Members of the Eureka Springs School Board had to navigate a crowded campus as they approached Monday evening’s board meeting. An open house was in progress from 4-6 p.m., and cars were parked in every available space near the elementary and middle schools.
The new cafeteria serving those two schools may have contributed to the large turnout for the open house. “We’re going to feed kids in there on Wednesday,” Supt. Bryan Pruitt said, offering to tour the facility with board members after the meeting. August 13 is the first day of the school year.
Rachal Hyatt, director of programs, showed some test results across different areas, for grades three through 10. The results showed areas still in need of emphasis, although Hyatt pointed out that Eureka’s results exceed state averages in almost every area.
She shared a chart showing growth from testing in the fall, spring, and end of the year saying she was encouraged by the growth in most areas, and especially singled out improvements among fourth graders.
Hyatt also updated the board on some current grant applications.
With the school principals involved in the open house, Pruitt delivered an abbreviated principals’ report. He described some topics of professional development for teachers in the past week. He also shared tentative attendance numbers, although he said those numbers will change on the first day of school.
In other business
- The board approved a change in the stipend salary schedule. Teachers who coach in various activities will have an index score and a salary schedule for those indices, allowing the board to increase stipends without rewriting each contract.
- The after-school program will return to the campus. The district had partnered with the Community Center last year, but Pruitt said keeping the program in-house will save money.