Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas • Page 10

10-A THURSDAY, May 26, 1988, tongview Daily Newt Tatum ISD chief resigns post at this time," Barrett said. "I feel a great deal of satisfaction in the improvements that we were able to accomplish the past three years." "I have been fortunate to work with a group -or outstanding teachers, administrators and I By DOUG BRUCE Staff Writer 1 TATUM Tatum Independent School Superintendent Robert Barrett will resign his post effective July 31. "I have reached a settlement to resign as superintent of Tatum schools due to philosophical differences with some of the trustees coupled with my desire to return to a position more directly involved with children," Barrett said. Following a 45-minute executive session Monday, the board of trustees voted to ratify an undisclosed settlement and authorized school district attorney Ron Atkinson of Henderson to carry out the terms of the settlement. The Tatum school board voted earlier this year not to offer Barrett another contract when his current contract expired in 1990.

No reasons were given for the decision. Board members referred all questions regarding the issue to Atkinson, but a call to his office was not returned. Barrett said he will take a position as principal with the Corrigan-Camden Independent School District. "I feel that it is necessary to make this move staff members," Barrett said. "I appreciate the parents and the community for their work and support," Barrett said.

Barrett had been with the district since April 1985 and was selected from more than 75 applicants for the job. A native of Troup, Barrett came to -Tatum from Halletsville where he had been superintendent about one year. He began his education career in 1973 as a teacher for the Lufkin ISD. In 1976 he became assistant principal in the Corrigan-Camden school district before becoming a high school principal in Kaufman in 1981. He was hired as superintendent for La Poyner schools in 1982.

Barrett received his bachelor of science and master's of education degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. Barrett replaced Dr. Mike Moses at the head of the Tatum school district. Clements says economy improving Thle coupon Is good 5-27-88; 5-28-88: and 5-30-88 only and to limited to on purchaae o) In-attx merehandiee.

So lor the beat selection, please ahop early. an economy on the mend and on the move. Our highest priority has been and now is in creating new jobs and new opportunities for all Texans. By the looks of it, we're seeing some real results," Clements said. The governor said that while the trends are positive, much remains to be done to lift Texas out of the economic hole it fell into after oil prices began plunging late in 1985.

"We do have a long way to go. But we're getting there. We're making progress, and we're pressing on with our programs for economic growth." One of those efforts is promotion of the "maquiladora" twin-plant operations with joint factories in Texas and Mexico, and Clements announced Wednesday that a special governor's conference on maquiladoras would be held in Dallas June 1. Clements said the idea of sharing production work on both sides of the border is good for the economies of Mexico and Texas. AUSTIN (AP) The Texas economy is improving, and reports of lower unemployment rates in cities across the state prove it, Gov.

Bill Clements says. "Certainly, these headlines this morning tell it all. This is big news, really," the governor said Wednesday as he displayed to a news conference several newspaper headlines reporting the latest jobless statistics. The governor noted that the new figures compiled by the Texas Employment Commission showed that jobless rates for April had dropped in all major Texas metropolitan areas. Statewide, the April unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent, the lowest level since January 1986, Clements said.

In the 1986 election campaign, Clements made "jobs, jobs, jobs" his central theme. He said the declining unemployment rates this spring show that his administration's efforts are paying off. "For nearly a year now, we've been pointing to h-rr 4 i uuSuCm. ID nose food Containini I Systemic 1 liwacticidt tkWh 1 For a i-a greener lawn Kills aphids and fertilizes Jim Wright to cooperate with panel By SETH KANTOR Cox News Service WASHINGTON Facing accusations of political and financial corruption, House Speaker Jim Wright said Wednesday he's ready to "put it all on the table and get it behind me," if the House Ethics Committee wants to investigate him. Meanwhile, Rep.

Newt Gingrich, said he will formally ask the ethics panel today to launch the investigation into Wright, the Fort Worth congressman who is the highest-ranking elected Democratic official in Washington. Among questions placed before the panel by both Gingrich and Common Cause president Fred Wertheimer: Was Wright in violation of federal law when he pocketed profits of nearly $55,000 from the private 1985 publication of a slim book of essays, "Reflections of a Public Did Wright exert improper political muscle as House majority leader in 1986, and early last year as speaker, when he interceded on behalf of at least four Texas businessmen in their efforts to halt crackdowns against them by federal savings and loan regulators? Wright would become the first House speaker in this century to face such a probe, if the committee of six Democrats and six Republicans decides to undertake at least a preliminary investigation. That decision will not be reached at least until next II y-i month, and perhaps not until July, according to John F. Davi A MieS -A son, an Ethics Committee counsel. The speaker stopped just short of calling for an official investigation of himself in a letter hand-delivered by a Wright aide to Julian Dixon, the ethics chairman, late Tuesday.

In the letter, Wright said he "will cooperate fully with any examination you may desire to make of these matter." Wednesday, Wright told reporters he would expect any such examination to be resolved in a "prompt and specific" way. He mid other Democratic leaders hope lo have the mailer hellieil before the third week in July, when Wright is to serve as chairman of the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. Gingrich has been threatening tor months to haul the matter of Wright's ethics before the Dixon panel. Steadfastly ignoring "Gingrich in public. Wright's letter to Dixon addressed itself to questions raised by Wertheimer.

Concerning his actions on behalf of operators in Texas who were facing "excessive and unfair" penalties from regulators the Federal Home Loan Bank Board," Wright rote. "at no did I act improperly or violate any rule of the House.".