CMSD to Address SPED Compliance at Public Meeting
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 CMSD to address SPED compliance at public meeting One of four formal complaints against dealt with indi- IF YOU GO In 2017, MDE began investi- vidual students, ■ WHAT: CMSD special meeting on gating a sample of 62 SPED stu- while one parent status of special education depart- dents. In March, MDE found 95 special education department resolved filed a blanket ment percent of those students did not ■ WHERE: Brandon Central Services BY MARY POLLITZ complaint on be- have appropriate IEPs — which The meeting, aimed to in- ■ WHEN: Tonight at 6 p.m. [email protected] form parents of SPED children half of all CMSD set individual educational goals and the general public, will be- SPED students. for students and determines the Columbus Municipal School gin at 6 p.m. at Brandon Central The com- Smith Cheryl Smith, who replaced services needed to obtain those District will host a public meet- Services. plaints alleged, Donna Jones as Special Educa- goals — meaning students were ing tonight to address improve- Last year, four CMSD par- among other things, that CMSD tion director in January, said not getting the services they ments and ongoing concerns ents filed complaints with the SPED students weren’t getting she will be updating the pub- needed for their education. about its special education de- Mississippi Department of Ed- their required individualized lic on where the department Smith said she will address partment (SPED) amid a state ucation against the district’s education plans (IEPs) and ser- stands now after the MDE’s re- those compliance issues to- investigation. SPED program. Three of those vices in a timely manner, if at all. view of CMSD. See CMSD, 3A Hosemann UNDER THE HOOD to visit Lowndes County on Voter Registration Day Sec. of State hoping to improve voter turnout in November elections BY Slim SmitH [email protected] In June, just 13.5 percent of registered voters went to the polls in the primary elections, and Secre- tary of State Delbert Hosemann seems to have taken it person- ally. Hosemann “Embarrassing,” said Hose- mann, whose office oversees the state’s elections. “We had a histor- ically poor turnout, even though there were some important races.” For months now, Hosemann has been on the road, talking to voters about the election and visiting high schools to encourage seniors who may be of voting age to register and vote. Tuesday, which also happens to be National Voter Registration Day, Hosemann will visit Columbus. Hosemann, along with Lown- des County Circuit Clerk Teresa Barksdale, will hold an informal session for citizens and answer any questions about the Nov. 6 general Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff election. The meeting will be held Andrew Olivier, 11, of Boy Scout Troop 14, adjusts the battery cables on a car during the annual Pushmataha Area Council at noon at the Lowndes County Fall Camporee at East Mississippi Community College Saturday morning. Olivier was working to earn his automotive mainte- Courthouse. nance merit badge and has been a Boy Scout for one year. “I’ve learned about oil, batteries, brakes and air bags,” he said. See HOSEMANN, 6A Andrew’s parents are Nelson and Alisha Olivier of Starkville. UNDER THE CAPITOL DOME Analysis: Public retirement plan ‘GREATEST FUN RUN ON EARTH’: Hundreds of pressure won’t end soon people partici- pated in the T.K. Pension plan had $28.2B heard at their budget hearing, un- Martin Center’s less they were listening carefully, is “The Greatest Fun in assets as of June 30 things are likely to get worse. That’s Run on Earth” on because many participants in the Friday. The Fun BY JEFF AMY financial market believe investment Run was held to The Associated Press returns will be lower in the future benefit the Project than they have been in the past. IMPACT program, JACKSON — Mississippi’s public If the board of the Public Employ- which is an early pension system got a particularly un- intervention pro- ees Retirement System makes fur- gram for special welcoming reception last week when ther adjustments to its projections needs preschool its leaders told legislators to budget based on that view, those projections children. for higher pension contributions. will show more money is needed in Alex Holloway/Dispatch Staff But what lawmakers may not have See ANALYSIS, 6A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What file-sharing company was sued MEETINGS Tuesday and Wednesday Today: CMSD by both Metallica and Dr. Dre? ■ “Oedipus”: Mississippi State’s Shackouls Hon- 2 GQ called a poster of who “the most special meeting ors College presents this Greek tragedy outdoors influential piece of men’s art of the to discuss spe- at 6 p.m. in the Griffis Hall courtyard on campus. last 50 years”? cial education, (Indoors, in case of rain.) Bring chairs and blankets, 3 What are some wild gerbils in China 6 p.m., Brandon fed in order to control their numbers? and picnics, if desired. Free. For more information, Central Services 4 At the 1988 Olympics, what sprinter visit honors.msstate.edu/events or email Donna Jonah Cunningham Sept. 28 beat Carl Lewis for the 100-meter Clevinger, [email protected]. First grade, Caledonia gold medal, then was stripped of it for Lowndes County steroid use? Board of Super- High Low 5 By what name is Best Foods brand Thursday visors, 9 a.m., 85 72 mayonnaise known east of the Rock- Chance of a t-storm ■ MUW Lowndes Alumni: The W Lowndes County Courthouse ies? Alumni Chapter hosts a Welty Symposium preview Oct. 1: Lowndes Full forecast on page 2A. Answers, 6B luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at Hogarth Dining Center County Board of on campus. Cost is $12.25, payable at the event. Supervisors, 9 ■ Downtown Columbus Art Walk: Stroll through a.m., Court- downtown Columbus to visit with artists displaying house INSIDE their original work from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Enjoy live Oct. 2: Colum- Classifieds5B Dear Abby 4B music, kids’ activities and after-hours shopping. For Ginger Angle, of Colum- bus City Council, Comics 4B Obituaries 5A more information, contact Main Street Columbus, bus, has six kids and four 5 p.m., Munici- 139TH YEAR, NO. 166 Crossword 6B Opinions 4A 662-328-6305. grandkids. pal Complex DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “You’re just trying to aim and hit the holes right, so the biggest thing is just be patient ...” ‘House With a Clock in Its Dale McDowell, who won the 70-lap, $12,000 top prize Walls’ ticks to No. 1 in theaters Monday Saturday at Magnolia Motor Speedway. Story, 1B. BY JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer Estimated ticket NEW YORK — The sales for Friday New sexual-misconduct accusation gothic family fantasy “The through Sunday House With a Clock in Its 1. “The House With a Walls” exceeded expec- Clock in Its Walls,” $26.9 rocks Kavanaugh nomination tations to debut with an million ($8.7 million interna- estimated $26.9 million in tional). White House statement: Supreme Court nominee conspiring to undermine his pick. ticket sales at the weekend 2. “A Simple Favor,” The president showed no initial sign $10.4 million ($5.2 million box office, while audienc- of wanting to walk away from Ka- international). says the event ‘did not happen’ and that the vanaugh and expressed frustration es showed considerably 3. “The Nun,” $10.3 million less interest in Michael ($35.4 million international). allegation was ‘a smear, plain and simple’ that the confirmation process has Moore’s Donald Trump- 4. “The Predator,” $8.7 not moved more quickly. themed documentary, million ($15.2 million inter- BY LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE him of sexually assaulting her at a The second claim against Kava- “Fahrenheit 11/9,” than his national). JALONICK AND JONATHAN LEMIRE party when they were teenagers. naugh dates to the 1983-84 academic George W. Bush-era one. 5. “Crazy Rich Asians,” The Associated Press Kavanaugh denies the claim. year, which was his first at Yale Uni- “The House With a $6.5 million ($5.1 million As the White House defends versity. Deborah Ramirez described WASHINGTON Clock in Its Walls” was international). Kavanaugh against the claims, the incident after being contacted 6. “White Boy Rick,” $5 — A second allega- easily the biggest draw on presidential counselor Kellyanne by The New Yorker magazine. She million. tion of sexual miscon- a quiet weekend at North Conway told CBS Monday that the recalled that Kavanaugh exposed 7. “Peppermint,” $3.7 duct has emerged American movie theaters, million ($1.6 million interna- accusations against Kavanaugh himself at a drunken dormitory par- where the other three against Judge Brett sound like “a vast left-wing conspir- ty, thrust his penis in her face, and tional). Kavanaugh, a de- new wide releases all dis- 8. “Fahrenheit 11/9,” acy,” using rhetoric that echoed caused her to touch it without her appointed or downright $3.1 million. velopment that has Hillary Clinton’s 1998 description of consent as she pushed him away. further imperiled his flopped. 9. “The Meg,” $2.4 million Kavanaugh allegations that her husband, Presi- In a statement provided by the “Fahrenheit 11/9” ($3.4 million international). nomination to the dent Bill Clinton, had had affairs. White House, Kavanaugh said the opened with $3.1 million 10. “Searching,” $2.2 Supreme Court, forced the White Trump was told about the New event “did not happen” and that the in 1,719 cinemas — a huge million ($3.6 million interna- House and Senate Republicans onto Yorker allegations Sunday in the allegation was “a smear, plain and tional).