In mid-January, representatives from the Office of Accreditation and Accountability within the Mississippi Department of Education conducted an on-site audit of the Tunica County School District. The district received a report from that audit in June, charging school officials to correct any noncompliance and seek a follow-up review.

Paula Vanderford, Education Bureau Manager, wrote to Superintendent Stephen Chandler on June 30, “Based on the evaluation findings, the school district appears to be in violation of Accreditation Policy 2.1 and the following process standards: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 23, 28, 29, 33, 35, 36, and 37.

“If you disagree with the findings outlined in the enclosed report or believe them to be in error, you have thirty (30) days from the day this report is received to submit documentary evidence to verify compliance with any standard in question.

“Any official written response that you wish to make to the enclosed report should be received in the Office of Accreditation on or before August 1, 2014.”

The standards in which the district was found to be noncompliant included “errors, omissions and inconsistencies” in personnel documents; and violations of the Mississippi Open Meetings Act and the state’s Employment Procedures Law of 2001.

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District 2 supervisor Cedric Burnett, frustrated that the county board has not received financial updates in more than nine months, filed a Freedom of Information request for public records on September 17 to Circuit Clerk Sharon Reynolds, whose staff hand delivered it to Chancery Clerk Rechelle Siggers’ office and to the county administrator.

“As you know, I am the elected supervisor for Supervisors’ District 2 in Tunica County, Mississippi,” Burnett wrote. “I have repeatedly requested certain documents at the meetings which will give information upon which to base decisions and votes.

“These are documents which I understand are required by law to be maintained and provided monthly. To date, I have not received any of the information.

“Given this, I am making a formal request for public records.”

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Just before the cool weather heads to town, one local opened a new service station, where patrons can stay warm and cozy inside their vehicles while gassing up.

“We pump everybody’s gas,” said Alex Obad, owner of the recently-opened Alex’s Full Service Station, located at 1364 Edwards Ave.

The new business not only sells gas; customers can pick up snacks, sandwiches, drinks, and tobacco products, Obad said.

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