ADE Director's Communication Memo Form


Memo Number : FIN-10-061

Date Created : 02/12/2010

Attention:

Superintendents
Co-op Directors
Elementary Principals
Middle School Principals
High School Principals
other: Classroom Teachers; General Busine

Type of Memo: Informational
Response Required: No
   
Section:   Fiscal and Administrative Services - William J. Goff, Assistant Commissioner
Subject:
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Education

Regulatory Authority:
A.C.A. § 6-16-1101

Contact Person:
John Kunkel

Phone Number:
501-682-4256

E-mail:
john.kunkel@arkansas.gov

This memo is notice that, in accordance with A.C.A. § 6-16-1101, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) has received $625,624 from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. These funds were generated from fines, fees, and costs arising out of convictions of persons violating state laws protecting game, fish, and wildlife. The funds are to be distributed back to the counties where the offenses occurred.

A.C.A. § 6-16-1101 establishes guidelines for Arkansas Game and Fish Conservation Education and Outdoor Recreation programs. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, shall establish school education programs for fish and wildlife conservation and for other purposes consistent with Amendment 35 of the Arkansas Constitution. The law also requires the ADE to distribute funding to the counties where the offenses occurred. Attached to this memo is a document listing the funding distribution by county. The ADE will send the funds to the County Treasurer soon.

The statute requires the counties to distribute all of the funds to the school districts or conservation districts, or both, within the counties in the manner prescribed by ordinance of the county quorum courts. The ADE defines that a school district shall be within the county where the primary administrative office is located.

The ADE, in consultation with the Game and Fish Commission, has approved the following programs:

Educational programs offered by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission that meet conservation education criteria for fine money allocations for counties.

Wings Over Arkansas
Contact: Kirsten Bartlow, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
e-mail kpbartlow@agfc.state.ar.us

WILD Workshops
Contact: Pat Knighten, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (870) 917-2085
e-mail paknighten@agfc.state.ar.us


School Yard Habitats Site Development
Contact: Pat Knighten, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (870) 917-2085
e-mail paknighten@agfc.state.ar.us

On Target For Life- Archery/P.E. Program (additional matching money is available through AGFC)
Contact: Curtis Gray, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (501) 319-5137
e-mail jcgray@agfc.state.ar.us

Hunter Education
Contact: Joe Huggins, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (501) 223-6414
e-mail jghuggins@agfc.state.ar.us

Boating Education
Contact: Bob Cushing, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (501) 223-6495
e-mail bcushing@agfc.state.ar.us

Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs
Contact: Dawn Cook, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (501) 223-6313
e-mail ddcook@agfc.state.ar.us0

Arkansas Stream Team Program
Contact: Steve Filipek, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (501) 223-6369
e-mail sfilipek@agfc.state.ar.us

Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program
Contact: Chuck Woodson, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (501) 978-7326
e-mail: cwoodson@agfc.state.ar.us

Specialized Conservation Education/Educator Training Workshops
A partnership with County Conservation Districts
Contact: Lucy Moreland, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (501) 223-6433
e-mail lmoreland@agfc.state.ar.us

Also, funds can be used to provide avenues for educators to take students on field trips to AGFC Nature Centers and Education Centers.

District officials should contact the Quorum Court with suggestions concerning the best method of distributing funding provided by this statute. The Department of Education does not have a role in the process of determining the allocation of the funding. All questions concerning the individual county allocations should be directed to the Quorum Court.

Funding received and expenditures for this program are restricted and must be reported using the following: REVENUE CODE 32260. If funds are not used within a fiscal year, districts may carry the funding forward to be used for the same purpose originally intended.

Attachments:

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