The Webster Progress-Times

WALTHALL - A parent expressed her concerns to county officials Monday about working jail trusties at East Webster High School during school hours.

Patricia Avent appeared before the Board of Supervisors about the matter. Avent, whose children attend EWHS, told the board that she has a problem with the trusties working there while students are present. She claimed that Deputy Michael Simmons, the Sheriff's Department's "COPS in School" officer who is assigned to patrol the East Webster schools, does not supervise the trusties "every minute."

Sheriff Reuben McCluskey told the supervisors that EHWS Principal Bill Brand requested that trusties be used at the school for such work as mowing grass, grounds work and cleaning up in order to save money. He stated that Simmons, the coaches or principal are supposed to be watching over the trusties while they work.

"If I had the help they (trusties) could go after school or on weekends," said McCluskey, explaining that he does not have the personnel to oversee them full time. He also said that some parents have told him they like seeing the inmates work there in their orange coveralls because they feel it serves as a crime deterrent to students.

"I'm not going to send somebody up there that I think would harm somebody," he also said.

The trusties are state inmates who are serving their sentences at the county jail. The sheriff said the trusties who work on the school grounds are serving time for driving under the influence or drug offenses, and are not allowed to talk to any of the students.

Some supervisors said they felt that the inmates should either work there after school hours or be well supervised. Board attorney Buchanan Meek Jr. said the county School Board should formally request the use of trusties through an order on its minutes. The supervisors recommended that Avent present her concerns to the School Board, which she did say she planned to do if she did not hear from Brand after having left him a message.

McCluskey said during the meeting that he would not send any more trusties to the school if and until the School Board requested their use. But he said later Monday that he would try to determine a way for trusties to work there after school until the School Board decides what it's going to do. The School Board's next regular meeting is Oct. 7.

In other business Monday, the Board of Supervisors voted to apply for a law enforcement block grant through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for various equipment for the Sheriff's Department. Planner George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District said the $5,000 grant if awarded, would require a $557 match from the county.

The board also voted to enter into a contract with the GTPDD to administer a grant to the Tomnolen Water Association for construction of a new well and authorized a newspaper publication of a combined environmental notice about the project. A contract with Data Systems for Justice Court and tax assessor-collector's office support was approved.

The board recessed until 10 a.m. Monday, when it will meet with Crawford and architect Belinda Stewart to discuss her proposed contract to provide architectural services for the grant-funded project to make the Courthouse handicapped accessible.

In previous action, according to board minutes, supervisors on Aug. 18 approved the hiring of Melanie Bryant as a deputy chancery clerk effective Aug. 11.

On Sept. 2, they accepted a sole bid from Staten Construction of Grenada for goods and services in regard to bridge repairs with the exception of two items. They also accepted low bids of $296,070 from Malouf Construction Corp. of Madison and of $508,371 from Ausbern Construction Co. of Okolona for two bridge projects.