Board meets running long, becoming testy

  If the uncompensated White Hall School Board was salaried, it might be drawing overtime pay for its recent regular monthly sessions.
    The Tuesday, June 9, summit stretched for over 2.5 hours, with nearly half of the evening devoted to the panel’s executive session, in which assorted personnel matters were decided (see a sidebar story for details). Recent board gatherings have been more lengthy than normal, with one enduring for three hours.
    Why so many long meetings?
    Well, much is happening within the district and it all requires some measure of attention.
    Last week, in addition to the personnel items and an in-depth discussion and action on a proposed mill hike, the board waded through and voted on several other issues, one of which raised some ire among several directors.
    In order to satisfy state law, the board accepted a low bid from IBC Corporation (Interstate Bakery) of Memphis to supply the district’s bread products during the 2009-10 school year, but Interstate might need to appease some employees and directors if it desires to maintain its contract past this year.
    Director Scotty Ray said he wants the district to “look at keeping its money in local hands” more often. Ray said he would like to see the contract go to Hamilton Distributing, owned by Bobby Hamilton of White Hall.
    “If we have someone local who is bidding to provide a service, we should give them added consideration, but I know we (board members) aren’t spending the money,” he said, noting the importance of doing “local business” when “asking the patrons to spend more on millage.”
    Director Dean Dancer was blunt in his criticism of Interstate, saying he has been told by district employees of “sub par” service by the firm. Dancer said the workers have stated their preference of Hamilton.
    Superintendent Dr. Larry Smith said he was aware of dissatisfaction involving Interstate, but state regulations mandated that Interstate’s low bid be accepted unless improper service had been documented.
    “We have to be in compliance with the law,” Smith told directors.
    “I understand that and I’ll follow the superintendent’s recommendation to accept Interstate’s bid, but I want my objections known,” said Dancer.
    Interstate's per-package prices are 85 cents for hot dog buns, 97 cents for hamburger buns, $1 for both white bread and Texas toast and $1.18 for wheat bread. Hamilton offered respective prices of 90 cents, $1.10, $1.05, $1.10 and $1.20.
    Smith advised directors that the district must count it pennies in meal expenses, as despite two recent increases in lunch fees, the district is still over $100,000 “in the red” on food services funds.
    Coleman Dairy of Little Rock was the lone bidder and won the 2009-10 contract on milk products. Its prices are 25.5 cents per half-pint homogenized, 24.5 cents per half-pint low-fat homogenized and 24.4 cents per half-pint low-fat chocolate.
    The board accepted a low bid of $56,522 on district-wide building-and-contents insurance for the 2009-10 school year. The contract will be let to Traveler’s Insurance through the Little Rock firm of Hoffman-Henry.
    The Dwight Jones Agency of Nashville (Howard County) received the board’s nod on its bid of $19,817.20 for athletic and activities insurance. The agreement is for the next two years with the annual price the same for both.
    Curry’s of Pine Bluff maintained its kitchen pest control contract for 2009-10 with a bid of $189.88 per servicing.
    Physical Therapy Plus here was granted a $19,000 contract to provide athletic training for the district’s junior and senior high school athletic events. Tim Atkinson is the primary trainer.