ghere will be charged as an adult for possessing the weapon on school property. Ghere had skipped school Tuesday, but had come to the campus so his mother could pick him up. police said. McClellan was the scene Oct. 28 of gunfire that shattered a classroom window, forcing students to hit the floor. A suspect in that incident was charged under the federal law. At another Little Rock officials learned school, Wednesday afternoon that a 14- year-old female student was carrying a 5-inch knife in her . purse on campus, police said. The student was taken from her Southwest .Junior High School class and asked to empty her purse, police said. School officials will discipline the girl, police said. Police reports did not say why the girl was carrying the knife. At North Little Rock High School East Campus, police said they arrested two men Wednesday for carrying two small packets of marijuana and five hunting knives ih a car parked in the school parking lot. Dustin J. Gullickson, 20, of Jacksonville and James D. Justice. 20, of Scott were charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia police said. The two men were not students at the school, police said.WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25.1992 5B Teen pleads innocent to federal gun charge McClellan shooting in A man charged with firing gunshots that shattered a classroom door at a Little Rock high school pleaded innocent Tuesday to violating a federal law that prohibits using weapons near schools. Derrick Campbell, 18, of 7505 Vega Drive was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of firing three shots from a .32-caliber pistol near McClellan Community Education Magnet High School on I Oct. 26. A bullet broke a glass door and entered one classroom where 12 students were taking a test. There were no injuries. The federal law, which was passed in 1990, prohibits possession or shooting of a firearm within 1.000 feet of a public, private or parochial school. , U.S. Magistrate H. David Young scheduled a Jan. 4, 1993, jury trial for Campbell in U.S. District Judge Stephen M. Reasoners court. If convicted, he could be fined $5,000 and sentenced to five years in prison. The federal law prohibits possession or shooting of a firearm within 1,000feet of a public, private or parochial school. U.S. Attorney Chuck Banks said he is using the federal anti-gun law to create gun- free/drug-free school zones in the Eastern District of Arkansas, which includes Little Rock. Campbell also has been charged in state court with 14 counts of aggravated assault in the incident and with rape. He has pleaded innocent.Arkansas Democrat 'W(D?uclle FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1992 Copyright O 1992. Little Rock Newspapers Inc. $20,000 lined up to post officer at McClellan BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer A city police officer may be assigned to work full time at McClellan Community High School by January, Little Rock Superintendent Mac Bernd said Thursday. The Downtown Rotary Club and the Trinity Foundation each have donated $5,000 for a police resource officer, which will be the first in the district. The city of Little Rock will add $10,000 to that to pay the officers salary and associated costs for the remainder of the school year. Bernd said he received a nearly unanimous request from faculty at McClellan for the resource officer, which prompted him to seek donations for the program. The school board is set to vote on the plan Dec. 17. This will be a test, Bernd told the board Thursday. He said additional donations may be forthcoming and that the city, including the police chief and city manager, seem receptive to the program. Im optimistic, but we have no specific commitment for additional money, he said. The board approved a plan for a police resource officer program in December 1991 and affirmed its support with a second vote in October. The original plan called for a pilot program in five secondary schools. However, the program has not been implemented, although school district and city officials discuss it periodically. One of the reasons for the delay is a question of who will pay the officers. Also next week, the Little Rock School Board is expected to discuss: A request by the Friday, Eldredge and Clark law firm to raise the hourly rates charged the district from $90 to $105 for partners in the firm and from $75 to $85 for associates. In a letter to the superintendent, Chris Heller, one of the attorneys, said the firm has not sought an increase since June 1989. He said he would like the new rates to begin in January. The advantages and disadvantages Of requiring students to wear school uniforms. Board member John Moore asked that the issue be put on the agenda. He also asked for a discussion of the districts existing policy of requiring students to have a 2.0 or C average to participate in extracurricular activities. Arkansas Democrat FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1992 Copynght 9 1992. Lime Rock Newspapers Inc. LRSD board votes to put police officer in McClellan halls BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer The Little Rock School Board voted 6-1 Thursday to approve full-time assignment of a Little Rock police officer to the McClellan High School staff, probably beginning in January. The officer was requested by the school. Ine request prompted Superintendent Mac Bernd to seek community financing for the program. The Downtown Rotary Club and the Trinity Foundation are each providing $5,000, and the city is paying $10,000. We see this as seed money for a counselor in the hallway and a friend to students, John Ostner, a Rotary Club member, told the board. He indicated that the club is seeking additional money for a second officer at another school. The McClellan officer, who will be armed, will not be a full- time security officer, and will also talk to classes. Board member Katherine Mitchell voted against the proposal. The board also heard reports from staff members on the use of student uniforms and the state Board of Educations vote this week to require high school students to earn a minimum 2.0 grade-point average to participate in extracurricular activities. District Assistant Superintendent Larry Robertson said all Williams Elementary Magnet School kindergarten pupils are required to wear uniforms. The requirement eventually will J be schoolwide-Jlext year, first- graders will have to wear uniforms. In addition, committees at the seven incentive elementary schools have selected uniforms fo
next year. Robertson said wearing uniforms will be voluntary at the incentive schools, which have programs to improve the academic achievement of black pupils and to attract whites. Acting Assistant Superintendent Sam Stueart said the district has required a 2.0 minimum grade-point average for students in grades six through 12 since 1988-89. Statistics on how many students are ineligible for participation were unavailable. In other business: The board met in closed session to evaluate Bernds first six months as superintendent. Board President O.G. Jacov- eiii said the board overall was pleased. Board member Dorsey Jackson read a statement explaining the history of the boards commitment to raise $50,000 as an incentive to keep Bernd for five years. Jackson said he accepted criticism over the fact that the board never publicized the commitment, but harshly criticized Pat Lynch and Paula Cooper, who reported the arrangement on KARN-AM, 920. He said the broadcasters were irresponsible in reporting the story as an example of racism. They reported that the same offer made to Bernd, who is white, was not made to the leading black candidate for the job, who later withdrew. FRIDAY, JANUARY 29,1993 I Arkansas Oemocrat-Oazene/John Sykes Jr. MCCLELLAN SHOOTING McClellan Community High School junior Marcus Young, 16, is wheeled past the school by Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services and Fire Department personnel. Young was shot Thursday morning by a small-caliber weapon in a McClellan parking lot ___ Gun attack on crowd hurts 2 at McClellan BY OLIVIER UYTTEBROUCK AND JERRY DEAN Democrat-Gazette Staff Writers A gunman fired into a group of McClellan Community High School students Thursday outside a campus building, injuring two llth-grade boys, police said. The attack marked the second time in three months that students were fired upon in or around the building called the annex. Antonio Hall and Marcus Young, both 16 and of Little Rock, were each shot twice with a small-caliber pistol, Lt. Charles Holladay, police spokesman, said Thursday. Hall was listed in good condition Thursday afternoon at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said. Young was treated at St. Vincents and released Thursday afternoon. Police said Hall was shot twice in the leg once in the calf and once in the thigh. Young was shot once in the arm and once in the lower leg. The two teen-agers were on lunch break and standing with about a half-dozen other students in a parking lot at Geyer Springs Road and Southwick Drive. The gunman jumped from a pickup that had stopped near the annex and ran toward the group about 11:45 a.m., Holladay said. Police knew of no reason for the attack. The students and occupants of the truck may have exchanged insults, he said. Apparently they had words, Holladay said. Something had happened between them. He got out of the truck, ran over to where these people were standing and randomly fired into the crowd. Im not sure if he had anybody in particular in mind as a target. See SHOOTING, Page ISA Shooting Continued from Page 1A The gunman was not a student, Holladay said. No arrests had been made Thursday night. He may live in the neighborhood, he said of the gunman. We expect to be able to identify him and seek a warrant in the case. Witnesses said the gunman was a passenger in a small green pickup that turned east onto Southwick Drive off Geyer Springs Road. It stopped behind the annex, a two-story campus building at 9401 Geyer Springs Road. The students scattered as the gunman fired five or six shots into the crowd, Holladay said. The gunman then ran away, he said. .McClellan became the citys first school to receive a full-time patrolman, or school resource officer, about three weeks ago. i District Superintendent Mac Bernd said the officer, Shelley Keel, was on a different part of the campus at the time.
Bernd said Thursdays shooting points to the difficulty of insulating schools from problems. I think the irony is, this is the school where we have a community resource officer, Bernd said Thursday. Even when we have measures like that, were njot going to completely stop people from coming out of the Shooting Shooting site: in parking lot next to annex building McClellan High School o CD CD tn a ca (n I Q. Base Line Rd. Southwick Dr. 3 community and descending on the school and doing things like that. Under a new federal law, part of the Drug-Free/Gun-Free School Zone program, a person who illegally possesses a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school can be fined up to $5,000 and sentenced to as many as five years in prison. U.S. Attorney Chuck Banks could not be reached for comment Thursday about the possibility of federal charges. On Oct. 26,1992, a dozen McClellan students and a teacher ran for cover after two gunshots shattered the glass door of their classroom in the ground floor of the annex on the campus northwest corner. No injuries oc- curred in that attack. In that attack, police said, a gunman fired a .32-caliber handgun at a passing car occupied by members of a rival street gang. Shots struck the classroom door instead. Derrick Campbell, 18, of 7505 Vega Drive was later charged in the attack. Police said he was a member of the 43rd Storm gang. He was charged with aggravated assault in state court and under the federal anti-gun law. The cases are pending. In January 1991, a McClellan student, 17, was arrested after firing a .25-caliber handgun into the air at the school. A McClellan student, also 17, was arrested in October 1991 after an assistant principal found him with a .25-caliber handgun. A month later, a 16-year-old student was charged with carrying ! a semiautomatic handgun at i school. In May 1992, a student, 17, I pulled an automatic handgun while fleeing from school officials. And on Sept. 16,1992, police arrested a McClellan student, 18, whose car trunk contained a .22-caliber rifle with a sawed-off stock. In mid-November 1992, a McClellan student was arrested after brandishing a .177-caliber Marksman Repeater at the school. The campus began offering community education programs in 1991 in such subjects as financial planning, aerobics, weightlifting, adult literacy, sewing and computer technology. The Little Rock School District has since made McClellan a business education and communications magnet school in hopes of reversing declining white enrollment. McClellan's 994-student enrollment is about 66 percent black. It is among 14 former Pulaski County School District schools that a federal court ordered transferred in 1987 to the Little Rock School District as part of the Little Rock districts desegregation lawsuit. U More Arkansas News Every Day Democrat"^(J5azettcArkansas Democrat v?? (fjazcllc SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1993 Copyrighl 1993. Little Rock Newspapers. Inc. Police seek teen in shooting of 2 students LR I8-yeai-old wanted on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault Police were seeking an 18- year-old Little Rock man Friday in the shooting of two McClellan Community High School llth-grade students on a campus parking lot Thursday. Police issued a warrant for the arrest of Dion Cortez Sheard of 61 19 Queensboro Drive on charge.s that include two counts of attempted capital murder for the 11:45 a.m. shooting. We're out looking for him as we speak," LI. Phil Jones said Friday afternoon. Antonio Hall of 8223 Scott Hamilton Drive and Marcus Young of 2409 S. Izard St., both 16, each were shot twice with a small-caliber pistol outside the annex building on the north west corner of the McClellan campus. Hall was released from St. Vincent Infirmary Medical (len- ter on Tl iday after being held overnight for observation, a hospital spokesman said. Young was treated at St. Vincent and released Thursday. Sheard also is being sought on a charge of carrying a weapon on school grounds and I wo count.s of aggravated assault for firing at two other students standing with Hall and Young. Police identified the other students as Brian Broadway of, 4708 Buckingham Place and Kenneth Clay of 5001 W. 65th St., both 16. The shooting allegedly sleninied from an argument between two groups of boys at a Rallys Hamburgers near the school. Sheard and others allegedly followed in a pickup truck as the other group, four McClellan students, walked back to the campus, a police report said. Sheard allegedly stopped tin truck near the annex, ran up t the boys and fired as many as six shots, police said. The annej is located at the intersection ol Geyer Springs Road and South wick Drive. "I don't know if there was anyone in particular he was shooting at, Jones said. After the shooting, the gunman drove away in the truck, he said. Sheard is not a student in the Little Rock School District, a district spokesman said Friday.Arkansas Democrat (i^azettc SUNDAY, JANUARY 31,1993 Copyright 1993. Little Rock Newspapers. Inc. S B A GUNMAN FIRED INTO A j group of McClellan Communi- j ty High School students about 11:45 a.m. Thursday on a park- ' ing lot outside a campus build- 4 ing, wounding two llth-grade ' boys, Little Rock police said. It was the second time in three months that students were shot . at in or around the building called the annex. Antonio Hall and Marcus Young, both 16 and of Little Rock, each was shot twice with a small-caliber pistol. Hall was in good condition at St. Vincent Infirmary - Medical Center, and Young was treated at St. Vincent and released. JArkansas Democrat ^TCbazettc SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 1993 Copyright O 1993, Little Rock Newspapers, Inc. B ttc Free on bond in rape case, teen arrested in McClellan shooting BY JIM BROOKS Democrat-Gazette Police Reporter A teen-ager who was free on bond on a rape charge has been arrested in the Thursday shooting of two students at McClellan Community High School. Deon Cortez Sheard, 18, of 6119 Queensboro Court, Apartment 5, was arrested late Friday on warrants charging him with two counts of attempted capital murder, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of carrying a firearm on school property. Antonio Hall, 16, of 8223 Scott Hamilton Drive, and Marcus Young, 16, of 2409 S. Izard St. were shot as they stood outside a school building known as the annex about 11:45 a.m. Thursday. Hall, who was shot twice in the leg, was treated at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center and released Friday morning. Young was shot once in the arm and once in the lower leg, police said. He was treated at St. Vincents and released Thursday night. The shooting was the second at McClellan this school year. While police dont know if the two incidents are related, the teen-agers arrested in both cases apparently knew each other. On Oct. 26,1992, a dozen McClellan students and a teacher ran for cover after two gunshots shattered the glass door of their classroom on the ground floor of the annex, police said. Derrick Campbell. 18, of 7505 Vega Drive was later charged with 14 counts of aggravated assault. The day after police arrested Campbell in the October shooting, he and Sheard were charged in the Oct. 14 gang-rape of a 15-year-old Little Rock girl. The girl told police that while waiting for a school bus, she went to a friends apartment. She said that a boy locked the door behind her and that four teen-agers then held her down while six other teen-agers raped her. She also told police that one of the teen-agers sexually abused her with a screwdriver. She said the teen-agers kept her locked in the apartment throughout the day and raped her several more times before releasing her about 4 p.m. Sheard was released from the Little Rock Jail on the rape charge after posting bail on Nov. 24, 1992. police said. Police said Thursdays shooting stemmed from an argument between two groups of youths at Rallys Hamburgers near the school. Sheard and others allegedly followed in a pickup truck as the other group, four McClellan students, walked back to the campus, a police report said. Once the students reached the campus, a gunman jumped from the truck and fired several shots from a handgun as he ran toward the group, police said. Sheard was being held on $100,000 bail Saturday night in the Little Rock Jail.1 HUHSUA'r. I ULUUj/\t t, i I Teen sentenced for firing shots that hit school BY ELIZABETH CALDWELL Oemocrat-Gazette Courthouse Reporter A Little Rock teen-ager wa.s sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in prison for a shooting that shattered the glass door of a classroom full of students. Derrick Campbell, 18, ofT.bO.b Vega Drive was convicted Jan. 15 in a non-jury trial on 12 counts of aggravated assault in the Oct. 12,1992, shooting at McClellan Community High School on Geyer Springs Road. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza sentenced Campbell, noting that the incident was not the teen-agers first brush with the law. Each charge carried a possible sentence of up to six years in prison. Piazza sentenced Campbell to the maximum on all counts, with two of the terms to be served consecutively and the rest concurrently. Campbell, who said at his trial that he was a member of a Crip,s street gang, told Piazza on Tuesday that he was no longer a j gang member. At the trial, McClellan stu- j dents testified that they were | taking a test when the glass door was shattered by a bullet, causing 10 of the 12 students to dive for cover instinctively. No one was hurt. Campbell testified that he wa.s not firing at the school, but at a red car passing the school. He said someone in the car, whom he assumed to be a rival gang member, had shot at him first. A teen with Campbell at the time testified that no one fired from the car. Tuesday, Piazza dismissed another count of aggravated assault pending from the same incident. A 14th count was dismissed at trial because an alleged victim failed to show up. Campbell still faces a federal charge of shooting a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1993 5B 1st Commercial opens west LR hub branch BY MICK NORMINGTON Democial-Gazelle Business Writer Vice presidents, midlevel managers, loan officers and tellers crammed into the lobby of First Commercial Banks new super branch in west Little Rock on Monday for an office photo. Unlike most branch banks, the pxecutive.s outnumber the tellers at this branch. We arc redefining branch banking in Arkan.sas," said First Commercial Bank President Hon Strother. Now you never have to go downtown. rhe west Little Rock bank is First Commercial'.s fourth and final hub " bank. Like the other hub " banks, the two story west Little Rock bank can do everything for personal and corporate customers that First Commercials main bank, in a 25-story building downtown, can offer. Were bringing banking to the people, Strother said. By that he means First Commercial is moving its specialized lending officers closer to the businesses and people the bank wants to do business with. Twenty years ago, the Arkansas General Assembly loosened stale laws to allow branch banking. But branching has typically meant small branch office.s in the suburbs, which did little more than cash and deposit checks. Anyone wanting a loan or other banking services had to go to the bank headquarters downtown. But Strolher said that at First Commercials hub banks, cuslomer.s can drive up to lake Old a small personal loan or a corporate loan of up to $7..5 mil lion. The west Little Rock hub bank ha.s vice presidents in charge of commercial lending, small busine,ss lending, real estate lending, mortgage loan origination, piivate banking and more. Strother said First Commercial wanks to attract all the nearby businesses, such as those in the neighboring Koger Center and Financial Centre buildings, and the residents of the growing Chenal Valley area. These banks are called hub banks because of the hub and spoke theory, which is a business with a central hub headquarters and smaller spoke Ar O' RAMUInr' z-iki .. Arkansas Domocral Qajene/nick McFarland la ~ McClellan High School Principal Jodie Carter ".S ,rather, president and CEO of First Commercial Bank out-nn "ewesU^ility. at 800 S. Shackleford Road in Little Rock nhi,^ nf^Mrr^oH presented Carter teacher grants totaling $1,000 in recognition of McClellan s business magnet school. offices surrounding and ing the central office. serv- Now First Commercial has four hubs. First Commercial is completing renovations on a hub bank in North Little Rock in the Lakewood Village shopping center. Two other hub banks are in Lonoke County at England and Cabot. Strother said First Commercial has no plans for further hub banks. TUESDAY, MARCH 2. 1993 SB 1st Commercial opens west LR hub branch BY MICK NORMINGTON Democrat-Gazelle Business Writer Vice presidenis, niidlevel managers, loan officers and tellers crammed into the lobby of First Commercial Bank's new super branch in west Little Rock on Monday for an office photo. Unlike most branch banks, the execulive.s oulnumber the tellers at this branch. We are redefining branch banking in Arkansas," said First Commercial Bank Iresidenl Ron Slrolher. Now you never have to go downtown. The west Little Rock bank i.s First Commerciiil .s fourth and final hub" bank. Like the oilier hub" banks, the two slorv west Little Rock bank can do everything for personal and corporate customers that First Commercials main bank, in a 25-story building downtown, can offer. Were bringing banking to the people, Strother said. By that he means First Com-nicrciai is moving its specialized lending officers closer to the businesses and people the bank wants to do business with Twenty years ago, the Arkansas General Assembly loosened state laws to allow branch banking. But branching has typically meant small branch offices in the suburbs, which did little more than cash and deposit checks. Anyone wanting a loan or other banking services had to go to the bank head(iuarter.s downtown. But Strolhersaid that at FirsI (kunmerciars hub banks, cuslomers can drive up to take out a small personal loan or a corporale loan of up to .$7..5 mil lion. The west Little Rock hub bank has vice presidenis in charge of commercial lending, small busines.s lending, real es talc lending, morlgagc loan origination, private banking and more. Slrolher said First Commercial wants to attract all the nearby businesses, such as those in the neighboring Koger Center and Financial Centre buildings, and the residents of the growing Chenal Valley area. These banks are called hub banks because of the hub and spoke theory, which is a business with a central "hub headquarters and smaller spoke tfcrt' 'j*' P' BANKING ON EDUCATION McClellan Arkansas Democrat-GazeHe/nick McFarland Gem ta K /ro c
?- McClellan High School Principal Jodie Carter side nr.t r^mmf P*** Commercial Bank, out-nn Commercial s newest facility, at 800 S. Shackleford Road in Little Rock nhim omcneuin! teacher grants totaling $1,000 in recog-niiion of McClellan s business magnet school. offices surrounding and ing the central office. serv- Now First Commercial has four hubs. First Commercial is completing renovations on a hub bank in North Little Rock in the Lakewood Village shopping center. Two other hub banks are in Lonoke County at England and Cabot. Strother said First Commercial has no plans for further hub banks. Arkansas Democrat (gazette FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993 Copyright 0 1993. Little Rock Newspapers, Inc- ^LR teen-ager who shot Hnto classroom pleads (guilty in federal court I i :BY LARRY AULT .Democrat-Gazette Federal Reporter A Little Rock teen-ager Serving 12 years in state prison ^r firing a bullet that shat- ^red the glass door of a class- jmom full of students pleaded guilty in federal court Thurs- day to violating federal gun -law. Derrick Campbell, 18, of 5505 Vega Drive entered two ^ilty pleas during a hearing iefore U.S. District Judge Stephen M. Reasoner. His at- ^rney raised questions about Ihe legality of one of the 3^arges. Campbell contends he was on private property when Hhe shots were fired. 3- Campbell pleaded guilty to jiQssession of a firearm within -tOOO feet of a public, private Ibr parochial school. He also centered a conditional plea of guilty to a second charge of discharging a firearm within a jlchool zone. Campbell faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 315,000 on each of the two fed- ^al charges. > The federal grand jury in- .jlicted him in November and charged him with firing three shots from a .32-caliber automatic pistol near McClellan Community High School on Oct 26. One bullet broke a glass door and entered a classroom where 12 students were taking a test. No one was injured. Campbells attorney, Michael Booker of Little Rock, ' challenged the law under which Campbell was charged with firing a weapon in a school zone, saying that the teen-ager was standing across Geyer Springs Road from the campus when the shots were ' fired. i The conditional guilty plea permits Campbell to file an ap-' peal later challenging the legality of the weapons charge. The Justice Department contended that Congress intent in passing the school gun law was not to exempt the kind of activity Campbell committed. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza sentenced Campbell to 12 years in state prison in February after he was convicted of 12 counts of aggravated assault in the shooting.TUESDAY, MAY 18,1993 Sentence 24 years in school shooting BVTRACEoteAN Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer After a would-be alibi witnesss testimony Monday actually damaged the defendant, Deon Cortez Sheard was convicted ot assault and sentenced to 24 years in prison in the Sang-related shootings of two McClellan High School students. Pulaski County Circuit Court jurors convicted Sheara, 18, of 6119 Queensboro Court, Apartment 5 of three counts of aggravated assault for firing into a crowd on the McClellan campus Jan. 28, injuring two students and endangering a Sheard was also fined $10,000. He had been charged with der, but the jury decided on the lesser charges instead. He was also convicted of one count each of possession of a handgun on school property and misdemeanor criminal trespass. The shootings occurred when two rival gangs - a set of the Crips known as the 43rd Storm, as well as a Bloods setantagonized each other and exchanged gang hand signals atJast-food restaurants on their school lunch hour. Sheard and fellow Crips then followed in a pickup as their rivals walked back to school Once on campus, Sheard jumped from the truck and fired a ijandgim wounding Antonio Halt and Mar- members were standing near an annex building. Marcus Allen, whom Sheard had earlier identified as his alibi witness, instead testified that he saw the defendant running from the scene that day and that Sheard told him he had committed the shootings. One of Sheards feUow 43rd Storm members. Derrick Campbell was convicted Jan. 15 in another McClellan campus shoot- S Campbell, 18, of 7505 Vega Drive, Little Rock, received a 1^ year prison term in_ ani Oct. 1^ 1992, shooting which shat^rea the glass door of a student-filled classroom.< Arkansas Demcx^ W(|azctte - *'1 X-f SATURDAY, JUNE 12,1993 j Copyright O 1993. Little Rock Newspapers. Inc. I 6 teens take scooter, helmet from student A McClellan Community High School student told Little Rock police that six teen-age boys robbed him of his Honda Elite scooter Tuesday. The student said he was at 3610 Confederate Blvd, when the six, who were from 16 to 18 years old, approached him.I THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 16,1993 3B . Employee for LRSD : assaulted Robbed at gunpoint in school parking lot BY OLIVIER UYTTEBROUCK Democrat-Gazette Police Reporter A Little Rock School District employee was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday in a parking lot at McClellan Community High School after she emerged from a classroom building, police said. Susan Chapman, special education supervisor for the district, walked out a rear door of the annex, a building at Geyer Springs Road and Southwick Drive, when a man walked up to her at 11:20 a.m. I was leaving the building, and a man came up and asked me if this was McClellan Community School, Chapman said Wednesday. When Chapman, 42, of Little Rock replied that it
was, the man pulled a revolver and ran around to the drivers side of her car. He pulled a gun and put it to my head and said he was going to kill me, she said. The gunman then grabbed a zipper bag Chapman was carrying. ,
Chapman got into her car and locked the door, but the gunman pounded on the drivers window as though trying to break it, she said. Then the robber ran across Southwick Drive and between two apartment buildings. She ran after the robber angrily and called out to two men who had witnessed the robbery. Chapman said, and then the robber re-emerged from between the buildings and jumped into a late-model Buick driven by another person. - Chapman said she tried to ^et the cars license number but ran away after the robber pointed the gun at her. . I j 1 I IArkansas Democrat gazette SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26.1993 McClellan to offer classes, seminars More than 40 classes and seminars will be offered to the public beginning Monday at McClellan Commimity High School, 9417 Geyer Springs Road. Computer programming, health and fitness, arts and crafts, communication, and public interest issues will be offered. Job search workshops and seminars also will be given. Registration is through the McClellan Community Education office. For information, call 570-4149 or visit the school.TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1993 Copyright O Little Rock Newspapers, Inc. ! McClellan is not a dangerous school You recently reported on a shooting. Although it happened one hour and 55 minutes after dismissal of school at a location approximately two miles from campus, the headline states, McClellan student reports shooting. In the article, the youth is referred to as the McClellan Community High School student. While this information is accurate, it is totally irrelevant to the incident. . Another report about a shooting involving a 13-year-old boy was located just above the McClellan article, but this boys school was not noted in the headline or in the article. We do not think you realize the effect this has on us and our school. Like all high schools in recent years, McClellan has had its problems. However, we are successfully fighting our way back. We have a fabulous, well-equipped magnet program in business and communications. Our 25-computer communications lab is state-of-the-art. Our math department has its own computer lab. Our business department has dozens of computers, and our mass media classroom is equipped with video editing equipment. Our magnet program includes 26 courses that no other LRSD school offers. We teach all the college preparatory courses. Our faculty includes national and state teachers of the year, Stephens Award winners and officeholders in national professional organizations. Over 80 percent of the staff have masters degrees or beyond. However, no one knows these things. The only thing the public remembers is that we have had two shootings on our campus. These two incidents, both of which happened on the very edge of our campus, convinced people that McClellan was a dangerous place. We are asking that you and your paper be more sensitive to our situation. People read headlines and assume that McClellan is a dangerous place. This is simply not the case. STEVE GEURIN Little Rock Aricansas Democrat "^(Sazcttc MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1993 9 McClellan pumps up program^ Magnet enrollment still remains small BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer An award-winning staff, 200 computers, and a wide array of business and communications classes for the college-bound and career-minded are available this year at McClellan Community High School. Only at McClellan can students from throughout Pulaski County choose from dozens of business and communications courses thanks to two new magnet programs in their second year of operation. The hallways in the Little Rock school have a fresh coat of paint, the journalism department has the latest in video equipment, and McClellan teacher Phyllis Smith was just named Arkansas Business Teacher of the Year by the Arkansas Business Education Association. Tony Hunnicutt, also on the McClellan staft was named Arkansas New Business Education Teacher of the Year by the same group. The only component lacking in the McClellan magnet programs is students. Seventy-four of McClellans 886 students are in the two magnet programs up from 58 last year. But only 15 sophomores entered the magnet programs this year, compared to 41 last year. The small class dismays Steve Geurin, magnet curriculum coordinator at the school. Although all McClellan students can take the business and communications courses, the Arkansas Oemocrat-Gazette/Staton BreidenthaJ DOWN TO BUSINESS Carmella Macfoy works on an assignment recently in Phyllis Smiths junior executive class at McClellan Business/Communi-cations Magnet High School in Little Rock. The number of sophomores entering L. See SCHOOL, Page 8B the magnet courses is down from last year. School Continued from Page 1B schools goal is to persuade at least 200 students to become magnet students, taking specific courses according to their interests in one of six fields of study. We have our act together, and nobody knows it, Geurin said in a recent interview. Connie Hickman Tanner, an associate monitor in the federal Office of Desegregation, agreed. They have a fabulous program, she said. I would hold (McClellan) out as a model on how to recruit students, but the results are not there. Its a shame not more students are participating. Geurin and the McClellan staff will initiate a new recruiting drive next month for the 1994-95 school year. Letters will be written and brochures sent to parents of ninth-graders in all three Pulaski County school districts. McClellan staff and students will visit the area junior highs and, in return, interested ninthgraders can visit McClellan. Plans also call for the McClellan staff to educate junior high teachers and counselors as well as student assignment officers about the magnet programs so they can pass the information on to students. Geurin, who has worked at McClellan for 17 years, hopes to avoid the bad breaks and bad publicity the school got last year. He believes reports about school violence sabotaged the magnet recruiting efforts last year. Just a few days before junior high school students were to visit the McClellan programs in January, a gunman fired into a group of students on the campus and injured two of them. That was the second shooting incident in three months at the school. In October 1992, a teenager in a car fired at another car on Geyer Springs Road. The bullet hit a McClellan annex building at the corner of Geyer Springs and Southwick Drive. The bullet shattered a glass door and caused a geography class to dive for cover. Earlier this school year, a district special education supervisor was robbed at gunpoint in the annex parking lot All three incidents occurred around the annex, an old real estate agency northwest of the main campus. McClellan has taken steps to improve its image and its security. At the request of the faculty, the school was the first in the district to add a Little Rock police resource officer to its staff. The staff also has bought advertising and held events such as football game tailgate parties to promote the school. Besides the shootings, a lack of equipment for some classes plagued the magnet program last year. Those needs have been met, Geurin said. The magnet programs are open to students, black and white, from all three Pulaski County school districts, Geurin said. 'There were only two students from other districts in the magnet programs last year. There are no minimum gradepoint averages required to participate. The program is intended to have a 1-to-l black-to-white ratio. Right now, it is about 60 percent white and 40 percent black. One of the purposes of starting the magnet programs last school year was to racially balance the entire school, which now has a 75 percent black and 25 percent white enrollment. Last year the school was 66 percent black and 34 percent white. For Cedrick Crawford, a junior, the McClellan business program has helped him and his partner operate their own business, Teen Connection, designed to train youth in the construction-related trades and help them find jobs. I lived in North Little Rock and heard about the business magnet program, Crawford said. I came over on a field trip. I want to be an entrepreneur. He is taking economics and Junior Executive Training in the schools very large business department this year. In Junior Executive Training, the students put together their own business plans, including marketing, staffing, articles of incorporation, and pricing. I highly recommend the magnet program to others, Crawford said. Its excellent. McClellan has gotten a bad rap. It is no different than any other school. Chris Almond, a senior who plays the oboe in the McClellan band, wants a career in music. But the skills he has learned in the business magnet program will benefit him later. He has learned to sell himself better and has a better understanding of the intricacies of economics. He took Superwrite, an alternative to shorthand, so he also has improved his note-taking skills. Magnet students select one of six areas to study: business {)rin- ciples and management, marketing and advertising, economics and finance, written communications, oral communications, and visual and product communications. The programs are designed for those who want to go to college or plan to have careers in those fields. 7 highly recommend the magnet program to others. Ifs excellent. McClellan has gotten a bad rap. It is no different than any other schooL* Cedrick Crawford The school offers about 26 courses that no other school teaches, including advertising, business etiquette and leadership, desktop publishing, fashion merchandising, insurance, food production and restaurant management, technical writing, an independent mass media project, and screen printing and airbrush techniques. New classes in computer art, architectural drafting, and business statistics are being considered for future years. Still other courses offered include computerized accounting, computer programming and word processing. Students get the chance to learn about busujess firsthand by going to school^part of the day and working the fest of the day. Some business students are responsible for running the schools bookstore and marketing hot cookies. The business magnet program includes interstate business competitions and trips to trade centers and apparel marts in other cities. Students in the communications program have the opportunity to shoot television commercials and will soon do the school announcements over closed circuit TV. Journalism, foreign languages, and public speaking are part of the communications program. Magnet students also get to take classes in the regular cur- riculum at McClellan, including upper-level n^h( Advanced P*Iacem ematics and lent courses, which enable students to get college credit for high school work. The school has a seven-period class day plus an earlybird class, which gives students time to take their courses.Arkansas Democrat (Bazctte | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3,1993 A real hamburger tax Proposed wish list is foil of fat c itizens of Arkansas, if you have a straight-shooting city government, you should fall to your knees and thank whatever higher power to which you subscribe. Its getting so you cant trust a thing the Little Rock Board of Directors says, particularly when it comes to taxes. For instance, I was all set to vote for the half-cent increase in the so-called hamburger tax on Dec. 14 because it was being touted as a public safety tax, with emphasis placed on expanding the size of the citys police force. Then I took a look the list of projects our public officials want to finance with the anticipated $12.5 million the half-cent tax will raise the first year. As the years pass and the cost of goods and services increases, the additional half-cent would raise quite a bit more. Its projected to raise at least $65.25 million in the first five years. Imagine my chagrin when I discovered that less than half of the long-term revenues about 39 percent would go to hire police officers, and only 20 percent of the first-year revenues would be used for that purpose. And thats if the city board doesnt pull another fast one and redraw its priorities and regardless ofthe agenda for which you think youre voting when you vote in Little Rock, the board always manages to change it once the money starts rolling in. But even as written, there are all kinds of goodies in this public safety pipe dream. Take street lights. Two-thirds of the 526 new street lights proposed for installation during the first year of the tax will be installed in uptown neighborhoods in the Heights and west of University Avenue. East, Central and Southwest, the most crime-ridden areas of the capital city, will share the remaining one- third. Then theres building renovation and rehabilitation: $25,000 in one year and $5,000 in each of the next four years, to renovate McClellan High School and environs, which is likely to land the city board in court
$495,000 over a two-year period to establish a land bank authority that would buy and sell ramshackle dwellings and a housing partnership that would act as an advocate t, Meredith Oakley 1: i. for new housing programs
and an estimated $3 million during a five-year period to establish and operate an inspection program for rental property. , None of these should be confused with various and sundry federal programs that provide grants and loans for property renovation and rehabilitation. Then theres creation of an education commission, not to be confused with the Little Rock School Board or the state Board of Education, at a cost of $50,000 the first year and $50,000 in each ofthe next four years. Over a period of five years, a full ^.9 of this half-cent increase in the cdtys hamburger tax will by used for practically everything except additional law enforcement personnel. Be advised, however, that this halfcent increase is permanent Unlike the 1- cent tax proposal that will be included on the Dec. 14 special election ballot the half-cent increase will not sunset at the end of two years. The sunset provision is the only good thing about the 1-cent tax proposal, but thats another column. As for the half-cent increase, hiring police officers isnt even the single largest expenditure on the boards list for the first year. What is? A proposed $3 million renovation of the Wallace Building, located at Second and Main streets, for a new science and history museum. Ive given you only a glimpse of the city boards grand design. Believe me, the entire picture is much, much worse. How bad is it? Let me put it this way. This is a hamburger tax all right in the sense that theres more fat in it than I thought the city board would have the nerve to propose after the last tax fiasco. -----.>----- Associate Editor Meredith Oakleys column appears every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.I Arkansas Democrat (gazette 1 THURSDAY, MARCH 3. A coovriBht O Uttle Rock Newspapers. Inc. CUX Lock-In at UALR to help McClellan pupils with ACT Democrat-Gazette Staff A little work and then a little on fun could lead to better scores the ACT college entrance exam for students at McClellan Community High School. Fifty-five students are signed ' up for an ACT Lock-In tonight at the Donaghey Student Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. . . From 6:30 p.m. to midnight, McClellan teachers and counselors will tutor students scheduled to take the ACT in April. From midnight until about 8 a.m., the students will swim in an Olympic-size pool, play basketball and volleyball, use the track, lift weights and watch videos at the brand new student center. The students will then return to McClellan for Friday c1hss6S> The McClellan Community Education Program rented the center and is sponsoring the lock-in, said Brenda Scrimager, director of the community education program. The program, the first of its kind in the area, rewards students who took the test earlier this year and helps those who need to improve their initial scores. High ACT scores can quality students for scholarships and keep them from having to take college remediation courses. As part of the program, students will sign contracts pledging to participate in more afterschool tutoring sessions before the test date. The amount of tutoring will depend on each students need. Volunteer chaperones will include McClellan staff members, parents and community members. Many local businesses are contributing materials and food. Scrimager said the event was developed to encourage students to improve their scores. More traditional ACT preparation courses at McClellan did not attract many students, she If the lock-in is successful, it will be repeated next year and will be opened to students from outside McClellan.Arkansas Demtxrar 7^ (gazette LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 4, 1994 / ' , \ ft I* kA I > ' I' -mV j5W*cHa. s**- IJ 'i
4S.*! t: t 1 IBWSiIa DRIVING LESSON McClellan Community High School senior Jonas White tests her skills at driving drunk" Thursday in the Chrysler Drunk Driving Simulator. The simula- Arkansas Oemocral-Gazette/Rick McFarland tor is a 1995 Dodge Neon with a computer on board to delay the cars steering and braking responses to reflect slowed reactions of a driver under the influence of alcohol. Simulator gets students drunk, puts them behind wheel of car BY SHAREESE HAROLD Democral-Gazene Staff Writer Michelle Fairchild mowed down a pedestrian Thursday before destroying the car she drove in the parking lot behind McClellan Community High School. Fairchild wasn't detained or charged. Nor were any of the nearly 100 other students whose short drives also ended in computer- simulated carnage the same day. The 17-year-old McClellan junior was sober, and the computer- operated 1995 Dodge Neon she drove demonstrated what could happen when a 105-pound motorist like Fairchild drinks two beers and drives. It was hard to control the car, said Fairchild, one of 95 students who drove the car through a pylon-lined obstacle course. When I took my first drive sober, I had no problem getting around the track, but when he punched in that I was drunk, the car took over. It was out of control, and I couldnt get it to stop, Fairchild said. Chrysler Corp, built the car, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving sponsors a nationwide tour, planned for 150 cities and 75,000 high school students, that allows students to experience the dangers of drinking and driving without ever taking a sip of alcohol. The car is equipped with a computer that, programmed with a students weight and hypothetical number of drinks, delays steering and braking responses accordingly. This was crazy. I cant believe I killed Fred, Jill Laster, 17, a McClellan senior, told the computer programmer inside the Dodge. The 110-pound student toppled five orange cones on her second spin around the course. I dont drive that great sober, Laster said. Look at what I could do if I drank. Its scary. Laster failed to brake at a point that represented a pedestrian crossing the road. A cardboard figure fell to the ground each time the driver failed to brake. Linda Johnson, a McClellan staff member, said getting behind the wheel of a car thats controlled is a lot different from driving one and thinking youre in control and youre not. It makes you feel so vulnerable, said Johnson, who also hit the figure and totaled the car in her simulated drive. I dont drink, but if I did, I certainly would not drive. North Little Rock High School East Campus students will experience the simulated drives today from 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Arkansas Democrat ^(gazette FRIDAY, MARCH 11,1994 ' Woman, 19, shot near LR high school woman was shot Wednesday night by a youth while walking behind apartments on Valley Drive in Southwest Little Rock. Erica Walker, 19, told police she was walking behind the apartments, which border the McClellan Community High School football field, when group of young men walked up behind her. She told police one youtbshot her in the right thigh. Polled said the bullet grazed her a thigh but did_noenter her leg.Arkansas Democrat ^(gazette THURSDAY, APRIL 28,1994 Funfest scheduled at McClellan school Funfest, a school-community festival of pride, begins at 10 a.m. May 14 on the campus of McClellan Business/Communi- , cations Magnet at 9417 Geyer Springs Road. Several schools, churches and community groups are joining with local business leaders to sponsor Funfest. Some of the special attractions will be live entertainment, animals from the Little Rock Zoo, rides, arts and crafts. arcade games, exhibits and fun booths. Admission is free and everyone is invited. For more information, call 570-4106. iArkansas Democrat IgP (Bazctte FRIDAY, APRIL 29,1994 Student writer, 18, arrested in theft A student identified as a McClellan Community High School senior class president was arrested Thursday on a charge of theft of property, police said. Police said Rodney Anderson, 18, of 2213 Main St. collected at least $200 for T-shirts and a senior trip but never provided the services. Anderson was released Thursday night from the Little Rock Jail on $2,500 bond. . Anderson was writer and director of Welcome to the Hood, a stage production sponsored by New Futures for Little Rock Youth focusing on disturbing aspects of youths ' lives. Two productions ofthe play were canceled this week when Anderson failed to show up. An April 22 news release from New Futures on one of those productions identified Anderson as a former McClellan student now attending North Little Rock High School. According to the police report on the arrest, McClellan Principal Jodie Carter told police Anderson was the schools senior class president.Arkansas Democrat (gazette SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1994 copynght O Little Rock Newspapers. Teen told I lies, sponsot ) of play says" BY SHAREESE HAROLD \ Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer A teen-age playwright charged with theft obtained sponsorship for a play under 11 spokesman for a Little Rock group said Friday. Rodney Anderson, the play^ wright accused of stealing theater equipment and his classmates senior trip money, gave kP *oformation about himself to New Futures for Little Rock Youth, a support group for dt- nsk youth. New Futures said, the group sponsored a motivational play written by Anderson. Anne Clancy, public awareness director at New Futures said Anderson, 18, gave the non- protit agency no reason to be suspicious of details he gave them about his theater and personal background when the organization agreed to sponsor his play. Welcome to the Hood.7 But when news surfaced about Andersons possible in- or- ---------- 111- volvement in a senior trip mon- e u ey scam at McClellan High ' ...ol and the schools missing neater eajnpment, Clancy said, Anderson had giver .hem false information ato-t tne high school he attended and his nlans. . Inc. Anderson told New Futurtes he attended North Little Ropk High School when he-ajp-
. proached them about his play! in March. He also told them'he"* was going to spend a yearlong internship directing with the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre. Clancy said the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre has a letter from Anderson expressing his interest in the group but he has not been offered an in- ternship.
Anderson is identified as senior class president at McClellan in a Little Rock police repqrt Students there complainecLI Principal Jodie Carter that Ai i derson bilked them out of at least $725 in reservation fees they gave him for a senior class trip. Carter said Friday that Anderson has not attended classes there since February. He said students trusted Anderson, who was an ideal student. j Carter said he was forcedjto call police when about 36 students accused Anderson,
of stealing their money and when $1,500 in theater lighting equipment was taken from a room to which Anderson had a key. Anderson was arresti^d Thursday on the theft charges and is scheduled for a May 5 air- raignment. j When the Arkansas DemocrOft- Gazette visited and called the North Little Rock address He gave police, the newspaper w^s told Anderson no longer lives there. i New Futures canceled productions of Welcome to tlfe Hood, the play Andersiin wrote, directed and produced to highlight teen-age social pressures. ! JArkansas Democrat ^(gazette FRIDAY. MAY 6,7994 Teen playwright denies theft charge Rodney Anderson, an 18- year-old playwright accused of stealing senior trip and T-shirt money from his classmates, pleaded innocent to a charge of theft of property Thursday morning in Little Rock Municipal Court. Anderson was arrested April 28 on the theft charge, police said. Police said Anderson, of 2213 Main St., collected at least $200 for T-shirts and a senior trip from McClellan Community High School students but never turned the money over to school officials. Anderson was writer and director of Welcome to the Hood, a stage production sponsored by New Futures for Little Rock Youth focusing on disturbing aspects of youths lives. He was set for trial June 29.Arkansas Democrat "gT (gazette FRIDAY, MAY 27,1994 McClellan program offers college classes The McClellan Community Education program will offer classes for the community starting June 13 at McClellan Community High School, 9417 Geyer Springs Road. More than 64 classes will be offered on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings and on Saturdays. The program offers college credit classes at one-third the cost of major universities. All credits are transferable. Registration is through the McClellan Community Education office. Interested people may call the office at 570-4149 or come by the school.Arkansas Democrat (gazette WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1,1994 LR board to review sales tax spending plan : BY KEVIN FREKING Democrat-Gazette City Hall Reporter Little Rock city directors will review plans today to spend millions of dollars raised through a half-cent sales lax voters approved on Dec. 14. With the $9 million expected this year from the Future-Little Rock-inspired sales tax, the board already ha.s paid for the hiring of 45 new police officers, expanded bus service and the establishment of a third municipal court called the "Environmental Court. The bus service is expected to begin in November and some of the money now is going toward purchasing new buses to handle the extra workload. Most of the programs to be reviewed were recommended in an 18-month Future-Little Rock study. The study relied greatly on recommendations from cili-ien task forces. After its completion, the city asked voters to fund the study's recomnienda-tioiis through two tax increases. While the voters rejected a sales tax that would go primarily for a new multipurpose arena, they approved the lax that goes mainly toward public safety. Many of the high-priority programs called for in the study undergo board scrutiny today. City staff prepared 13 ordinances for Spot Check on., 'the sales tax' Charles Nickerson V kill board review. They call for spending: $3 million to develop a new Arkansas Museum of Science and History. $875,500 for crime prevention and drug treatment programs. $500,000 to fund the cost of operating and expanding the number of neighborhood alert centers. $152,000 to hire and equip five code enforcement officers. $261,000 to put in new or improved street lights, mainly in central Little Rock. $75,000 to establish a grantwriting office. $25,000 to remodel McClellan Community High School. $50,000 to hire a consultant who will provide analysis and plans for a Fourche Creek Regional Park. $75,000 to expand summer hours at six Little Rock community centers. $69,000 to pay for three additional police dispatchers. $100,000 for legal, engineering and appraisal services related to improving Capitol Avenue. $60,000 to establish a Race Relations Commission. $35,000 to develop a housing manual and hire a consultant experienced in working with pub-lic/ private housing programs. $28,000 to begin an Education Commission. $33,000 to begin or improve an early childhood education program. $100,000 to hire an assistant city manager and staff to begin a minority economic development program. Comments made in past city board meetings indicate the funding for the new assistant city manager position and the new museum will undergo the greatest review today. Some directors have voiced hesitancy to fund a new assistant city manager position when they believe the job could be accomplished under existing management. City Manager Charles Nickerson also has said the structure of management within the city falls under his guidance. The city's two assistant city managers each supervise several city departments. Some city staff members question the wisdom of an assistant city manager charged solely with minority economic development. One of the things I've tried to do is streamline as much as possible, Nickerson said. At some point in time, there may be a need to ask for additional help, but my basic thrust has been to run the office as thriftily as possible. Also, some directors have said they don't want to fund construction of a new museum until they can see how much money the museum's board of trustees can raise to match the taxpayers' money. A city staff member said the staff anticipates the board will approve spending for the new museum, subject to review when its determined how much money is raised privately for the museum. Arkansas Democrat (gazette ' WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994 BY JIM KORDSMEIER Democrat-Gazette Police Reporter Gun on campus leads to mans arrest Police arrested a College Station man Tuesday afternoon, saying he carried a handgun onto the McClellan Community School campus. High Terrance Davies, 19, of 4003 E, 34th St, was arrested on one count of carrying a weapon on a school campus and one count of theft by receiving. Police also served Davies with a warrant for third- degree battery, a misdemeanor. A accompanying Davies, Racie Phillips, 20, of 9 Althea Circle in Little Rock, was woman arrested on a failure to warrant, police said. appear Davies and Phillips were both in a gold 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass that drove on and off the campus about 3:40 p.m. without stopping to pick anyone up or drop anyone off. police said. An officer approached the car. which Phillips was driving, and found she had drivers license, police said. no While the officer was arresting Phillips, Davies got out of the car, police said, A school security guard at the scene told the officer Davies had a weapon, and he was arrested, police said.Arkansas Democrat (gazette TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1994 McClellan invites grads to big game The Little Rock School Districts McClellan Community High School is calling its graduates home to watch the topranked Lions play for the states Class AAAA championship game at 7
30 p.m. Thursday at War Memorial Stadium. Steve Geurin, magnet program coordinator at the school, said all McClellan graduates and former faculty members are invited to attend the game in honor of the football teams first undefeated regular season since the school opened in 1966, Geurin said. Also, McClellan students will decorate the school districts administration building at 810 W. Markham St. at 9 a.m. today in preparation for the game against the Pine Bluff Zebras. Graduates and former staff members may contact the school by calling 5704121.Future-Little Rock really puts a tiger in the citys tank Some projects, however, still catnapping as city makes use of extra 1/2-cent sales tax BY DANNY SHAMEER Democrat-Gazerte City Hall Reporter More cops patrol Little Rock than ever before. More street lights shine. And they shine more brightly. Buses run more hours, and they roll seven days a week. But a city-run program to help low-income people buy their first homes remains a dream. These programs and 12 others represent what City Hall promised to start doing with money from an extra 'h-cent sales tax voters approved in a special election Dec. 14. 1993. In 1994 the city learned that the more basic the project, the more likely it was to get done and be seen. Like more street lights in high-crime areas. There was nothing out here but darkness, said the Rev. Bobby Marshall, assistant director of the Global Learning and Community Development Center and president of the newly formed East Broadway Neighborhood Association. The new street lights lit up the sky like it was New York City. But some of the more complex programs have been slow to develop. The tax projects grew out of a program called Future-Little Rock. For 18 months, residents from all over Little Rock shared ideas, concerns and hopes for the future of their city. They talked about crime, drug-related violence, deteriorating neighborhoods, public schools, race relations every topic that touched their lives. Then they came up with an improvements package and passed a sales tax to pay for it. The city administration pro- TSU T T i Arkansas Oerrxxm-Gazene hie photo THE BIG ITEM City Hall spent $2,195,548 of proceeds from the -'2- cent sales tax to put 45 more police officers on the street. ceeded carefully and slowly. Sometimes weve had. more or less, controversial items, and sometimes we've gotten delayed," said Mayor Jim Dailey. But Ive never felt better about the process we used to implement a very extensive, multimillion dollar plan in a forum that involves the public and new board members. It was always intended to be a process that would take several years." After the election, committees that included residents, businessmen, neighborhood ac: tivists, elected officials and City Hall staff worked to develop detailed plans for each project. That took months. They presented their recommendations to the Little Rock See TAX, Page 60 Future-Little Rock projects 1994 appropriations and expenditures. SUNDAY, DECEJVIBER 11.1994 EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT Established an education committee and The city decided to leave the work for the {35,000 APPROPRIATION: began discussing possible activities with Greater Little Rock Chamber of the Little Rock School District. APPROPRIATION: $75,200. EXPENDITURE: $10,000. ------------- McClellan community school Expanded services to include Sundays Covered school's weather-exposed courtyard. APPROPRIATION: $25,000 EXPENDITURE: $23,648 ------------- MUSEUM Found new location lor ths Arkansas Museum of Sciencs and History - the Temiinal Building on East Markham Street. An architect and an exhibit design enhancement. firm will be hired, possibly by May. No 1 date has been set lor moving. __ APPROPRIATION
jjBW $3 million EXPENDITURE
WHHB w-----------------
CAPITOL AVENUE ! committee is exploring 1 ways to beautify Capitol Avenue. A two- block area has been chosen lor work ' beginning In the spring. APPROPRIATION: $100,000 EXPENDITURE: $50,000 -------------- MINORITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Hired an administrator to oversee program and planning Io do a disparity study. ____ APPROPRIATION: $100,000 EXPENDITURE: $5,000 _________ RACE RELATIONS COMMISSION Established a Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission. The commission began several activities, including a Healing Racism Seminar. APPROPRIATION: '$75,000 -EXPENDITURE: -$7,200 ------------------------- : REGIONAL ECONOMIC Commerce, which had begun similar projects. NO FUNDING. CENTRAL ARKANSAS TRANSIT AUTHORITY and nights. APPROPRIATION: $933,328 EXPENDITURE: $914,424 ----------- COURT The city established a 3rd Division of Municipal Court, which deals with health. PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND housing, fire, building and zoning codes. TREATMENT NBighborhood youth intervention programs were begun, focusing on mentoring, self-esteem and academic APPROPRIATION: $949,500 EXPENDITURE: $698,109*------------ PUBUC SAFETY Hired 45 additional police officers and three additional dispatchers. APPROPRIATION: $2,195,548 EXPENDITURE: $2,195,548 ____ STREET LIGHTS Installed or replaced street lights with ones that illuminate a large area. APPROPRIATION: $261,000 EXPENDITURE: $126,000 ---------------------- ALERT CENTERS Established three alert centers: Upper Base Line, Westwood and South Little Hock. APPROPRIATION: $500,000 EXPENDITURE: $423,000 ----------------------- HOUSING PARTNERSHIP/ LANDBANK AUTHORITY A program designed to help low- and moderate-income first-time home buyers. The program has not begun. The city continues to study the issue. * Of the $698,109, a total of $341,088 was set aside tor specific EXPENDITURE: w $0 ------------------ RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM Established a door-to-door inspection program of aH rental units kt the city. APPROPRIATION: $490333 EXPENDITURE: $490,833 --------------------- I APPROPRIATION: $171,700. EXPENDITURE: $171,700 ------------ FOURCHE CREEK PARK The board annexed land and selected a firm that will prepare a site analysis and conceptual design lor creating a Fourche Creek park. APPROPRIATION: $50,000 EXPENDITURE: $0--------------------- FUTURE-UTTLE ROCK PARTNERSHIP Hired grant writer and now soliciting proposals for grant coordination sendees to facilitate access to federal grants. APPROPRIATION: $75,000 EXPENDITURE: $25,000 --------------- FUTURE-LITTLE ROCK SUPPORT SERVICES Established lunds lor Future-Utile Rock meetings and other activities. APPROPRIATION: $15,000. EXPENDITURE: $1,452 ------------ II TOTAL APPROPRIATION: $9,052,109 EXPENDITURE: $5,141,914 Tax Continued from Page 18 Board of Directors in May. John Pryor, the citys chief financial officer, said Little Rock should get an estimated $9.5 million for the current budget year. Revenues began showing up in city bank accounts in March. The city appropriated $9,052,109 this year. So far, $5,141,914 has been spent on Future-Little Rock initiatives. The city will carry over the $3,910,195 in unspent money for the programs. It also has $547,891 in reserve next year. The city estimates it will receive $13.6 million in 1995 from the tax to continue programs begun in the first year. Many projects have taken the better part of the year to implement because of logistics and practicality. The Little Rock Police Department, for example, hired 45 extra officers this year as planned. However, 10 remain in the police academy. They graduate Dec. 16. The city plans to hire 45 more next year. The city installed 1,129 street lights with broader illumination in high-crime sections as part of a three-phase project. The first phase was completed in October. Night and Sunday bus service began in the city for the first time in 20 years. Two out of three new programs to improve housing opportunities for low- and mod- erate-income people began. A new court to enforce housing, health, fire, building and zoning codes opened. A door-to-door rental housing inspection program also got under way. Inspectors have begun combing the city, making sure apartments are safe and sanitary. The old enforcement system was complaint-driven only. But a companion effort a program originally intended to help people with low- and become moderate-incomes first-time homeowners has yet to get off the ground. The program was designed to give people information on buying a house and help them tap into loans. Officials spent the year debating the finer points of a plan to create a Little Rock Housing Partnership and Landbank Authority. But the idea became entangled in legal problems when city attorneys found holes in the plan. Because of the problems, two of the projects basic components a housing manual to inform potential buyers how to become eligible for loans and classes for prospective homebuyers about repairing bad credit, applying for loans and budgeting remain undone as the first year ends. Now the city wants to start fresh and hire a consultant who can recommend a legal way to proceed. The projects future remains unknown. I dont think its a negative thing that the initiative is slow in getting started, said Jim Mercado, program director of the Local Initiatives Support Corp., a community develop- ment support organization. Im interested in seeing it done right. But lame duck City Director Erma Fingers Hendrix said she is disappointed the program isnt under way yet. This program would have the largest impact on poor peo- i pie, and no ones concerned, I Hendrix said. Its appalling. Housing is a crucial issue in this city. The city will have to catch up on that program as well as start three more: Fire Department arson and hazardous materials tam $598,813. J Mosaic Templars Building Project $185,000. Substance abuse treatment and counseling $2.5 million. Jim Lynch, vice president of J the Coalition of Little Rock- Neighborhoods and a long-time City Hall watchdog, said Fu
, ture-Little Rock represented a
' new chapter in the willingness of City Hall to listen to the com- . munity. Future-Little Rock did - a. better job than in the past, Lynch said. But the real challenge will be to see if the city stays focused and applies money where the focus is.Arkansas Democrat ^(gazette TUESDAY, JANUARY 10. 199.S Scrap at McClellan brings battery count A McClellan Community High School student was charged with third-degree battery after a youth was attacked in front of police and school officials Monday morning. School officials said that after the two 15-year-old boys got into an altercation during their first class, one followed the other to his ne^ class and hit him. Police said the suspect was combative when confronted by teachers and officers. He was escorted to the office, where the victim had also been taken. Police said the boy ran into the office and hit the other again in the throat, this time in front of of-Aricansas Demcxirat (gazette FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1995 Schools not human zoos I often wonder what the intelligence of Dermcrra-Ga^ette IS. B.S. Carpenters letter (Voices, Feb 111 serves as an excellent indicator rife wit^Za ^an zoo teachers being punched, kicked, stabbed and shot by children K through six J e -uiiuren A. uirough SIX an^year-olds swinging from the cdling. Th^h*^^ information? incidents of stabbings J" school this school year, much less an elementary school. My mother works at Chicot ^imary School, and when quizzed about incidents of children swinging from the ceilmg, she said there had been none during her tenure. any Little Rock public She also said there is no 6-year-old at Chicot with the physical acumen to accomplish such a Herculean feat. Reading Carpenters account of public education gives a frightening picture, one that IS completely untrue As a student at McClellan High School, ^ee what the schools are really like daily, r havens of godless, undisciplined heathens. They are places with car- 'Hiey are places with students who work education. They are places ued work and school pride are val- While there are a few troublemakers they are a rather small minority. They only seein to be prevalent because the media omy focuses on negative occurrences in the schools, never the positive ones, which far outweigh the negative. If B.S wants to rant about the public schools, he should visit one, something he obviously has not done in a while, and get a real picture of what they are rather than his distorted, sad hallucination. GARY MARTS Little RockArkansas Democrat J WEDNESDAY. MARCH 6, 1996________________________________________________________________________________ 3 Central students cant join McClellan team now, judge says U.S. District .Judge .James M. .\lood5' refused Tuesday to allow three Central High School female students to join a McClellan High School soilhall team for the beginning of the season. Parents of the three students sued the Little Hock School District and the Arkansas Activities Association in federal court last week. The parents and students, who are identified only a.s .John Does and Jane Does, sued to get female athletic programs in the Little Rock district that are equivalent to the e.xisting programs for males, and to win immediate placement for Central students on the McClellan team. The soflball for McClellan started season Tuesday. In the lawsuit, the students sought to establish a sotlball team at Central. Unsuccessful in that, they asked to participate in the McClellan program. However, they were barred from participating by an Arkansas Activitie.s Association rule that prohibits students from participating on a team at a school where they aren't en- rolled. - The parents and students, who the class of all district student: are represented by Little Rock ' ' civil rights attorney .John Walker. asked Moody to issue a prelimi nary injunction to allow the students to play immediately. He denied the preliminaiy request, but the issues will be revisited al trial. That trial dale ha.s not yet been set. Walker is seeking to represen who are similarly denied acces to female athlelie activities.Arkansas Democrat (^jazelte WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1996 i Schools' choirs to perform and Hall high ' i , McClellan ................ : schools will present a concert of i choral music at 7 p.m. Thursday I at Christ Episcopal Church. 509 S.
Scott St. .Admission is free.2B SATURDAY, APRIL 15. 1995 Arkansas Democrat 'ST (gazette LRSD board to consider Oma G. Jacovelli Auditorium BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer The auditorium at McClellan Community High School may soon bear the name of the late Oma Glyn O.G. Jacovelli, the Little Rock School Board member who died March 13 at age 49 after a long bout with cancer. The Little Rock School Board will vote at its April 28 meeting on the proposal made by the high school staff and the Community Education Advisory Board. Oma G. Ja- " Jacovelli covelli perhaps was the best friend and strongest advocate that McClellan High School has ever had, the proposal to the board said. during the teachers strike of 1987 when she stopped by the strike lines along Geyer Springs Road to offer encouragement to the strikers, the proposal said. Some of us remember board from 1987 until her death. Her beliefs were strongly held because she carefully considered every issue, the proposal from the McClellan gram in Flint, Mich., has provided children and adults with recreational and academic Many current McClellan teachers first met Mrs. Jacovelli telling her that she should get involved in the issues at hand, and that is just what she did. Later that year, she made the decision to run for a position on the Little Rock School District Board of Directors. She won a seat and served on the staff continued. She won many battles for the schools of Southwest Little Rock. McClellan can thank her for the community education program and many other additions to the school. The community education program, modeled after a pro- courses after school hours. The proposal from the school staff calls for the outside of the auditorium to be labeled The Oma G. Jacovelli Auditorium" and her portrait to be placed in the lobby with a plaque explaining why she is being honored. The auditorium was built in 1980 for school plays, pageants, assemblies and community ac- tivities. New stage curtains recently were added. Plans for new lighting and sound equipment are being developed. The auditorium, which was never named, will soon be a first-class facility to be used by thousands of people each year, the proposal said. We think that adding the name of Oma Jacovelli will add a new level of class to the hall, while at the same time honoring our friend and inspiring others with her memorj'.Arkansas Democrat (gazette SATURDAY. APRIL 29,1995 School auditorium named for O.G. Jacovelli equipment and furniture out of the building, including some maple furniture in the home economics department that students had bought for the school. A desperate call for help went out to Jacovelli, and it wasnt long before the furniture was returned to the school, Tipton said. Besides naming the auditorium in Jacovellis memory, the district will buy a set of children's books and place them in the Gibbs Magnet Elementary School Library. The Gibbs Parent Teacher Association passed a resolution, read at the board meeting Thursday, that praised Jacovelli for her efforts as a school board member to always put children's interests first. In other business Thursday, the board agreed to invite school board members from the North The McClellan Community ' High Sclool auditorium will soon bear the name of O.G. Jacovelli. The little Rock School Board voted Tkirsday to name the auditorium in memory of Jacovelli, a longtine school board member from Soithwest Little Rock who died Mach 13. Reprsentatives of the school's parent alvisory school, the staff and the community asked the board toapprove the memorial. To yiu she may have been a radical oice, longtime McClellan faculy member Maddie Ruth Tipton bld the board. But she was trul
our voice. We, the staff and the administration, cherished wlat she did for us and all the schotls in Zone 7. She vas precious to us, Tipton said, ecalling when McClellan was tranlerred from the Pulaski County Siecial School District to the Little Rock district in 1987. The
ounty began moving Little Rock and Pulaski County Special school districts to a joint meeting at 5 p.m. May 22 in the Governor's Conference Room at the state Capitol. Little Rock board members want to discuss modifying their school desegrega- tion plan as well as other topics. The board took no action on a proposed code of conduct describing how board members should operate. Linda Pondexter, the boards president, questioned several of the proposals.Arkansas Democrat (gazette MONDAY .MAY 15. 1995 McClellan High to graduate 240 at Barton McClellan Community High Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn,, where he plans University School will graduate 240 seniors at 6 p.m. May 23 at Barton Col- to major in chemical engineering. iseum. Salutatorian Carmella C. Valedictorian Adrien L. Macfoy, 17, earned a 4.0 GPA Lewis 18 has a 4.1 grade point and is the daughter of Sydney average and is the son of Ron and and Melvina Macfoy. Macfoy Karon Lewis. Lewis lettered in was French Club president, Mu football, was Arkansas Future Alpha Theta president and a Business Leaders of America member of the National Honor president, was a member of the Society. She plans to major in National Honor Society, Mu Al- international relations at pha Theta and served as student Georgetown University, Washbody president. He will attend ington, D.C. (Arkansas Democrat (gazette J SATURDAY, AUGUST 19,1995 ** I >*** o*vMr MMruwiw* Inr. McDermott parents told of school routes | The Little Rock Public Works 1 ! Department has identified routes [ for parents of McDermott Elemen- > tary School pupils to take to reach the school despite construction to widen parts of Reservoir Road. i School starts Monday for McDer- I mott children and other students in i the Little Rock School District ! Parents coming from Cantrell j Road will be allowed access to the school. Parents coming from Rodney Parham Road should take Southedge Drive to get to the school. When leaving McDermott, parents should go north on Reservoir Road to Old Forge Drive, which will take them back to Rod- ney Parham. ?Arkansas Democrat C^azctte SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1995 School auditorium to honor Jacovelli A ceremony dedicating the McClellan High School auditorium to the' memory of former Little Rock School Board member O.G. Jacovelli isa scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at the school. 1 Jacovelli served on the school board from 1987 until she died of cancer
on March 13. As a board member she was particularly committed to thej schools in Southwest Little Rock, including McClellan, which her son at-" tended. J The ceremony will conclude with a reception and the unveiling of portrait of Jacovelli. The portrait will hang in the auditorium foyer. a
w.Arkansas Democrat ^(i^azctte | MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1995 ' Oma G. Jacovelli Auditorium honors LRSD board member BY SANDRA COX Democrat-GazaBe Staff Writer O.G. Jacovelli spent a good part of her adult years dedicated to McClellan Community High School in Southwest Little RocL Six months after her death from cancer, her friends, associates and family members gathered Sunday to hold a dedication of their own: naming the schools auditorium the Oma G. Jacovelli Auditorium. A portrait of Jacovelli smiling boldly in a red dress, which was unveiled during the ceremony, will hang in the auditoriums foyer. Her name, in gray letters, is displayed over the buildings entrance. Today, we have come to let her posterity be known through this dedication, said Linda Pondexter, president of the Little Rock School Board. Jacovelli, who died at the age of 49, served on the Little Rock School Board from December 1987 until her death March 14. She served as board president from September 1991 to January 1993, and as vice president from September 1990 to August 1991. She also was a founder of the McClellan Community School, located at the high school, which serves as a community center and j offers various classes to South- j west Little Rock residents. Many on Sunday remembered Jacovellis ability to tell the truth, even when it hurt. They used the K Arkansas Democrat-Gazene/MORRIS RICHARDSON II Jason Jacovelli and his wife. Erica, unveil a portrait of his mother, Oma G. Ja-- covelli, during a dedication ceremony Sunday that named the McClellan Com-munity High Schools auditorium after her. Oma Jacovelli served on the Little- Rock School Board from December 1987 until her death in March. words rebel, devoted and radical as they told tales of Ja-coveili and her different missions while on the board. Ann Brown, federal desegregation monitor, said that when she thinks of Jacovelli, she is reminded of a saying her grandfather used: One busy flea can worry a : whole dog. I came to understand that O.G. wasnt a trouble maker,' Brown said. She was just being like that flea. Arkansas Democrat ^(i^azctte | MONDAY, AO IC TOBER -2-,' ,r1jr9 9In5M Oma G. Jacovelli Auditorium honors LRSD board member BY SANDRA COX Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer O.G. Jacovelli spent a good part of her adult years dedicated to McClellan Community High School in Southwest Little Rock. Six months after her death from cancer, her friends, associates and family members gathered Sunday to hold a dedication of their own: naming the schools auditorium the Oma G. Jacovelli Auditorium. A portrait of Jacovelli smiling boldly in a red dress, which was unveiled during the ceremony, wilt hang in the auditoriums foyer. Her name, in gray letters, is displayed over the buildings entrance. Today, we have come to let her posterity be known through this dedication, said Linda Pon-dexter, president of the Little Rock School Board. Jacovelli, who died at the age of 49, served on the Little Rock School Board from December 1987 until her death March 14. She served as board president from September 1991 to January 1993, and as vice president from September 1990 to August 1991, She also was a founder of the McClellan Community School, located at the high school, which serves as a commimity center and offers various classes to South- j west Little Rock residents. Many on Sunday remembered Jacovellis ability to tell the truth, even when it hurt. 'They used the 1 Arkansas Democrat-Gazett^MORRIS RICHARDSON II Jason Jacovelli and his wife. Erica, unveil a portrait of his mother, Oma G. Jacovelli, during a dedication ceremony Sunday that named the McClellan Community High Schools auditorium after her. Oma Jacovelli served on the LiWe- Rock School Board from December 1987 until her death in March. words rebel, devoted and radical as they told tales of Jacovelli and her different missions while on the board. Ann Brown, federal desegregation monitor, said that when she thinks of Jacovelli, she is reminded of a saying her grandfather used: One busy flea can worry a" whole dog. I came to understand that O.G. wasnt a trouble maker," Brown said. She was just being like that flea. Aikansas Democrat :^(5azctte FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1995 2* * *E ^hi1g h1 -sc hoolers injured during figfir Two tussling Little Rock high school students were injured Tuesday afternoon when they were cut by glass from a library window they shattered, police said. The youths started fighting after a brief argument about 1 p.m. at McClellan High School at 9417 Gey- I er Springs Road, police said. They continued to fi^t until the window shattered, cutting both. I Arkansas Democrat'^C^azcttc | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10,1996 | School guards wrist broken
man charged A Little Rock teen-ager was ar- rested Tuesday afternoon on a . charge of battery after he assaulted a school security guard, police j said. ' I Jalal Dawson, 18, of 1903 Mar- i shall SL was arrested on a charge ! of second-degree battery about 4 ! p.m. at McClellan High School at ' 9417 Geyer Spring Road. -
Dawson, who is not a McClel- ' Ian student, was on campus to i meet a girl when he started fight- [ ing with a student, police said, i When security guard Steve Neb- i ley, 30, of Jacksonville tried to stop the fight, Dawson broke his right wrist, police said.Arkansas Democrat (^iizcttc FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1996 School guard accused of fondling student BY JIM KORDSMEIER Democrat-Gazette Police Reoorter Police have arrested a Little Rock School District security guard after a high school student reported being fondled by him. Eklon Charles Williams, 35, of 3207 Anna Drive, was arrested at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at McClellan Community High School on suspicion of second-de^ee violation of a minor, police said. The 17-year- old student complained to Principal Jodie Carter that Williams had fondled her. Williams is on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of a district investigation. Bobby Jones, the districts director of safety and security, said Thursday. Unfortunately, things like this happen, Jones said. "We re certainly working with the police as well as conducting our own investigation. The districts safety and security office has requested a copy of the police file of the incident, Jones said. The file won't be released until the police investigation is complete. The student told police Williams took her to the band directors office at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday. They were "playing a game when he reached under her shirt and fondled her breast, stomach and "side area. she said. Shortly after the incident, the girl told a friend that Williams had "made a move on her. police said. School officials said they couldn't comment on the incident because it is still under investigation. Williams has been a guard for the district several years. Jones said. The girls mother took her to , police headquarters Tuesday af- ' temoon for questioning, police said. Detectives also questioned Williams after his arrest. Second-degree eolation of a minor is a Class D felony.I i uk.ih.hIs | MONDAY, JULY 22, 1996 School a summer bummer? Not always, students find r v'sW' BY CHRIS REINOLDS Derrxxral-Gazette Stall WiHer The normally bustling halts of McClellan High School are (juiet, clean and empty. Even the library is deserted. No lockers bang, and no one changes classes. Students get two 15-minute dents are in suniincr school for High School, Mount St. Mai7 remedial classes only. Charles Green, director of secondary education at Pulaski County, said students take enrich- Academy and Arkansas Baptist attended Little Hocks summer school. And youngsters from Bryant, Monticello, Shreveport, r- ment classes so they can graduate and even one student from St. early or enroll in classes during Croix, Virgin Islands, took class- the school year they normally es.' wouldn't have time to take. The breaks a day. They get no lunch countys enrichment classes are period. The rules and the motivations have changed. It's summer school. More than 900 students in the Little Hock School District and separate from the remedial classes. The county ha.s enrolled students from Lonoke, Cabot, Little Hock and North Little Hock, said North Pulaski High School Princi- Of course summer school still pal Manuel Twillie. G(Xt in the Pulaski (bounty Special cheap. contains plenty of students who need to fix that F or try to graduate. The course.s dont come Scliool District are spending their summer vacation in school. Pulaski County Special School District allows students to take classes in summer school for ad- In Little Hock, summer school Most of the summer courses are basics, since there are rarely enough students to Pdl elective classes. The yearlong classes are con- costs $57.50 per semester $10 densed into two three-week ses- more for out-of-district students. The cost in the Pulaski district is $63 per semester also $10 more vancement to graduate early or students out of district. get a head start on the next year. But in the Little Rock district, stu- School Students from Central Arkan- sions. Each class runs four to five hours a day. Students say the classes are harder, but the schedule allows them to conquer one subject in- Arkansas Democrat-Qazatte/RICK McFARLAND Danton HeKon, 16, hits the books in his tOth-grade English class at McClellan I ligh School In Little Rock. Continued from Page IB studying geometry at summer school because his schedule didn't allow time to learn it last spring. Damon, a talkative 16-year-old from J.A. Fair High School, is serving time for an English class. He had planned to spend the summer working and fixing up his truck. ''Summer school is just a downer, Damon said. This is the last year. He spent last summer studying algebra. He passed with flying colors, compared to his failed attempt during the school year. He made a B in his first summer semester of English this year. He said the fact that his parents paid . for the class and the intensive \ lessons help motivate him. sas Christian School, Catholic stead of juggling a regular load. I like the security, and there are no discipline problems cause if you mess up in summer school you're gone, he said. Stella Hayes teaches lOth-grade English at summer school. Many of the students are spending their summers in class because they skipped school and didnt receive credit she said. By comparison, attendance is high at summer school. If a student misses one day, thats five hours he has to make up to earn credit. Hayes, who teaches English at Mann Magnet .Junior High during the school year, has worked in summers for several years. George, 17, is a Mills High School student in the Pulaski County District. He is taking senior English this summer so he can graduate early. I will be able to get out early, said George, who plans to join the Navy. He says summer classes are no easier than courses during the normal school year. David is a peppy I'Lyear-old whose mother has taught him at home for the past four years. Hes See SCHOOL, Page 6B The no-frills discipline at summer schools is an added benent. Damon -'aidri^ikansas Demcxzrat (gazette TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 < LETTERS Proud of progress in SWLR If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. This is so clearly illustrated in the case of A.M. Rickard (Voices, Aug. 17), who wrote concerning the problems she saw in Southwest Little Rock on one of her rare visits there. The inaccuracies in her outrageous description of SWLR were matched only by the viciousness of her tone. May I address her misconceptions? ? Instead of being in decline, the Geyer Springs area seems to be enjoying a period of new growth. The old Southwest Mall is being transformed into a handsome headquarters for the Arkansas State Police. A new motel has also been built on the site, and Ron Sherman has transformed the old theater there into a stylish home for his video production company. The new Southwest Community Center, the new police station and the new Wal- greens all show growth, as do the recently remodeled shopping centers at Geyer Springs and Baseline. -Xnd McClellan High School is the only area high school to have shown increases in enrollment for every year since 1993. Many parents send their kids to this SWLR school to take advantage of its business/computer program, ranked as the nations best for 19^. I admit that SWLR has problems. So does (jentral Little Rock. So does West Little Rock. It is admirable when we respond to these problems by joining with others to seek solutions. It is destructive and divisive when we respond by referring to our fellow citizens as having no respect for themselves, their neighbors or for the area they call home. We who work or live in SWLR are proud .. ofthe progress being made here. We hope that the citizens of Little Rock will not let the angry voice of Rickard be the only voice heard. STEVE GEURIN Little RockI Arkansas Democrat T^pazcltc WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1997 Police * fc'.' Computer laboratory vandalized at school Little Rock police said someone broke into McClellan Community High School about 11 p.m. Monday and did about S3,000 worth of damage to the schools computer lab. The vandalism was the second such crime at the school in the last six weeks, police said. Investigators said someone had apparently kicked through a glass door to enter the school. School officials are conducting an inventory to see whether anything was stolen.I Arkansas Democrat ^(IpazctU _____________ THURSDAY, MARCH 27. 1997___________________ Ex-guard at school gets 1-year sentence Fondling student violated trust, judge says
BY LINDA SATTER ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE A former security guard at Little Rocks McClellan High School was sentenced Tuesday to a year in prison for fondling a student in May in the band directors office. Eklon Charles William, 36, of Little Rock was convicted Feb. 25 of second-degree violation of a minor in a nonjury trial before Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza. liWien William returned for sentencing Tuesday, Piazza acknowl- i edged that some really fine, educated people testified at Williams trial about his good character, and others had written letters to the court on his behalf. All had an impact Piazza said. On the other hand, the judge said, the young ladys testimony, I thought, was substantial and convincing. He noted that she was a youngster in a very vulnerable position and that people who work in schools and have contact with children must be trustworthy. I think its a severe violation of that trust Piazza said of Williams crime. He said he wondered what long-term damage the girl might suffer as a result. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Wanda Wyeth, in asking Piazza to sentence William to at least two years in prison although state sentencing guidelines recommend probation, said, This was a school employee who took advantage of a student at his school, " Don Thompson, Williams attorney, asked the judge to consider that the charge amounted to what one person says over another person and to impose a sentence that didnt involve prison time, William addressed the court, saying, All my life. Ive been on the good side of the law,... I had aspirations of being a police officer, At first Piazza said he would sentence William to a year in a regional punishment facility, notir^, I think this is the exact t:^e of situation that facility was designed for, -j. But after Thompson pointed out that the law doesnt allow people convicted of sex crimes to serve time at such facilities. Piazza said, Then Im going to give him one year in the Arkansas Department of Correction. When William was arrested May 14,1996. police said the girl, then 17, had complained to Principal Jodie Carter that William took her to the band directors office the previous afternoon and they were playing a game when he reached under her shirt and fondled her breast, stomach and side area, '"L-Arkansas Democrat (Bazctft FRIDAY, MARCH 6,1998 Police beat ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Student pulls knife in fight at school A McClellan High School student slashed at another student with a homemade knife after the I two started fighting over a dispute that started earlier in the i day, police said. According to a police report, an 18-year-old female student drew a sharp, five-inch metal object with tape on one end during a fight with a 17-year-old male student about 10:45 a.m. at the school on Geyer Springs Road. Both students told police that he bumped into her and made her drop her book bag before second period. He continued walking. After the class the two met in the hallway and she confronted him, the I report said. The woman said he responded by pushing her to the floor. She said that while she was be- ing held, he hit her on the right side of the face and then pushed her into a brick wall. He said she kicked him, then slashed at him with the crude knife before he pushed her to the floor. The boy suffered a six-inch scratch from his cheek to the back of his left ear and several other scratches on his neck and face. The woman suffered a bruise on her right cheek and a knot on her forehead. Police advised each student to seek warrants against the other. The woman was treated at St Vincent Infirmary Medical Center. Both students were taken to the Little Rock Police Department for questioning and then released.Arkansas Democrat (fjazcltc TUESDAY, JUNE 2. 1998 McClellan High names valedictorian, salutatorian Debbie L. Payne, daughter of Michael and Mary Payne, was named McClellan Highs valedictorian. She will attend Rhodes College in Memphis. Trecia C. White, daughter of Jimmy D. White and Celestine I McRae, was named salutatorian. I She will attend Spelman College.r Arkansas Democrat [ THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1998 U.S. grant to help LR district expand after-school programs BY CYNTHIA HOWELL ARKANSAS DE.VOCRATCAZETTE ' The Little Rock School District is slated to get about $1 million in federal grant money over the next three years for afterschool and summer learning programs for students and adults. The money will be used to expand programs at McClellan Community High School and Cloverdale Junior High. In all, 315 iimer-city and rural schools in 36 states will share $40 million for after-school programs. President Clinton announced the awards Wednesday. The grants were made available to worry ... or seeing these after Cool 4 School Summer Day Camp school hours as a time to fear, we for children 6 to 12 years old, free should see them instead as a win- clinics for economically disad- dow of opportunity, she said. vantaged students and their fami- Recipients were selected by lies, mental health services for at the U.S. Department of Educa- least 200 children and teen-agers, tion from nearly 2,000 applica- community service and work tions. Little Rock is the only force readiness projects for 75 Arkansas district receiving a teen-agers, and training of litera- grant cy tutors who will work with Lit- The centers will provide tutor- tie Rock students. ing, performing arts programs, _ _ _ . _ At Cloverdale, the grant will summer camp for element^ provide a 25-station computer pupils, employment preparation laboratory and expansion of the training, medical assistance, and after-school program from 55 parenting skills training. teens to 100 per year. Tutoring Partners joining with the and training in the performing school district to provide the ser- arts including choir, drama through the federal 21st Century vices include University of dance and gymnastics will be Community Learning Centers Arkansas at Little Rock, Pulaski offered. Twelve additional teach- Program. The president said he hoped Congress would expand funding to as much as $200 million in each of the next five years. These grants will give thousands more children a safe place to go before and after school and good things to do, Clinton said. Statistics show that unsupervised children are more likely to commit a crime or become a victim of a crime during those afterschool hours, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton said. Instead of permitting parents Enterprise Community, Literacy ers will be used for the expanded Action of Central Arkansas, Fam- activities. ily Service Agency, Philander Still other offerings Smith College, Arkansas Baptist Cloverdale will include at an College, the Martin Luther King evening tutorial program for 75 Jr. Commission and the Arkansas children in kindergarten through Department of Health. sixth grades. College and high At McClellan, the grant will al- school students \^1 provide low the addition of up to 20 training Additionally, recre- teachers to offer courses for stu- ational activities and snacks will dents and adults, nine high be provided to elementary stu- school teachers and six student dents during after-school hours, tutors. An adult literacy program will be Other benefits of the grant wall offered, as will mental health ser- include the expansion of the 2 vices.Arkansas Democrat l^razclU' TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1998 ........................................... ............ .. . .................................................. ........ County may get break on failed summer meal program BY 1 RAC IP DUNUAN ARKANSAS Ol.MlX RAI OAZI-.111- Pulaski County and the U.S. attorneys oflicc have ironed out the details of a iiroposed agreement to end the countys $900,000 liability for a failed summer meal.s program. And the deal wouldnt create a financial crisis for the cash-strapped county. If approved by the Quorum Court at a special meeting tonight, the settlement would allow the county to repay the federal government on a five-year installment plan at 5.41 percent interest, a rate that would kick in July 1. A settlement appears likely. In late May, 14 of the 15 justices of the peace voted to authorize settlement negotiations and recover of losses from other groups or individuals the county may deem liable. Earlier this year, the Justice Department had demanded that the county reimburse what now amounts to $900,(XX) U.S. Attorney Paula Casey said then that without a written settlement offer, she i See MEALS, Page 8A Arkansas Democrat-Gazetle/STEVE KEESEE Community High School cafeteria with other children participating in the Summer food Progiam. Imani Eskew, 6, receives the finishing touch, a carton of milk, r. fter going through the lunch line Monday al the ttcClellan Meals Conlinued from Page 1A could sue for an added $1.1 million for breach of contract. A U.S. Department of Agriculture inquiry determined that the county submitted 12 false claims for the Summer Food Program, which souglit to feed needy children durand that the milk will have to be thrown away. In 199.5, the county acknowledged its subcontractor didn't precisely track the number of meal.s served. But (bounty officials argued that llic program met the spirit of the rules by feeding children who otherwise might have gone hungiy, the whole point ofthe idlbrt. Three yeans later, alter negotial-pay the entire debI this year, it would have had to make budget cuLs unles.s blessed wilh some sort of sites Io 25 sites, then expand once it grew more comfortable with the revenue wiiidl'all, Comptroller ing summer vacation when they Ing a $275,(XK) claim Irom its risk pool, the county can pay its first in-hmeh program. stallmenl of $180,(XX), due Oct. 15, Using Agriculture Department withoutdipping into unappropriated ... spiuiding resei-ves ifeounty lawmak couldnt benefit from the school Jolcen Hassan said. 'rhal wa.s part of our concern, Burnett said. At least when you can budget for it, its expected. The proposed settlement covers 12 claim.s submitted between July 17,1992, anil Det. 5. 1995. 'Ilie number of years created a slicking point during negotiations belween the risk pool, (T'ulral Arkansa.s Risk Management Assoeialion and (he slringent regulations. But two summers later, the county operates no sites, although it does use program funds to feed juveniles in its juvenile and adult jails. Other organizations, such as the Little Rock School District, have been attempting to fill the void. Al noontime Monday in the Memoney, the county subcontracted with the nonprofit and now-defunct Community Organization for Pover-ty Elimination to run the program. ers so choose, Assistiint County At lorney Karla Buniettsaid Monday. In a memo Friday, Burnett told But COPE failed to document that theQuonmiCourt itcanpaythemin- meals went to poor ch ild r en as i nimum $180,000 this year, the entire tended. The food was prepared in Little Rock School District cafeterias, then taken to community sites for COPE to serve. Federal regulations governing $275,000, or more if members desire. the program are strict. Program operators must provide head counts of children served, if a meal is served without all the re- (HeUan Community High School cafeteria, 128 children dined on deli turkey on wheal, fruit cup, salad and chocolate milk tielore many county, which wanted $4(X),(XX). rushed back to learning ami recre- Initially we said each contract was $100,UtX) for '92. 93, 94 and School day camp. 95, Burnett said. And they said it " was a one time claim for$l(X),(XK). The two sides ultimately agreed on a $275,(XX) claim. 'Ihats because the proposed selllv .i.n.. ...H..M...X.i., t.h..e. county repaid nt he< inent allows the county to make early federal government $11.>,(XX) that paymmiLs without penally and reduce the amount of interest owed. had been s{)ent on the program. ation activitiej al the 2 (.\)ol 4 Pam. 11. and Ryan, 9. display a lypical childs prejudice against cafeteria food. Pam recalls fondly the way the day camp used to seiwe nachos before the food program County olUcials had been worried about the ellect repayment would have on the 1998 budget, since less than $500,000 in .spending reseiwes remain for tlie re.sl of the year, Thal has to carry us through the then sued COPE to recover the mon-quired nutritional components for example, a box of milk the operator isn't allowed reimbursement year on known and unknown ex- ......... ...... - -- ue.wa, County Judge Buddy who werent supposed to get then . Villines said, referring to county de- ...... came along, while nachos or pizza would be just fine by Ryan. But Dorothy Robinson, a school district food service manager, said the children couldnt get a better meal anywhere. As she looked over Mondays head count sheets, Robinson said ey. That suit, later amended to cover Ihe $}XX),(XX) the government now says it is oweil, has not gone to trial. The program also has been the subject ofa federal criminal invest!- ---------- ---------------------- gallon into allegations that tens of (hat without the prograin, many ot thousands of meals went to people th e- c.h ild..r.e...n.. .w...o...u.l.d.. .p...r.o. bably be eat-for that meal. To comply with regulations, an penses, operator must serve the milk knowing that a particular child dislikes it partments. Had the county been forceil to ing junk food while home alone. Here they get a good, balanced meal. Robinson said. I think its a Hammering out the initial settlement two years ago, the county had ..................-- - hoped to cut back from 50 feeding good support for the parents. Arkansas Democrat J THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1999 _________...-------------------------------, ------------------------------------------------------------- McClellan High named tops in U.S. for business education \KKA\SA.-, OlAUX'RAr-liAZrn i McClellan High School's business and marketing education department has once again been named the top high school business education program in the nation by a division of the American Vocational Association. The Little Rock school firet won the distinction in 1995. when the high school award was last given. McClellan will now hold the title for three more years. Smith, depanment Phyllis chairman at McClellan, and Carol Green, career and technical director for the Little Rock School District. were among the school representatives to accept a plaque and a Sl.OOO check for the school during an association conference last month in New Orleans. "They do have an extremely outstanding program." Maty Margaret Hosier, chairman of the National Programs of E.\cellence Award committee, said about the McClellan faculty. "They just far exceed any other school that applied. It would be hard to top them with what they do. how they sen e their students and what they offer." The McClellan business and marketing department offers 35 courses and the use of up-to-date computer systems. The school is one of four Little Rock schools designated as a model technologj- center. Besides Smith, the business and marketing staff at McClellan are John Bacon. Michele Brown. Shirley Hodges. Jeri Bob King. Nancy Leslie. Angela McCallie. .Xiin Neely and Brenda Stuckey. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1999 Arkansas Democrat "^azcttc Cuningkins death hits school hard BY TIM COOPER .VRK.VNS.AS DEMOCR.VT-G.VZETTE Flags flew at half-staff at Little Rock McClellan High School on Thursday in honor of basketball I Cuningkin Continued from Page 1C Cuningkins body underwent a medical exam Thursday, but the Pulaski County Coroners Office had not determined the cause of death. "The outpouring of love from the other coaches has been tremendous. McKinney said. standout Devin Cuni
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