• 43°
franklin county times

Meridian school board revisits legal issue

By By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
Dec. 4, 2001
The Meridian school board is exploring the ramifications of a state law that allows students in certain portions of the city to attend county schools.
Board members met Monday in closed session with Jackson attorney Ben Piazza, who specializes in school matters, to discuss possible litigation associated with House Bill 413. The bill allows parents living in the Meridian Separate School District to send their children to county schools unless a resident of their area is appointed to the Meridian school board.
Although board member B.J. Barrett, appointed in June, is a representative from Meridian's added territory, the board is apparently exploring the possibility of challenging the law as a violation of the federal voting rights act.
In other matters, the board was briefed on a proposed repeat offender program for the district. The program is an attempt to keep more students in school when they would normally be expelled.
The program offers a reduced stay in the district's alternative school for certain infractions, from two nine-week periods to one nine-week period. The students will also receive mental health counseling.
Although the program would be for students who display serious behavior problems, such as open defiance of the teacher or use of profanity, the students in the repeat offender program will not have expulsion on their permanent records.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x