Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Band plays for Board

Prescotts School Board was treated to a brief concert Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The Board heard the Prescott High School Band perform two pieces it will be playing at regional competition later on. From there, though, it was all business, starting with a report from Kathie Janes, assistant principal at Prescott Elementary School.

Janes thanked the Board for allowing her to attend the National Title I Conference in Dallas in January, saying it was worthwhile, both with the information received and the motivation derived from it. She attended sessions on topics including learning and teaching, connections, policy and practice, and parent options.

One of the highlights, she said, was Chauncey Veatch, the 2002-2003 National Teacher of the Year. According to Janes, Veatch talked about how teachers need to be dream makers, not dream breakers.

She also attended a session by Robert Marzano concerning research based classroom strategies. PES is using a book written by Marzano, called Classroom Strategies that Work.

I attended a many parent involvement sessions as I could, she said. The one she found most interesting was presented by Michele Doughty, state coordinator with the New Jersey State Department of Education.

In this session, Janes said, she found out Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Education are ahead of several other states when it comes to parental involvement.

As February was Black History Month, Janes said, Teresa Bell, a resource teacher at PES, had her students research Black history and publish a newspaper about their findings.

She told the Board Parent-Teacher conferences were held Feb. 16, with the turnout lighter than the one in the fall. Kindergarten had 86 percent of the parents show up, while 81 percent of first grade parents attended. Second grade had a 19 percent attendance rate, while 84 percent of third grade parents showed up. For the fourth grade, the number was 85 percent.

Janes said she and PES Principal Janet Gordon are involved with the Leadership Academy, sponsored by the Southwest Arkansas Educational Cooperative in Hope. At the last session those attending were asked to complete an 11th grade literacy reading item with constructed response. They were given 20 minutes, the same amount of time students are given to complete the task. Those taking the test were shocked at how little time students have to get the job done.

McRae Middle School Principal Jaime Barnes reported on MMS events, saying students are getting ready for the Benchmark test, which will be March 7-10 for literacy and math. This will be followed by the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS).

Last years seventh and eighth grade students will be getting a delayed treat  a trip to the AllTel Arena to see a Southeast Conference womens basketball game on March 2. These 98 students scored proficient or advanced on last years Benchmark exam.

Kudos were given to Sandy Cason and Brandi Karlovec for obtaining a grant in the amount of $4,650 to build an outdoor classroom. The grant comes from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The classroom will be a 16x16 gazebo with native plants as landscaping.

Dr. Sue Street, of the Southeastern Development Lab, dropped in on MMS to evaluate the services of the Education Renewal Zone (ERZ) through Southern Arkansas University (SAU). The interviews, Barnes said, were positive.

Numbers were also down at MMS for Parent-Teacher conferences. Only 59 percent of fifth grade parents showed, with 64 percent of sixth grade parents coming. The seventh grade had the most parents, at 69 percent, while the eighth grade was the lowest at 44 percent.

Barnes said MMS enrollment is at 309 and dropping.

The report for Prescott High School was given by Willie Wilson, dean of students, who said the top priority at PHS is getting students ready for the end of course exams.

PHS has instituted a BUG program with an school tutoring for algebra, geometry, biology and English (literacy) BUG stands for Bring up Grades. The tutoring session is from 4-6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. Wilson said students attending the sessions dont have to stay the entire two hours if they dont need to.

Scholarship applications have increased, with several students already getting scholarships from colleges and universities.

Wilson said disciplinary infractions have dropped, but reported the first fight at PHS of the year.

In other business the Board passed a resolution for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. This allows the district to follow the new laws concerning payroll deductions.

James Cannon was given approval to go to Washington, D.C. for the National Policy Seminar for Workforce Education.

The Board passed a second resolution, this one stating the district can handle its part of facility planning financially. However, Superintendent Hyacinth Deon said if the district isnt able to do everything on its three-year plan, the plan can be scaled back with no problems.

Under personnel, administrative contracts were approved for the 2006-2007 school year, and David Maxwell was reassigned as director of facility and transportation. Deon said he will be the support services administrator. The transfer takes place July 1, 2006.