Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Students recognized at lopng School Board meeting

Much of the meeting for the Prescott School Board was about recognizing the accomplishments of students.

The Board met Tuesday, Jan. 17, starting with James Cannon, agri teacher, recognizing Daniel Holley, FFA president, for being second as top hand at the 2005 Arkansas State Fair Barnyard/Feedstore. Overall, the Prescott FFA was the winning chapter at the state fair. He presented Holley with a plaque, and was, in turn, presented with certificates of appreciation from Board President Pat Blake.

Cannon said the ag class is looking to expand this year. There are two calves being cared for at the farm, with the work being done by freshmen students. We want to go into animal science.

Students are also working to get the greenhouse going again and sell plants as a fund raiser.

Next up was Athletic Director Greg Smith, who recognized the Prescott Curley Wolf golf team. Both teams won district, with the girls placing second in the regional tourney and fourth at state. For the boys, Drew Richards was third as an individual at the state tourney and signed with the University of Central Arkansas, a division 1 program. Coach Doug Smith was named 7AAA Coach of the Year.

Turning to cross country, Smith said Alex Haynes was the individual champ for junior girls in the district meet.

The senior boys and girls, he said, competed at the state level, informing the Board its been a few years since Prescott had the numbers to field a full team.

The junior boys repeated as district champs. Michael Hamilton was the individual champion for the junior boys.

In tennis, the girls had a strong team, he said, with Meagan Martin runner up in singles in the district and making an appearance at the state tourney.

The boys team was conference runner up, with Andy Thompson and Jessie Joutien runners up in doubles for district. Cass Martin was the district runner up in singles. The boys teams also went to the state tilt.

Smith lauded the volunteer coaches for all the time and effort they put in.

Spring, he said, is under way with the regional cheerleading competition at Prescott High School on Jan. 28. In February the district will host the Class A basketball tournament.

Smith will be meeting with various people in the community to get help with the tourney. A packet is being put together for businesses in town, showing where things are to help visitors get around during the tournament, which will be a five-day event.

But, he said, before the basketball tourney, PHS will be hosting a baseball tournament. The baseball tourney has grown to the level it now requires two fields for all the teams involved.

The meeting wound up taking three-and-a-half hours before adjourning. Reports took a scant hour with an executive session lasting the remainder of the time.

The Board had two issues to discuss during the executive session, renewing the contract of Superintendent Hyacinth Deon, and hiring an instructor for two periods a week of career orientation.

When Board returned to the meeting it took less than five minutes to approve Freddie Hamilton for career orientation and extend Deons contract another year.

Prior to the executive session, though, Board member Jo Beth Glass questioned the districts finances, saying $50,000 was spent in January with there being only $100,000 left in the operating budget.

Deon said if petroleum product prices keep going up the district will have to dip into its reserve. She added the district paid $14,500 for a new van, replacing one wrecked, and should get a check for $10,000 from the insurance company soon.

Glass also questioned how the district would come up with $9 million for the facility upgrades required.

Deon said the work would be done in stages, a little at a time over the next decade until everything is finished. The principals, she said, discussed the priorities and decided the most important things are to put a new roof on the old gym at PHS, a new roof on the science and music building at McRae Middle School, an alarm system and improved sewage at MMS and carpet in the Prescott Elementary School activity center. This is not all the work needing to be done, only that needing attention the soonest.

At this time, Deon said, the district would have to pick up 42 percent of the costs. I dont know how we would do this.