Still no answers in Monroe shooting
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Citizens
in Homer are still waiting for the investigation into the shooting death of
Bernard Monroe Sr. to be made public.
Monroe, 73, was shot and killed by a Homer Police Officer on
Friday, February 20, at his home, after he allegedly engaged two officers with
a loaded handgun.
District
Attorney Jonathan Stewart spoke to the Homer Lions Club last Thursday, where he
spoke to Lions about some of things happening at the DA’s office since he took
the helm. He briefly mentioned the investigation, saying he has not yet
received the report from Louisiana State Police.
“We
have purposely distanced ourselves from the state police investigation,”
Stewart said to Lions club members, “and we do not have the report. When we do
get the report, we will be totally independent and use our judgment on how to
proceed on that.”
With
that, several Lions club members expressed a variety of feelings on the matter,
mainly fear of community backlash in the absence of any real answers.
“It’s
about to reach the boiling point,” one Lions club member said.
Doug
Pierrelee, spokesman for Troop G, said in a short interview last week, that
their portion of the investigation was complete. As to where the report stands
now, there are no clear answers, and no one is talking. Several phone calls to
the North District Detectives Bureau of Investigation also went unanswered as
of press time.
At
Monday’s regular council meeting of the Town of Homer, a motion was approved –
made by District 2 Councilman Michael Wade – to request that Town Attorney Jim
Colvin conduct his own investigation into the conduct of the two officers
involved in the shooting. To clarify, Colvin will not be conducting an investigation
into the shooting itself, but the conduct that day of the two officers involved
as it applies to the town’s police policies and procedures.
The
town has limited funds in which to pursue such an investigation, Homer Mayor
David Newell said.
“Do you
realize what this is going to cost the town?” Newell asked Wade and the other
council members.
Also of
concern to some citizens is the fact that the two officers in question are
still being paid while not receiving the benefits of their services. In fact,
Willie Young, president of the Claiborne Parish Chapter of the NAACP, and
Communications Director Terry Willis, sent a letter to the town on behalf of
the organization, with copies going to the Inspector General and the Louisiana
Board of Ethics, demanding answers. The letter says that administrative leave
is not covered under the town’s policies and procedures, but instead the two
officers were placed on “emergency leave.” Colvin disputed that saying that it
essentially means the same thing.
The
NAACP’s letter wanted to know who placed the officers in question “on
administrative leave with pay.” It also asked how much the officers have been
paid since being on placed on leave.
In
addition, the organization demanded that the Town of Homer enforce, retroactively,
the department rules and regulations policy for the Homer Police Department;
that the officers in question be “immediately” removed from the status of
administrative leave with pay; require the officers in question to pay back the
money they have received since being placed on administrative leave with pay;
disciplinary action for the person responsible for placing the officers on
administrative leave with pay for violating police department policy; and that
the “person or persons” responsible to receive appropriate penalties for
violating any applicable state or federal law and any code of ethics.
Young
said he did receive a response from Colvin on the matter. The Guardian-Journal,
under the Freedom of Information Act, requested a copy of that response.
Colvin said the best possible
decision was made under the circumstances, and that the officers had to remain
on paid leave because the law did not allow them to do otherwise.
The
town attorney stated that three options were available to the them: “violate
state law and due process and expose the Town to significant liability to the
officers by imposing discipline without the required investigation; return the
officers to full duty; or place them on paid leave.
Homer’s
police policy and procedures states in Section 2400-4(B), that “all emergency
suspensions will be with pay, and reviewed by the Chief of Police who will
decide the length of the emergency suspension.”
“Considering
the seriousness of the incident,” Colvin wrote in his response, “the Chief of
Police and other Town officials could not, in good conscious [sic], return the
officers to full duty without a proper and complete investigation.
Additionally, the Town could not knowingly violate the officers’ rights and
expose the public to liability. Thus, the Chief and the Town of Homer opted to comply with the law and place the officers on paid leave.”
The
state provides what’s called a “Policeman’s Bill of Rights,” which says that no
“adverse action” may be taken in regards to any officer under investigation
until that investigation is complete.
Furthermore,
although the statute provides for approximately 60 days to complete an
investigation, Colvin said both officers in this case signed a consent form
extending that 60-day period until the investigation is complete. No timeline
was given.
In the
town council meeting, Colvin explained this to the public, which stemmed from a
request made by the mayor in a previous council meeting.
The
community has expressed outrage and fury since the death of Monroe. Two
community forums, sponsored by the U.S. Justice Department, have been held to
allow community members to express their feelings regarding Monroe’s death. In
the wake of the shooting, the Claiborne Parish NAACP has cried out for answers
to what they are calling a “senseless” tragedy. The U.S. Justice Department,
the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Federal Bureau of
Investigations (FBI) have all been contacted to look into any alleged civil
rights violations in the Monroe case.
Steve
Hall, FBI special agent in charge, said their investigation is still ongoing
and hope to have it completed soon.
Stewart reiterated that he would
make the right decision once the report hits his desk.
“We’re
going to get that report, and I’m going to study it with my trusted assistants
and we’re going to come up with a consensus about what the right thing to do
is,” Stewart said. “We’re going to do the right thing.”
There
are several possibilities as to which way the case will go now, which include
turning it over to the Attorney General’s office. If that happens, the attorney
general’s office will decide whether it is a prosecutable case or not.
DWCC named hurricane evacuation site
Sex offenders to be housed at DWCC
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
David
Wade Correctional Center (DWCC) has been named the primary evacuation site for
non-incarcerated registered sex offenders during the event of a hurricane.
DWCC
Warden Jerry Goodwin said he doesn’t want to scare the public, because this is
actually a good thing.
“I think
it’s a good plan and I think it promotes public safety,” Goodwin said. “They
will be properly supervised so that the public won’t have any more concerns
than they would on a normal outing.
“The
concept behind it is to provide as much public safety as possible,” he
continued. “They (registered sex offenders) are required to evacuate to a
supervised location so that they can be accounted for. They’ll be in accordance
with their registration requirements.”
Goodwin
wanted to assure the public that this plan is not a terrible thing.
“The
sex offenders are in our (general) population (outside the prison) every day,”
he said. “The numbers are not that large. Most of them have secondary residence
plans, which means they will be allowed to go there. It makes sense, and the
people of Claiborne Parish need not have any concerns. This is a good thing for
all the citizens of Louisiana.”
This is
part of the state evacuation plan with the Louisiana Department of Social
Services. The registered sex offenders will not be treated as inmates, but they
will be housed at a supervised location where prison staff and staff from the
Department of Probation and Parole can take care of them.
The
registered sex offenders will not be housed at the prison itself, but rather an
evacuation center on the prison’s property.
According
to an Associated Press report released Tuesday, “the state may either house all
such people in one sport or isolate them within Red Cross and church shelters.”
Goodwin
said he felt the designated shelter at DWCC was a better alternative for sex
offenders.
“Sex
offenders would be sheltered with children and families at the other designated
evacuation shelters,” he said. “At least this way, they are all in one place
and can be supervised.”
Homer woman charged with identity theft,
forgery
The Guardian-Journal
A Homer
woman has been arrested and charged with identity theft and forgery.
Latishua
T. McDaniel, 34, was charged with identity theft and forgery, with bond set at
$10,000 on each charge; resisting an officer, with a bond set at $500; and
failure to appear, with a bond of $500.
According
to Homer police, on Thursday, May 28, Officer Van McDaniel (no relation to the
suspect) went to the 1300 block of Adams Street to serve a warrant on Latishua
McDaniel and interview her in regards to a traffic citation issued on Saturday,
May 23, where she signed with a different name.
When
the officer attempted to place her under arrest, reports say she fled on foot.
Officer McDaniel called for assistance, at which time, he and other officers on
the scene searched for Latishua McDaniel. She was later found at a residence in
the 1300 block of Norton Street hiding in the bed of a dump truck.
Officers
then questioned her in regards to the ticket, placed her under arrest and
transported her to the Claiborne Parish Women’s Facility where she was booked
on the above charges.
In an
unrelated case, Elliott L. Cornelius, 47, of Homer, was arrested and charged
with driving under suspension, with a bond of $500; careless operation
(alcohol); and second degree battery, with a bond of $5,000.
According
to reports, on Friday, May 30, Homer Police Officer Mario Thomas was dispatched
to Claiborne Place Apartments in reference to a complaint.
Thomas
stopped a white truck at the apartment complex, and upon contact with the
driver, identified as Cornelius, a strong odor of alcohol was detected.
A
background check revealed that Cornelius’ driver’s license was suspended and he
had an active warrant from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office for second
degree battery. The incident in reference to the warrant occurred in August
2006, when Cornelius allegedly caused bodily harm to his sister when she tried
to interfere in an altercation between he and his brother.
Cornelius
was placed under arrest and booked at the Claiborne Parish Detention Center on the above charges.
Two arrested on possession charges
The Guardian-Journal
A
Spearsville man was charged with a variety charges after a traffic stop led to
his arrest.
Shaun
Mitchell Davis, 29, was arrested on a bench warrant for failure to appear, with
a bond set at $500; no license plate, with a bond set at $500; failure to
register a vehicle, with bond set at $500; no insurance, with a bond set at
$500; driving under suspension, with a bond of $500; and possession of drug
paraphernalia, with bond set at $500, for a total bond of $3,000.
On
Friday, May 29, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Roger Ellerbe was patrolling
Hwy. 9 traveling northbound when he stopped a vehicle for having no license
plate. The vehicle was driven by Davis.
When
asked for the proper paperwork, Davis was not able to produce it, and Ellerbe
discovered his license had been suspended. Davis also had an outstanding
warrant for previous traffic violations.
Deputies
Paul Brazzel and J.T. Williams were on scene to assist.
Further
check of the vehicle revealed a black and brown glass pipe – commonly used in
smoking marijuana – found under the driver’s seat.
Davis had a small cut above his eye that he stated he’d
received earlier in an altercation. Davis was transported to Homer Memorial Hospital’s emergency room for treatment to the cut above his left eye and then
transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center (CPDC) for booking.
In an
unrelated case, sheriff’s deputies arrested Tyler W. Johnson, 25, of Minden, on the charge of possession of CDS Schedule IV (valium) with a bond set at $5,000.
On
Sunday, May 31, Deputy Darren Keel was dispatched to a residence in Homer
regarding an unknown person knocking on the windows and doors of the residence.
Keel observed a white male, identified as Johnson, standing near a vehicle
parked on the front yard of the residence.
Louisiana
State Trooper Matt Harris arrived on scene to assist.
A
search of the vehicle revealed a medium-sized cloth bag (Crown Royal bag)
hanging from the gear shifter of the vehicle, and inside the bag were two
valium tablets. After an initial investigation was conducted by Keel, Johnson
was transported to CPDC for booking.
Seat belt, child restraint laws tougher
The Guardian-Journal
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey wants to make the public aware of the tougher laws
regarding wearing a seat belt and failure to restrain a child.
For
failure to restrain a child, the first and second offense will result with a
suspended driver’s license. The suspensions will be added to your driving
record. (No hearings will be allowed and no hardship license will be given.)
For
failure to restrain a child, a fine of $50 will be imposed. Also, proof of
having a car seat or child restraint will be needed.
An
officer will have to witness the correct car seat or child restraint is in your
possession.
You
will be given an affidavit from the officer stating proof has been shown. The
affidavit will have to be notarized at your expense. A reinstatement fee of $60
will have to be paid at the state driver’s license office (not local).
The
third or subsequent offense will result in an automatic driver’s license
suspension for 180 days, plus all of the above.
Our
goal is always to maintain the safety of our citizens, especially when it comes
to our children.
Also,
tougher penalties will be enforced by the law for not wearing a seat belt. The
first offense is a fine of $25. The second offense is a fine of $50.
Third
or more is a fine of $50 plus a court cost of $139 with a total of $189.
All
seat belt tickets do affect your driving record. Bailey would like to remind
everyone to please buckle up.
Keeping kids safe in the water more
important than ever
JENNI WILLIAMS, The Guardian-Journal
As the
summer vacation heats up, most children will be participating in more outdoor
activities like swimming, camping and bike riding.
For
most parents this is a time to be extra vigilant to keep your child safe and
healthy and when it comes to water safety, knowledge is the key.
One of
the first steps in keeping your children safe when swimming is adult
supervision and an age appropriate floatation device.
Most
parents understand, or they should, that their kids need some sort of
floatation device until they are older and have learned to swim well.
About
250 kids under age five drown in swimming pools every year. Drowning deaths in
children 14 and under increase by 89 percent in the summer months.
All it
takes to prevent this is a little knowledge and a Coast Guard approved, age
appropriate life jacket.
Arms
floaties, inner tubes and swim vests may not provide enough protection from
drowning.
It
should be obvious that simple arm floaties don’t count as an approved personal
floatation device (PFD). Instead, look for that label declaring it US. Coast
Guard approved.
“Always
make sure you’re following safety rules and wearing that safety vest. If you
fall out of a boat and hit your head and are knocked unconscious, those
swimming lessons aren’t going to help you. You need to have on that life
jacket,” Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said.
“We’ll
(CPSO) be working in conjunction with Wildlife and Fisheries, patrolling the
lake every weekend and will be out in force with the 4th of July falling on a
Saturday this year.”
You
should also always make sure that younger kids, even those who can swim well,
are always supervised by a capable adult when they are in or around water.
Even
older children and teens shouldn’t swim alone, but should use the ‘buddy’
system and always swim with a friend. Never swim alone.
Drowning
is the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages one to 14.
Children can drown in as little as one inch of water and its usually quick and
silent.
A child
will lose consciousness two minutes after submersion, with irreversible brain
damage occurring within four to six minutes.
According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “More than one in four fatal
drowning victims are children under the age of 14.” Four children require
medical attention for injuries on the water for every child who dies.
Learning
to swim, at any age, is critical to staying safe in the water, whether on the
lake, at the ocean or in the pool.
Having
this skill, and applying these few other safety precautions, can greatly reduce
the dangers of the water.
Library movie begins June 10
Haynesville
“Howl’s
Moving Castle,” part 2, will be shown in Haynesville at the Claiborne Parish
Fair Complex on Wednesday, June 10, at 10 a.m. Children ages 12 and under are
invited to attend.
Homer
Part 2
of this movie will be shown in Homer at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at the
library at 909 Edgewood Drive. We encourage all children ages 2 to 12 to join
us in this afternoon movie fun.
Crafts
Children
ages 2 to 12 are invited to make their own castle. This craft, completed at
home, with or without a parent’s help, will be displayed at each library both
in Homer and Haynesville during the week of June 29-July 2. For more
information on this display, please call Ms. Nancy at 927-3845.
There is
still time to register and complete the reading requirements for the Summer
Reading Program 2009.
Children
who have just completed grades three and four will read at least eight chapter
books to receive their certificate.
Younger
children will read (or be read to) at least 30 books to complete the program
and receive their certificate.
Call or
come by the library for more information.
Curry sworn in for Homer Council District 1
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Willie Clyde Curry was sworn in
Wednesday, May 27, at the Claiborne Parish Clerk of Courts Office in Homer. Far
left, Clerk of Court Pat Gladney administers the oath of office. With Curry,
center, is his wife and mother.
CPSB stresses importance of student
transfer policy
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Claiborne Parish School Board is cracking down on its student transfer
policies.
Even
with the closing of Pineview School last year and its students being split
between Summerfield and Homer schools, there is still an issue with student
transfers, which stems from a 40-year-old lawsuit which says that Claiborne
Parish is still a dual (black/white) school system. In an effort to get
Claiborne Parish Schools declared a unitary school system, the following
transfer policy states what students will have to do and how they will be
allowed to transfer within the school system in this parish.
Mike
Blackwelder, supervisor of child welfare and attendance, said that every
student in the Claiborne Parish school system will have to complete a residency
application and show proof of residence.
“The
principals are notifying the students,” Blackwelder said. “After this year,
only new students will have to complete a residency form and show proof of
residence. The only transfers that we can consider are transfers within our
parish.”
For
example, the committee which handles transfers can consider the transfer of
students coming into Claiborne Parish school districts. If a student wants to
leave Claiborne Parish, he said, then the receiving school district outside
Claiborne Parish will have to make those decisions.
It is
very important to note that students within the parish that have approved
transfers from last year will have to apply this year before Tuesday, June 23.
The only transfers that do not have to be approved again are the majority to
minority transfers. All other transfers will have to be re-approved for the
2009-10 school year.
To be
clear, The Guardian-Journal is re-running the transfer policy that was
published in our legal section from the May 28 edition. The transfer policy
that follows should clear up any questions parents might have. If not, please
call the school board office at 318-927-3502. It is as follows:
NOTICE
CLAIBORNE PARISH SCHOOLS
Residency Verification and Transfer Policies and
Procedures
Students
in the Claiborne Parish School District must attend school in the attendance
zone where they live unless they qualify for and are granted a transfer. The
Residency and Transfer Committee (the “Committee”) is responsible for
implementing the policies and procedures related to residency verification and
transfers. This Notice contains a summary of those policies and procedures.
The full versions of the policies and procedures may be viewed at the Claiborne
Parish School Board Office, 415 East Main Street, Homer, Louisiana 71040.
Residency Verification
Each
student seeking to enroll or to continue enrollment in the District schools
for school year 2009-2010 must submit to the school principal a residency form
(notarized and with required documentation) no later than 10 school days after
the first day of school. Each year after school year 2009-2010, each student
enrolling in a District school for the first time and each student continuing
enrollment in any District school whose address has changed must submit a
residency form (notarized and with required documentation) no later than 10
school days after the first day of school or within ten 10 days of the address
change. Failure to submit the required residency form and documentation will
result in a denial of enrollment or immediate withdrawal.
The
residency form must be accompanied by at least 2 of the documents listed
below. The submitted documents must be in the parent’s name and show the
location by street address of the residence of the parent where the child
resides as his primary residence. Any document with a post office box shown as
the only address will not be accepted. At least 2 of the following items must
be submitted with the residency form:
1.
Property tax records.
2.
Mortgage documents or property deed.
3.
Apartment/house lease or residential rent receipt clearly indicating the date
and amount of the rental payment, the person(s) who made the payment, and the
person who received the payment. If a rent receipt is submitted, the next
month’s rent receipt (including the required information) must be submitted
within the next 30 days for such documentation to be acceptable.
4.
Utility bill received within the preceding 30 days or application for utility
service made within the preceding 30 days. Acceptable utilities include
electricity, water, and cable. If an application for utility service is
submitted, the first bill must be submitted within the next 30 days for such
documentation to be acceptable.
5. Valid
voter registration indicating the voting precinct and residential street
address.
6.
Currently valid Louisiana driver’s license clearly showing a residential street
address.
Students
who reside with a legal guardian or foster care parent must also provide a
valid court decree declaring him/her to be the legal guardian or the foster
care parent of the student. Custody by mandate is not acceptable.
In the
event that a student’s residence cannot be immediately verified or that a
question arises concerning residency, the District will implement a procedure
to verify the residency which includes a request for additional documentation
and home visits. If residency cannot be verified, the student will be denied
enrollment or be immediately withdrawn from the school. A parent who disagrees
with a residency verification determination by the principal may request review
by the Committee. The Committee’s decision on review is final and no appeal or
review can be taken to the School Board.
Transfers
Parents/guardians
may request a transfer for their child/children only based on a
majority-to-minority transfer (referred to as “M-to-M”, as described below) or
if one of the circumstances listed below applies. M-to-M transfers take
precedence over transfers for other reasons and those for other reasons will be
granted according to the rules below and a court-approved order of preference.
Students who receive M-to-M transfers are entitled to receive transportation
provided by the District, while students who receive other types of transfers
must provide their own transportation.
To
request a transfer of any nature, parents/guardians must have a residence
verification on file and provide all of the following:
1. An
application indicating that it is a request for a M-to-M transfer or indicating
which of the 6 compelling circumstances, as specified below, upon which the
student seeks an out-of-zone transfer;
2. A
signed, dated, and notarized statement providing a detailed explanation of the
reason for the transfer request; and
3. Any
applicable documentation submitted in support of the transfer request and as
required by the applicable provision below.
All
documents must be completed and returned to the Claiborne Parish School Board
Office, 415 East Main Street, P.O. Box 600, Homer, Louisiana 71040 between JUNE
1 and JUNE 23. No transfer request submitted outside this time period will be
considered unless the request is based on 1 of the first 6 circumstances listed
below which has arisen outside of the time period. The Committee will consider
all properly submitted transfer requests according to a court-approved
procedure and will give the parent notice of its determination on or before
July 15. All decisions of the Committee are final and no appeal or review can
be taken to the School Board. All transfers approved by the Committee are
contingent upon the final approval by the United States Department of Justice.
Majority-to-Minority Transfers
The
School Board encourages any black or white student who is attending a District
school in which his/her race is in the majority to choose to attend another
District school where his/her race is in the minority. This
majority-to-minority (M-to-M) policy applies only to black and white students.
Students of other races are not as candidates for M-to-M transfers but may be
considered for any other transfer for which they may qualify.
An
M-to-M transfer must be requested in the same manner as described above, with
submission of all necessary documentation within the JUNE1 - JUNE 23 application
period. The Committee will review every M-to-M transfer request according to a
court-approved procedure.
PLEASE
NOTE: Unlike other transfers, an M-to-M transfer is automatically renewed each
year as long as the student attends the same school. Also unlike other
transfers, any student who is granted an M-to-M transfer is automatically
eligible to participate in any athletic program at the receiving school.
Compelling Circumstances Transfers
Compelling
circumstances for approval of non-M-to-M out-of-zone transfers must include 1
of the following reasons and be supported by the stated documentation, as
applicable.
1.
Specialized academic, vocational, athletic, or special education curriculum not
offered in the student’s school of residence.
Documentation
required: A written statement from the principal or the Superintendent of the
sending school verifying the unavailability of the specific curriculum in the
school of residence
2.
Health of the student.
Documentation
required: (1) a statement of support from the sending principal outlining
his/her recommendation; and (2) signed and dated letters from two (2)
non-associated medical doctors (M.D.s) certifying the student’s health
condition and explaining in detail why attendance at the sending school places
the student’s health in jeopardy and why attendance at the requested school is
better for the student’s health condition. At least one of the doctors
providing a supporting letter must be the child’s treating physician and at
least one must be a specialist in the treatment of the condition which is the
reason for the transfer request.
3.
Safety of the student.
Documentation
required: (1) a letter from the principal of the sending school outlining the
potential harm to the student in that school together with any supporting
documentation that may be available; and (2) a letter from the Superintendent
concurring in the determination that the safety of the student at the sending
school is in jeopardy.
4.
Child of a Full-time Faculty Member, Administrator, or Staff.
Documentation
required: (1) verification, as required in the above-stated residency
provisions, that the student is, in fact, residing with the employee; and (2) a
letter from the administrator of the school of employment stating the job title
and school assignment of the employee.
5.
Childcare Needs.
In
addition to showing that the student is in pre-K through 8th grade (or through
12th grade in the case of special needs children), documentation required: (1)
a written statement from the parents explaining that no childcare is available
in their resident school zone which would enable their child to attend the
resident school or that family members providing before or after school
childcare are unable to pick up the child from the resident school; and (2) a
notarized letter from the childcare provider attesting that he/she is caring
for the child and that he/she is unable to pick up the child from the resident
school.
6.
Other exceptional hardship.
Documentation
required: (1) a signed, dated, and notarized statement from the parent
providing a detailed explanation of (a) the exceptional hardship of the student
that necessitates the transfer of the student (for example, incarceration or
terminal illness of a parent, domestic abuse or neglect affecting the student
or parent, or natural disaster), (b) why the hardship requires a transfer from
the sending school, and (c) why the receiving school can best accommodate the
hardship; and (2) supporting documentation such as signed letter(s) of support
from doctors, governmental authorities, or others confirming the existence of
the hardship and that the receiving school can best accommodate the hardship.
PLEASE
NOTE: An approved non-M-to-M transfer is valid for one school year only and a new
transfer request must be submitted each year. If one of the first 6
circumstances listed above arises during the school year and a transfer is
granted, the transfer will be valid for the remainder of that school year
only. Any student who is granted a non-M-to-M transfer is not automatically
eligible to participate in any athletic program at the receiving school but
must comply with all eligibility requirements of the LHSAA.
Out-of-State and Out-of-District Transfers
The
Committee will not consider any transfer into the District of students residing
out of the State of Louisiana unless the student resides within the Claiborne
Parish “Junction City” school zone. The only exception to this rule is when
the student is a child of a faculty member or administrator or the request is
based on a verified exceptional hardship.
No
request to transfer out of the District will be considered or acted upon.
Complaints
The
Committee will review complaints concerning a student’s residency or transfer
according to a court-approved procedure. A person desiring to make a complaint
must submit the following to the Superintendent: (1) a written statement
explaining in detail the reason(s) that the residency or transfer is invalid;
and (2) any available documentation supporting those reasons. The statement
may be anonymous but must be dated. If the Committee finds a reasonable basis
to question the residency or transfer exists, it will follow a court-approved
procedure to investigation and reach a final determination. All decisions of
the Committee will be final and no appeal or review may be taken to the School
Board.
The
complete residency verification and transfer policies and procedures are
available for reviewing and/or copying at the Claiborne Parish School Board Office,
415 East Main Street, Homer, Louisiana 71040.
Today is ‘National Silliness Day’
JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer
Today
is “National Silliness Day.” So is tomorrow. Just kidding. It seems that every
day, every week, every month is “National-Something-or-Another-Day/Week/Month.”
June 2,
for example, is “National Bubba Day” (NBD), according to www.gone-ta-pott.com.
The website says that NBD honors anyone called “Bubba,” whether that’s their
given name or nickname and notes, “Many males in the South . . . are called
Bubba.”
To
celebrate, www.gone-ta-pott.com suggests having a Bubba Party. “Invite everyone
you know that goes by the name of Bubba and all their kinfolks, too! Have one
of those pot luck parties where you can eat and drink all day long.”
Other
examples of June silliness include:
2 -
National Dare Day
2 - I
Love My Dentist Day
2 -
Leave the Office Early Day
3 -
National Itch Day
3 -
Repeat Day
3 -
Repeat Day
4 - Old
Maid’s Day
5 -
National Attitude Day
6 -
National Yo-Yo Day
6 -
Be-Bop-a-Lula Day
7 -
June Bug Day
8 -
Name Your Poison Day
13 -
National Clay Week
13 -
Kitchen Klutzes of America Day
14 -
Pop Goes the Weasel Day
14 -
Pig Callers Day
15 - Go
Fly a Kite Day
16 - No
Orange Clothes Day
16 -
Nat’l Hollering Contest Day
17 -
National Pig Callers Day
17 -
Mud Pack Day
19 -
World Sauntering Day
19 -
Eat an Oreo Day
20 -
Juggling Day
22 -
Stupid Guy Thing Day (Checking further on this one, according to
www.wellcat.com, “Women are always talking about it, so here's the day to
commemorate it! Women everywhere are to make a list of ‘stupid guy things’ and
pass it on!”)
22 -
National Fink Day (honoring the town of Fink, TX)
23 -
Let It Go Day
23 -
National Pink Day
23 -
Take Your Dog to Work Day
24 -
Nat’l Go Fly a Kite Day
24 -
Celebration of the Senses Day
26 -
Decide to Be Married Day (see June 4)
28 -
Hand Shake Day
