Elementary Principal Clare Haozous said at the March 9 school board meeting that the school has worked to identify students in need of extra help to prepare for upcoming standardized testing. She said some students have already made enough gains to be removed from the remedial program.
For some third-grade students, the school will offer additional help, with an intervention block in the morning and another session in the afternoon. Those efforts are especially critical for third graders, since a new state law requires students in that grade to show proficiency before moving on to fourth grade.
In other elementary news, students celebrated the birthday of author Dr. Seuss, and all students are reading Charlotte’s Web. Parent-teacher conferences will be held March 17 and 19, from 3:30-6 p.m.
Principal Trina Bonham said middle school students are also receiving intervention in preparation for testing. She said the school hosted 26 students on the Saturday before this meeting, and those students enjoyed a sausage and pancake breakfast, along with two hours of tutoring. Bonham said those Saturday interventions will continue. She also noted that students receiving extra support have showed growth in all subjects. “We’re moving in the right direction,” she said.
Bonham said she and Director of Programs Rachal Hyatt will take two students to Little Rock to tour the Capitol. She noted the success of the band and the chess team, with the band receiving top scores at a recent competition. Bonham was enthusiastic in her description of a recent dance for middle school students. “I’ve never seen happier kids,” she said. “It was so cute to see them all dressed up.” She closed her comments with a description of a new program that will provide clothing and other necessities for students in need. “We want kids to feel confident when they come to school,” she said.
In the absence of High School Principal Caen Dowell, Bonham delivered his report. High school students have a variety of upcoming tests. FFA students prepared for district competition later in the week, and they will also participate in the Carroll County FFA Rodeo Saturday. The first soccer home game is set for Friday, March 13, at 5 p.m. A skills competition in Hot Springs in April will involve 36 students, competing in building trades and other skills.
The meeting marked the end of a long period of service for board member Al Larson. He did not file for re-election this year, after serving on the board since 2011.
In a brief ceremony at the end of the meeting, other board members and Supt. Bryan Pruitt thanked Larson for his service. “It’s been an honor to be with you,” Larson said, as he reminisced about “all the things we’ve done.” Larson had also served on the board in the 1990s.
In other business:
- The board voted for a resolution stating that federal funds are spent correctly, under the General Education Provisions Act. This resolution is an annual requirement.
- With a final payment of $69,000, the board formally completed the contract on the new cafeteria for the elementary and middle schools.
- The board approved a calendar for the 2026-27 school year. The school day will include an additional 15 minutes, which will allow the district to build in six snow days. Pruitt noted that the district has only used four snow days this year.
- In February, the board approved pay raises of about four percent for certified staff. At this meeting, the board approved similar raises for classified staff, which would include bus drivers, custodial staff, and cafeteria workers. Pruitt said the district works hard to offer wages competitive with other schools in the area.
- The board approved a policy that will encourage coaches to pursue certification to drive school buses to events away from the campus. The school currently pays bus drivers $23 per hour for such excursions, and the new policy will allow paying a coach half that amount. The policy will save money for the district, and it will also offer a small incentive to the coaches.