The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 1

0t fv I'Boro boys two of state's best I Sports, page 9 E3ef erase keys Chicago's win Blazers, kings of airball page 9 40 JStX chance of 5m t-showers I rhn pl.iM..i.limln,,,iiiniiJ;i. Page 1 6 Iff AE NEWSPAPER SINCE 1849 Phone 893-5860 Good Afternoon 143rd Year-No. 831 Monday, June 8, 1992 35 (f5 rnic? 0 fill siftii ffn Library ri fR (fo fffis 46-cent drop, Haley estimates I 1 i 1 SW -6WS XV rvs v. I Kt I r- zzz I I By CLINTON CONFEHR News Journal Staff Writer Murfreesboro property taxpayers might see reduction-in their tax rate $80.50 off a $70,000 home's taxes if City-iJouncil voted to consolidate city and Rutherford County schools, the city manager estimates. Conversely, the county tax rate would probably have to go up 25 cents to fund schools resulting in a residential property tax bill increase of $43.75 on a $70,000 home thereby reducing city homeowners' total tax bills by $36.75.

The tax rate numbers are from city manager Roger Haley in response- to Councilman Richard Reeves' request Thursday night as Council continued to react to a County Commission committee's County unsure about landfill opening, costs opening June 15 Still not ready By CLINTON CONFEHR News Journal Staff Writer Linebaugh Library will remain closed another week and reopen June 15 in its new building, its board of directors voted last week. "Until (head librarian) Briley (Adcock) is ready, we ought to put it off," said board member Susan Bragg. Linebaugh closed May 11 with the expectation moving books, shelves and other furnishings to the new library at the citycounty Civic Plaza would take about a month. Today was announced last week as the. tentative opening date.

"I think well have to take the position, tnat tne 15th is the latest," said City Councilman John Pittard, who is the county's chairman, of the Library Board. If it appears the library may not be ready, then Adcock should hire people to help finish the job, Pittard said, and the board agreed. While all books have been moved, a myriad of other matters need addressing; as revealed by board members. The roof leaks. Buckets and plastic barrels caught rain dripping last week.

The stairwell from the parking lot was dirty Thursday afternoon and looks much as it did during construction. Signs for the bookshelves indicatingwhatJypes ofLbooks are located there are yet to be fabricated. "Once it's accessible, we have an obligation to open if it's safe, butit's not now," Pittard said. 'All the volunteers and Workhouse inmates who helped move books, shelves and materials from the old library are greatly appreciated, he said. But people may have to be hired to finish the job.

Adcock reported she received one bid for one day of profes-(See Library, page 2) By KELLY LOCKHART News Journal Staff Writer Most local school officials favor appointed superintendents but have some reservations about powers they'll possess when the Education Improvement Act becomes law July 1. In less than one month, the law calls for all superintendents to be appointed and all school boards elected, setting up a new chain of command much like that used in business. If the County Commission wishes to keep an elected superintendent for Rutherford County Schools, it must elect to do so by a two-thirds vote at least one year prjor to the new term. A new term would begin Sept. 1, 1994.

Likewise, the City Council i i Inut St. nnessee 37130 election process." Conversely, Jones said the "lack of independence" appointed boards have from the legislative body which selects them might necessitate the change. Rutherford County School Board chairman Delbridge said he is "very much in favor" of appointed superintendents and elected school boards. Superintendent Elam Carlton said he isn't so sure. "We've gone from having no authority to being a dictator," Carlton said.

"I think the pendulum has swung too far." Carlton was speaking of the newfound authority appointed superintendents will have including Jones as of July 1. The new law gives appointed Grading change By KELLY LOCKHART News Journal Staff Writer A much-debated and disputed Rutherford County Schools' grading policy, which would have changed the way failing students' grades were averaged, is dead for now; Committee chairman Jim McKee told school board members last week the committee had received "a mixed bag of responses" to the policy. "I think we have a lack of consensus, so we've backed up DNJ Photo by Jim Davis Library reopening delayed Boxes of books and unopened boxes of, shelving remain on the floor of the new Linebaugh Library this morning as Murfreesborb summer school students tour the new building now scheduled to open June 15. 33 We will be work- ing with the mayor and following his John Hodge Jones School superintendent vote to deny city schools their share of county school bond sale proceeds. Reeves said he asked city schools superintendent John (See Consolidation, page 2) repairs Feb.

the funds would "pay for a full year of garbage disposal. The city- of formerly dumped its collections at the county landfill at "rlochaf especlallyintef ested" in determining the county's on the landfill issue; 9 "We only anticipated four months of tipping fees (in this year's budget request)," city public works coordinator Rick Cantrell told the county's Public Works Committee June '2. we hear from you, we don't know (See County, page 2) TODAY'S HEADLINES PLO intelligence chief assassinated The acting head of PLO intelligence was shot to death early today In front of a Paris hotel, the organization said. PLO chairman Yasser Arafat blamed Israel for the assassination. See story, page 3 Recording memories a growing business Recording memories Is big business.

Technology and innovations are constantly Improving to make vkletape equipment more of what consumers want. See story, page 5 Index Classified 1 3-1 5 Comics 6 Lifestyles 5 Opinion 4 Sports 9-12 TV .7 If you donl get your Daily Journal, please call your carrier or 893-5860 before p.m. Monday through Friday. By JOHN CALLOW News Journal Staff Writer A proposed $462,360 appropriation --in the Rutherford 1992-93 budget reflects the; uncertainty of county leaders "abouf'Wh'at with "the county-owned landfill on Jefferson Pike. The solid waste appropriation is earmarked to pay county-tip-ping fees at Browning-Ferris Industries' Middle Point Sanitary Based on the county's bills at the private facility since the county landfill was closed for superintendents the power to employ, transfer, suspend and fire all personnel.

Currently, the superintendent must recommend to the board what action should be taken. The board votes on the recommendation. In addition, the superintendent will hire principals. The "employment contract with each principal will not exceed the contract term of the current superintendent. Delbridge and Rucker said the latter provision could leave the door open for politicking.

"Is that any different than it is now?" Delbridge asked rhetorically. "I don't think so." Delbridge and Rucker con-(See Appointed, page 2) system and asked ourself if maybe we were in error," McKee said. "I think this time we are in error." Policy Committee members were considering a policy which called for numerical grades below 50 percent to be expressed on the grade card by the numerical grade a50" with an asterisk beside it. The actual numerical grade as recorded in the teacher's grade book would have been available to the parents upon request. (See Grading, page 2) dropped after Sept.

1, 1996, all superin-. tendents shall be appointed by the local boards of education. Murfreesboro City School Board chairman John "Jock" Rucker said he agrees superintendents should be appointed. But as for elected school boards, he doesn't understand why city schools has to. "fix something that's not broken." Superintendent John Hodge Jones agreed somewhat.

"I took the position that appointed school boards were needed across the state," Jones said. "With the present perceived crisis in public education, we need to go toward a form of government which allows those who want to serve an opportunity to do so without going through the. CARL WALLACE i i Ex-adjutant general eyes governor's race must vote to keep the Murfreesboro City Schools board entirely appointed by June 30 of this year. Murfreesboro's next regularly scheduled appointment to the school board is June 1993, Regardless, Section 8, Subsection 4 of the Act states history through both Republican and Democratic administrations prior to his retirement from heading the Tennessee National Guard- in May 1991. "I will run as a Democrat," Wallace confirmed.

"I would consider myself a moderate to a conservative. "I would like to believe that I am pretty well in the mainstream of thinking among Tennesseans Wallace said from his university office. Politically speaking, Wallace, (See Ex, page 2) By DAN WHITTLE News Journal Staff Writer LEBANON Former Ten-, nessee Adjutant General Carl Wallace has confirmed he "likely" 'will be a contender in the 1994 governor's race. "There is a good possibility," said Wallace, now chancellor of Cumberland University in Lebanon. "It's too early to make any real hard-nosed political decisions, but there is a strong possibility Wallace served as the state's 'Adjutant General for 16 Ka years longer than any Tennessean in.