Christmas traditions vary from country to country, and even from state to state. In Eureka Springs, Christmas means an annual gift to school staff from Jim and Susan Nelson, owners of Nelsons Eureka Springs.
Jim Nelson attended the school board meeting Monday evening and received a warm welcome from Supt. Bryan Pruitt and the board. Board President Chris McClung took obvious pleasure in introducing Nelson, whom he thanked for “his generous contribution to our staff.” All school staff receive a $35 gift certificate.
Nelson replied that he enjoyed the opportunity each year “to say thanks to the teachers and administration.” Nelson noted that he has also donated art works displayed throughout the school, including a prominent piece in the boardroom.
In other business:
- Middle School Principal Caen Dowell said the elementary and middle schools have an opportunity to work with behavioral specialists to find better ways to modify students’ behavior issues. He outlined an approach using positive reinforcement instead of traditional punitive measures. He also said the elementary and middle school staffs will meet on Jan. 3 to work on meshing the curricula of those two schools.
Dowell noted that the fifth and sixth grade chess team had beaten Berryville at a recent tournament. He also said school nurses have been working with other staff members on immediate response to major injuries.
- Pruitt said the school has contracted with Handley Security to provide protection at school events. The school is required to have either a resource officer or uniformed security, and the school’s resource officer cannot cover all the required events. Pruitt also said the Eureka Springs Police Department will conduct a training session at the school on Jan. 2, and that session will include the security personnel from Handley Security.
- The board approved an updated school choice policy recommended by the Arkansas School Boards Association. Pruitt explained that school choice has become “an open gate,” giving students almost unlimited choices in transferring schools. Pruitt said a school can only deny a transfer request if it would require the school to add a teacher to accommodate the request.
- The board approved a resolution authorizing either Pruitt or McClung to sign an agreement to purchase a building in Berryville to expand the C4 vocational classes.
- This was the first meeting for Rusty Rusterholz, who was voted by the board to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Joe Hill. Only a bare quorum attended the meeting, as board members Al Larson and Candace Spaulding joined Rusterholz and McClung.
- This meeting was moved up a half hour from its usual start time of 5:30 p.m., to give board members the opportunity to attend the Scotties’ Christmas Show.