Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Emmet Enrollment Now 310 Students

Enrollment in the Emmet School District has reached 310 students this year, with 179 in the high school and 131 on the elementary side.

This news was presented to the Emmet School Board at its regular monthly meeting, Monday, March 5.

Emmet's Parent-Teacher Association requested permission to host a policeman's basketball game between officers from the Nevada County Sheriff's Office and Hempstead County Sheriff's Office to raise money for softball uniforms.

The game has been scheduled for March 24.

The PTA will make a donation to the Arkansas Sheriff's Youth Ranches to show appreciation for the help from the HCSO and NCSO.

According to elementary Principal Floyd Pollock, the spring parent-teacher conferences have been scheduled for March 22, with school to let out at 1 p.m.

However, students will return to school March 23 to make up one of the days they were out because of the ice storm.

Spring Break for Emmet will be March 26-30.

Shane Gilbert, EHS principal, said students are preparing for the Benchmark tests.

He told the board a representative from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia had spoken to the senior class.

Gilbert also said he had attended a class in Little Rock on the Smart Step program. It was basically a technical workshop, with the district being given $650 in software.

Field trips were approved for the fourth and fifth grade, along with the eighth grade, to attend the Rendezvous in McCaskill March 23, and learn about Arkansas history.

Other field trips approved included the communications class going to Little Rock on April 21 to see a series of one-act plays. Students participating in this outing will be paying their own way at $12 each.

Superintendent Dr. Gene Ross said there were two other field trips requested  one for the food services class to tour the Hope Water and Light Company plant in Fulton on March 22, to learn about the water system; and to the Ace of Clubs museum in Texarkana. Both of these trips were also approved.

Ross said the district's trust fund has increased, and must be distributed evenly among the teachers and certified staff. This will amount to them getting an extra $520. The non-certified personnel wasn't ignored either, as they will get what will amount to a 2 percent bonus at the end of the year. This will mean $2,200 each for the non-certified employees.

Ross said the trust increase wasn't expected, and the district didn't find out about it until December, while the non-certified bonus was built into the budget.

The board agreed to hire Bill Dearinger to maintain the school grounds again this year, increasing his pay to $250.

Ross informed the board of two fund raisers requested. One is chances on an Easter Basket, which was recommended, with the other being the sale of discount cards, that wasn't recommended.

According to Ross, the discount cards wouldn't help those who purchased them as there are only two businesses in Nevada County that accept them, along with a few in Hempstead County. This was tabled until it could be looked into.

The money raised from the basket contest will be used to help pay for the junior prom.

The district's 2001-2002 calendar will be similar to one recently approved by the Prescott School District.

It will have a winter break scheduled in February, with these days to be used as snow days should weather again force the district to close.

However, if weather conditions force school to close after the winter break, Ross said, these days will be made up at the end of the year.