Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott doing well athletically and academically

Prescott's schools have been enjoying both academic and athletic success.

This was the gist of reports given by Willie Wilson, dean of students, and David Maxwell, athletic director, at the regular meeting of the Prescott School Board, Tuesday, March 18.

Maxwell opened the proceedings telling the board the AAA State Basketball Tournament was an unmitigated success.

In talking with other coaches, players and visitors, he said, all had positive comments about how the tourney was handled and the facilities.

The tourney, he said, showcased the community to the rest of the state.

"The eyes of the state were upon us," he said. "The media gave many compliments and the AAA board members were pleased." In addition, several major college recruiters were on the Prescott High School campus to scout the talent at the event.

"It was the intent and purpose of our entire athletic staff to host a professional tournament, and show the state a good time," Maxwell said.

Maxwell said the Wolverettes finished the year with a 13-12 record, while the Wolves were 13-7.

Tammy Harris was named first team all conference and all state. Lasheena Gillard was second team all conference, while Madeline Taylor received honorable mention all conference.

Stueart received first team all conference and all state honors, while Jason Butler was second team all conference and Jeremy Purifoy got an honorable mention.

As of meeting time, the Wolves had played 10 baseball games, and had a record of 5-5 overall, and 2-1 in conference play.

However, the Wolves posted a three-game sweep in the Prescott Classic and brought the trophy home for the first time in three years.

The Wolverette softball team, he said, has began its 14-game conference season. The conference voted to play a double round-robin format with no district tourney at the end of the season.

Instead, the top four teams from the 7AAA will advance to the Region IV tourney.

The tennis team, he said, has played two matches and posts a 1-1 record.

However, Zach Martin, Megan Martin and Madeline Taylor are undefeated on the courts this season.

Wilson followed, giving the board a report on areas of concern and areas of growth within the district.

The areas of concern remain primarily with students having problems with Algebra I.

In order to graduate, students must pass Algebra A&B, along with Algebra I.

"We're trying to focus on the low achievers," Wilson said, "and let them know how much this (the end of course test) counts."

Discipline is still a problem, he said, but now it's with girls instead of boys.

"We've got the boys under control, but there's been a lot of mouthing," he said. "We're trying to stay on top of it and watch out for problems. We're being proactive."

A lot of the problem, he said, is from "spill over" from non-school related incidents.

At this time, Wilson said, the district doesn't have a professional counselor for students.

While Paula Cossey is the counselor, her position emphasizes career and life skills counseling, not personal or emotional counseling.

The counselor who had been working with the district is out on maternity leave, and no other one has been assigned.

In talking about the areas of growth, Wilson said more students have 3.5 or better grade point averaged than ever, but most of these are girls.

He lauded the Destination ImagiNation teams for how well they've done in competition so far, saying there's a lot of creativity involved in getting the projects together in the two-week period the teams are given.

Pearl Bailey, president of the Prescott District Education Association, wasn't on hand for the meeting, but sent her report to the board.

March, she wrote, for the PDEA was like March Madness for the NCAA, as the PDEA members were all over the campuses encouraging teachers to participate in "Read Across America".

Karen McKinnon, a reading teacher at McRae Middle School, was the local chairman for the event. She planned activities for each day for all three campuses during the first week of the month.

"Read Across America" is an annual event occurring the first week in March. This is when Dr. Seuss's birthday was. His birthday is used as a motivational theme to encourage reading, Bailey wrote.

The PDEA participates in the program each year.

The next order of business for the board was to hear from student Brooke Cornelius.

Cornelius's teacher, Brenda Prewitt, provided the introduction saying there was a student who needed to be recognized by the town, and is an A student in the classroom. "Her outside activities don't affect her grades."

Cornelius told the board it's been a great year for her as she competed in a dance competition in January. The contest was in Hot Springs, with the dancers judged on technique, execution and showmanship.

She won her division for the nine-year-old age group, and was fourth as a soloist out of 44 dancers. The fourth place finish earned her an invitation to the nationals.

Cornelius also tried out for the All-Star Cheerleader squad in Little Rock, and made the ninth grade and under team out of 70 girls.

She had the highest score of anyone in any group, and wants to be a "flier", the cheerleader thrown into the air.

The board approved out-of-state travel for Larry Newsom and Jody Coward to attend a basketball camp in Mississippi, along with Kyla Burton, Krista Burton and Wilson to attend a workshop in Shreveport.