Eureka Springs School District still recommends masks for students, but the requirement has been rescinded. Supt. Bryan Pruitt said at the Feb. 14 meeting that the school had five active cases of Covid the previous Monday, and that number had dropped to three by Friday and zero by Monday. Pruitt conveyed an air of “knock on wood” as he shared the update, but he also noted that the district still practices distancing, and the maintenance staff continues to focus on sanitation.
“I’m proud of our parents, our students, and our staff,” Pruitt said, while crediting the school nurses for their efforts. The district has a good reserve of sanitation supplies, should the Covid situation become critical again. Board member Gayla Wolfinbarger congratulated the administration and teachers for their response to the pandemic.
During the principals’ reports, Elementary Principal Clare Houser said January brought fresh challenges, with snow days and Covid quarantines. The staff worked around the quarantines to get everyone tested. Houser complimented parents for helping students with their instructional packets on snow days. Youth soccer sign-ups are about to start, and students across the state will begin reading Dog Days in early March.
Middle School Principal Cindy Holt said students have made steady progress since August, and January brought a large increase in competence. For students still struggling to make up for learning losses, teachers are planning intervention strategies.
High School Principal David Gilmore outlined the extra tutoring students can receive, either before or after school. Gilmore mentioned several extracurricular areas where students are excelling, especially the boys’ basketball team, which had an undefeated record in conference.
The board approved a tentative budget for the 2023-24 school year, which Pruitt described as “a soft budget.” The board also approved some election-related documents. School board members can file for re-election between Feb. 22 and March 1, and those filing will need at least 20 signatures from voters in their school board district.
The school calendar for 2022-23 was approved. School will begin on Aug. 22 and end on June 2. The calendar will be posted on the school’s website within two weeks.
The board approved a resolution regarding the school choice program. The language on the resolution previously required the board to vote on this issue every year, but a change in the wording will allow the resolution to stay in effect unless the Arkansas School Boards Association issues a policy change on the subject.
The miscellaneous-duty salary schedule was changed, to allow a pay increase for long-term unlicensed substitute teachers. Long-term subs typically fill in during maternity leave, for example, with an eight-week employment. Beginning on day 10, a long-term sub will receive $150 per day, compared to the $100 normally paid to subs. Licensed teachers working as long-term subs can make up to $220 per day.