With the school year winding down, the Eureka Springs school board faced a light agenda Monday night.
Board member Al Larson presided in the absence of Board President Chris McClung. The meeting began with reports from the school principals.
Elementary Principal Clare Houser said year-end testing is substantially complete, except for some students who need to make up the Aspire test. “The kids worked hard, and we’ve had good feedback from the teachers,” she said. The waning school year typically brings some field trips, and Houser outlined trips planned or already taken.
Houser said a celebration is planned for the conclusion of the three-year partnership with Solution Tree, a company which has provided resources and training to improve reading skills. The ceremony is set for 9 a.m. on Monday, May 16. Pre-school graduation will be May 24 at 9 a.m. Kindergartners will graduate May 26 at 1:30 p.m., and fourth graders will graduate at 9 a.m. on May 27, at the high school auditorium.
Middle School Principal Cindy Holt was attending Family Fun night and missed what would have been her last report to the board before retiring at the end of the year. Houser delivered Holt’s report, which listed band and choir concerts. The eighth-grade graduation is set for May 26, and May 27 is the last day of school for other classes.
High School Principal David Gilmore announced that the high school had been listed as number 11 in the state, and almost all the schools ahead of Eureka Springs were charter schools or private schools. Gilmore said the rankings were based on college readiness, advanced placement tests, and graduation rate. Eureka Springs has a 95 percent graduation rate.
Students are planning their schedules for the next school year, and Gilmore said interest has grown in the C-4 vocational training programs and the nursing program.
The students who participated in state-level skills competitions did well, with first-place finishes in carpentry, plumbing, and masonry. Those students become eligible for scholarships to trade schools, and they will also compete at the national level.
The shooting sports team had a successful season and finished 18 out of 126 teams at the regional meet. The program is in its second year, and the team narrowly missed qualifying for state.
A field trip is planned for Arvest Park to reward 70 kids with grade point averages of 3.5 or higher. Graduation will be May 21 at 10 a.m.
Fianl business
- The state requires annual board approval of special education assurances and agreements, to show compliance with federal laws, and the board gave that approval.
- The board approved another three-year contract with ESS Midwest, the company providing substitute teachers.
- The board approved a $5,000 stipend to cover the additional duties of the lead pre-school teacher.
- The miscellaneous duties salary schedule was amended last year to pay food service workers for summer school. The same exception was approved for this summer, with the food service workers earning $25 per hour.