PICAYUNE —
Councilman Larry Breland on Friday took exception to a story in the Picayune Item concerning the tax hearing on Tuesday. He charged it was too negative and did not present more positive statements about the Picayune school system made by some of the participants.
“Overall it was a good story,” said Breland, “but it concentrated on the negative.”
Breland during the Tuesday hearing asked city attorney Nathan Farmer to explain the legal ramifications and procedure for setting the school millage rate.
Farmer said that the school board submits a funds request to the city council and that the city council is the levying authority. The city levies the millage rate to produce the amount of money requested by the school board, added Farmer. He said that the city council has no discretion in the matter; by law the council has to set the millage to generate the money requested by the school board.
Breland also asked school board member Ray Scott for his comments about the issue. Scott told the board he felt there was not enough public participation in the school board meetings. He said the meetings are open and citizens can get on the agenda to speak to the board. He said he opposed the budget that was adopted by the school board. Scott later said part of the problem is “public apathy.”
Scott said that while he did not agree totally with the report card that councilman Wayne Gouguet presented, it was a good start for a discussion of the issue.
Said Breland after Scott’s presentation, “I graduated from old Carver high school. It was a good school and I later taught for 31 years. Statistics can be used to prove or disprove any point that you want.”
He added, “I feel like we have a good school system. Can it be improved? Yes it can. Is it the worst? By no chance, is it the worst. But whatever the problem, we as the community should work to try and improve that situation.”
He continued, “We can look at the price of gas, the price of a textbook, but the price of a child is priceless. But by the same token, we need to spend the money that’s needed, but spend it wisely.”
Breland added, “I want you to bear with me. . .When I was teaching the fifth grade, the students were divided up, and we were supposed to be given the same number of kids, high level and low level. In my particular case, I got the worst of the worst, the lowest of the lowest. At the end of the year, when we got test scores, mine were always lower than other teachers.”
He added, “Before we criticize, I think we need to find out exactly what the problem is and I think we can work through it. We have righted the ship of the city. We can do the same with the schools. I think the board is made up of dedicated people. I think we should approve their request to give them the opportunity to do what they say is needed.”
He continued, “Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it was started in a day. All I am asking for is all of the facts on which to make a decision.”
Local News
Breland comments at tax hearing
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