Directors re: the Mallalieu church and the Center for Excellence…can we take a deep breath and have a sensible, logical discussion?  This church involvement has been going on for a decade plus…what is your hurry now?

Questions:
1.    How did the city obtain the Mallalieu church?
2.    Was money exchanged?
3.    If so, how much and where did it go?
4.    Was there a CDBG grant?  If so, how much?
5.    Were there other parcels of land bought and/or sold adjacent to the church?
6.    From fragmented information it appears the city, that’s us, will spend over ½ million to deconstruct the church, accompanied by clean-up efforts…is this correct?
7.    Does the city leadership plan to give the Mallalieu real estate to Chancellor Beran & UAFS?
8.    If so, what is the legal precedent that enables the city to give away taxpayer land to another government entity?
9.    You’ve said that Chancellor Beran and his enablers are planning to build a school complex on the Mallalieu real estate.  By what authority?

Schools, regardless of their intentions, must be approved, in this case, by the Arkansas legislature and the State Board of Education.  What is their position regarding this proposed school?

Are the public school teachers offended by Beran’s arrogance and secret involvements regarding his vision of Academic Excellence?  Who are Beran’s enablers and what is the real reason for this proposed endeavor?

Nowhere are there finite details as to where specifically the funding will come from to create this project and certainly no specifics regarding the cost to develop and to maintain.  Ultimately we citizens will be the end source of funding if we allow Beran’s self-serving motives to reach fruition.  Make no mistake, this proposed project is huge and very costly.

Speaking of funding, note in todays Times Record, that the budget for the coming year for the operation of the Fort Smith school system is $165.66 million.  Do you not think this is more than enough to levy taxpayers for education in Fort Smith, even though in some quarters it could be described as a failed process?

As was explained in an earlier piece, entrepreneurship is an inherited pre-disposition; likewise mental acuity.   An individual who is lucky enough to have been born with a keen mind will in most cases rise from the ashes of childhood—be it poverty, broken homes, etc.  In most circumstances, you cannot hide the light of intelligence.

Beran is a fundraiser/politician, nothing more, nothing less.  Certainly not an academic.  There appears to be no regard for our present failing economic circumstances.

Again, Directors, it would be in everyone’s best interest if a civil discourse was initiated regarding the proposed Mallalieu endeavor, not only for yourselves but your constituents.

Joe McCutchen