With four weeks of the school year complete, the principals delivered upbeat reports at the school board meeting Monday night.
All three principals reported growing numbers of students, requiring careful juggling to keep class sizes appropriate. Elementary Principal Clare Haozous said her school now has 209 students, and all have been busy with a battery of assessment tests, which will continue throughout the coming week. A literacy specialist comes every month, and the assessment tests will help determine future efforts.
Haozous said student-led conferences were popular last year, and the format will be repeated this fall. Parent Information Night is scheduled for Sept. 20 for students from kindergarten through fourth grade.
In the Middle School, Principal Caen Dowell reported growth to 212 students. He described a successful Parent Information Night earlier that afternoon, with 50 to 60 people in attendance. Several teachers will attend a conference in Little Rock in October to develop the Professional Learning Community on campus. Teachers will work to align curricula and expectations between grade levels.
In addition, two teachers will attend the national meeting in Chicago of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. A team with a teacher from each grade meets regularly to discuss student discipline. School safety is a priority, and the students had a lockdown drill a week ago.
High School Principal David Gilmore agreed that PBIS has helped with student behavior and expectations. He said the high school teachers involved in the PLC plans have appreciated the opportunity to work on an integrated curriculum. The high school now has 217 students, many of them involved in golf, cross country, mountain biking, or volleyball.
In other business:
- Supt. Bryan Pruitt asked the board to arrange a time for a campus walk-through, “to look at some of the things we have to do here on campus.” The board settled on 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 30. Pruitt said the first stop will be the new floor in the Middle School gym.
- Pruitt also gave an update on health factors on campus. He said some Covid cases popped up when school started, but nurses now are dealing with the usual ailments affecting students.
- An annual financial report, required by the state, was approved Monday night, and will be posted on the school’s website. A proposed budget for next year will also appear on that site. Pruitt credited Pam McGarrah for her work in preparing the budget. He also noted that the district has received grant funds during Covid times, allowing for the purchase of needed technology without depleting the school’s funds.