Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Board approves of CAP's efforts

Good things are being heard about the Concerned Adults-Prescott Schools (CAPS) group.

This is what Kay Hendrix, president of the Prescott School Board told the panel at its July meeting.

Todd Richards, spokesman for CAPS, addressed the Board saying more than 40 people are involved and are concerned about the local schools. Were not pointing fingers, he said. We just want to step up to the plate and get involved. We want to help the teachers any way we can.

Richards said the parents want the children held to a higher standard, teaching them to be leaders, not followers so they can succeed in all aspects of life.

Jamie Barnes, principal at McRae Middle School, said the biggest problem at MMS is absences, both excused and unexcused. Because of this, MMS will be using the new state law allowing 4.7 absences per semester.

She said parents will be contacted after four unexcused absences, and after nine, the court system will be brought in.

And, she added, to accommodate the new state requirement for music, art and distance learning, MMS will be starting 10 minutes early and ending 10 minutes later.

The student handbook for MMS will also include information on the no contact contract because of bullying problems. The no contact contract is an agreement entered into by students who have problems with one another not to have contact with each other during the semester.

This, Barnes said, gives a line in the sand and can help stop bullying and harassment.

Janet Gordon, Prescott Elementary School principal, said changes in the PES handbook will include new start/finish times for students.

There is also a change in the discipline policy. On the first infraction a child will be sent to the office for a conference. The next time, the student will be sent to the office for a conference to include their parent/guardian. This is for the fourth grade, she said, and for severe offenses.

Other changes in the PES handbook are to comply with new state laws.

The Board approved the changes for handbooks at PES, MMS and Prescott High School (see related story).

The Board also accepted the transfer of two students from Blevins to Prescott for next year. One of the students will be in the fifth grade, while the other will be a senior.

The district entered into a tuition agreement with the Garland Learning Center (for the alternative learning environment) for the coming school year. Hyacinth Deon, Prescott superintendent, said she wanted the Board to sign off on this so it will be in place when school starts on Aug. 19.

Bids for milk and bread were also accepted by the Board. Borden Milk Co. will provide milk, using plastic bottles this year because, as Deon said, the students tend to drink more out of plastic containers. The district will be getting 1 percent milk, but will have flavors chocolate, strawberry and vanilla available. Flowers Bread Co. will provide bread to the district.

The low bid for the digital surveillance cameras was $38,000, she said. If a grant the district is approved, Deon added, it can be made retroactive and be used to pay for the cameras.

Arkansas State Security was the low bidder. The security cameras will be placed inside and outside the campus at PHS.

Carroll Purtle, PHS principal, said all the major areas will be covered by the cameras. There will be a camera in every building and all main hallways and large rooms. The cameras can swivel 360 degrees.

Purtle said the cameras are set up for two separate computers. The data will be recorded onto the hard drive and transferred to disks for safekeeping. In addition, he said, this system will provide sharp color images instead of the old fashioned grainy black and white. More cameras can be added as needed.