Board tackles schools' issues J-MCS board will meet today with state lawmakers Members of the Jackson-Madison County School Board are meeting with Tennessee legislators this morning at the Board of Education. "We plan to talk to them about how we can increase our BEP (Basic Education Program) funding and legislation that affects education," said Board Member Anne Henning-Rowan. The board held its monthly meeting Thursday night and reviewed the following issues:

County Finance Director Mike Nichols told the board that the schools' sales tax revenue was down .79 percent for this month. However, revenue from holiday sales won't be turned in until February, he said. If funding is down at that time, he may suggest that the schools curtail some expenses.

An audit report of the system's schools was presented in which 29 findings were cited by the auditing agency. Most of the issues were procedural and would be addressed with the system's principals, Superintendent Nancy Zambito said. Zambito acknowledged eight schools - Alexander, Thelma Barker, Denmark, Isaac Lane, Lincoln, Nova, West Middle and South Side High - for having a perfect audit for three or more consecutive years.

Board members listened to a presentation from Tom Johnson, who is with Tennesseans for Nonviolent School Discipline. Johnson said paddling is legal in 21 states, and Tennessee ranks fourth highest in paddling incidents. His goal was to dissuade the system from using corporal punishment.

Board Member Carol Carter-Estes requested that the issue of hearing parents who choose to speak during public comment be discussed during January's board meeting. "How we treat parents is very important, and we need to hear them out," she said.

- Tajuana Cheshier, 425-9643