Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Middle School Named McRae

There is no Prescott Middle School any longer.

The Prescott School Board, at its regular meeting Wednesday, Jan. 19, voted to change the name of the middle school back to its former identity and call it the McRae School, after former Gov. Tom McRae.

Prescott Superintendent Ron Wright said, land for the school was donated to the district by the McRae family, with it originally being named the McRae School.

The facility became Prescott Middle School when the districts came together.

A formal dedication for the name change will be held at the McRae (PMS) gym, once it has been completely renovated.

The board also worked an unusual transfer arrangement for a family. The family is from hope, where the child will remain in school the remainder of the year.

The family currently resides in Prescott, and the child will start school next year here.

This helps the district's enrollment, which has been climbing steadily and is up another 10 students this month.

Wright said this could continue with Rip Griffin's breaking ground, and there being possibilities of another plant locating in Prescott. Normally, when new businesses open people move to the area, brining their families with them.

The board also gave a student a break after mistakes made were admitted.

The student violated the district's drug and alcohol policy, admitted to making the mistake and asked for leniency.

The leniency sought was to continue performing with the Prescott High School band and going to competitions with the band, but no other special reduction in punishment.

"I understand I made bad choices and there are consequences," the student said. "I've been to the bottom here now, and can't get to the top  it's perfection  but I will get as close as I can if I'm allowed to participate with the band."

Prescott High School Principal Steve Britton intervened on behalf of the student, also asking the board to allow participation in the band. The board agreed.

The student plans on joining the military after graduation and trying to become a member of the military marching band.

A hot topic was brought up in school uniforms.

This issue was brought up at the December meeting, followed by an advisory team meeting.

The key to it, Wright said, is to learn what the public wants. So, he added, the first thing the district must do is educate the public about school uniforms.

The Arkansas Legislature passed a law requiring all districts to address the issue of school uniforms.

Interest in school uniforms has been expressed for economic and safety reasons, but the district needs a game plan to get the public's input on it.

Kay Hendrix, a member of the board, has been in favor of uniforms since the issue was first brought forth.

Wright said what he's heard on it so far has been positive, though high school students oppose the idea.

George Odom, a board member, suggested talking to the community based on age groups of students.

It was discussed to begin initiating uniforms at the primary level, requiring them for middle and high school students later as the requirement catches on.

Wright said some districts are getting creative in how they deal with the issue. Some have one class set aside for those who refuse or don't want to wear uniforms.

Odom said other districts have also got the support of merchants, who provide uniforms at a good rate and offer payment plans for those in need.

He added districts requiring uniforms also have fewer discipline problems.

It was pointed out a Bentonville district had a layered program, making it voluntary, then mandatory for different grades until all students had to wear them.

At this point, Wright said, the legal ramifications aren't known, but the uniform issue will likely have to be decided in court at some point.

"I don't want us to be the test case," he said.

The board agreed to give surveys to parents at the paren-teacher conferences in March and see what the response is.

Board President Rick McGough said the district needs to show parents the emphasis will be placed on having uniforms required at the elementary level initially.

All agreed uniforms are less expensive than brand name designer clothing and shoes. The district will also examine provisions to help needy families with the purchase of uniforms, should the district require them.

In other business, the board approved two out-of-state trips, one to the National Elementary Principal's Association meeting in New Orleans and the other to a special education world conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The Canada trip will be paid for by a grant through the Southwest Arkansas Educational Cooperative.

The final order of business was purchasing a new seven-passenger van for the district.

The board approved buying a 1999 model from EJ's Auto in Prescott, as it was the better of the three bids submitted.

One bid was from Ashdown, but it was on a 1998 model van, with the other being local, from Ashbrook Motors in Prescott, but with a higher bid.