In districts across the state, school boards issue a report to the public in October. On Monday evening, the Eureka Springs school board heard a glowing account of the district’s accomplishments.
Supt. Bryan Pruitt began by telling the board that results of Atlas testing in the spring have finally been received. He said school staff have not had the opportunity to fully evaluate the results, but an initial review showed good scores. Administrators had expressed concerns about the Atlas testing, which replaced the ACT Aspire tests last year, but students fared well with the new format.
Rachal Hyatt said the initial assessment of Atlas results showed Eureka Springs students above state levels in every subject at every grade level. She promised to have more detailed information on the testing at the November board meeting. Students in grades three through 10 take the Atlas tests.
Hyatt also outlined federal programs affecting the district, including Title I funds for low-income students. She listed $60,000 in grants received by the district, and also reviewed some grants in the works.
Gail Hunter followed with an account of the Special Ed program. She detailed evaluation processes and the specifics of instructional efforts. Hunter said 92 students have been identified as needing special services.
Gifted and Talented teacher Jerry Wells was unable to attend this meeting, but Hyatt delivered his report. She walked the board through enrichment efforts, starting with a pull-out program which gives third-graders 150 minutes of specialized activities each week. GT students in grades five and six can qualify for EAST Lab. In grades seven and eight, students can take higher-level courses, and they can take high-school algebra in eighth grade. In high school, most GT efforts focus on Advanced Placement courses and concurrent credit programs.
Students have performed well on AP courses, and 30 of 44 students received college credit for their efforts.
In financial news, the board saw a chart depicting the progress in paying for construction projects. The district currently owes less than the amount accrued in the building fund.
This is the second year for teachers to enjoy a $50,000 base pay rate. For the first two years, the state paid the additional wages, but school districts would have to develop their own funds in coming years. Pruitt said he believes the state will continue to subsidize that additional salary for teachers, since many school districts would face severe financial problems in meeting those requirements.
The district’s 616 students are made up of 53 percent boys. The district’s Hispanic enrollment remains at 11 percent. The board heard some other characteristics, including 63 percent of students receiving free or reduced-price meals.
The annual report must include an assessment of bullying incidents, and Pruitt said the district has had few problems in that regard. He listed three middle school and two high school students who required intervention. Pruitt attributed the low number to the receptive attitude of students, which helps new students integrate. In response to a board question, Pruitt said the school has not had major problems with online bullying.
Rick Mann, Director of Operations, said the electricity has been connected at the new cafeteria. He said the project will be fully dried-in by the end of November. Mann said the district remains on the waiting list for a storm shelter funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Following the annual report, the board moved into a brief regular meeting. Minor corrections were made to the student handbook.
Elementary Principal Clare Haozous said students enjoyed Fire Safety week, and they learned from their experiences in a smoke house brought by the fire department. Haozous reminded everyone to check their smoke alarms in October. With banks closed for Columbus Day, some staff members from Equity Bank gave up their days off to teach financial literacy classes. Haozous mentioned the upcoming parent conferences, which will coincide with a Book Fair.
Middle School Principal Caen Dowell said staff members are receiving training in CPR and other first-aid steps. He said the district is at the forefront of schools developing this training, which will help with immediate response to trauma before the arrival of first responders. Dowell said the school has defibrillators in various locations. He expressed pride at the proactive steps taken by the district, and also singled out the district’s excellent relationship with the Eureka Springs Police Department.
High School Principal Jacob Hayward said Behavior Interventionist Steve Johnson will help provide students the tools they need to manage behavior issues. He said the Red-White basketball game will be held Oct. 18, and the school’s mountain bike team will compete at Championship Weekend in Fayetteville Oct. 26-27.