Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

New Board Member Urges Changes In Nevada Schools

At the end, there was a beginning.

Nevada's newest member of the school board, Don Callicott, questioned Nevada Superintendent Rick McAffee on how the board could become more proactive instead of reactive in the school's future.

He said the board needs to take a more active part in planning the direction the school will head as we move into the 21st Century.

McAffee said the school must develop six year plans which are examined by the Comprehensive Outcome Evaluation (COE) team. The COE team, he said, checks the plans, telling the district where the strengths and weaknesses are and suggesting how they can be improved.

Members of the board, he continued, are welcome to participate in the planning and evaluation process when the COE team arrives.

Callicott asked the questions because of the declining student population at Nevada.

Other members of the board voiced their opinions on the matter, basically stating they believe the district has hit a plateau and the drop in population will stop and level off.

In other business, the board, at the regular monthly meeting Thursday, April 16, was informed graduation at NHS will be held Thursday, May 14, with State Sen. Mike Ross the keynote speaker.

Additionally, McAffee told the panel the senior prom will be held Friday, April 24, in the cafetorium. Once students sign in, they will not be allowed to leave the building until the prom ends at 11 p.m.

While there, students will enjoy a catered dinner from Kregs, and dancing.

Members of the leadership academy went to Fairfield Bay recently, where school policies were discussed.

McAffee said several of the district's policies need to be changed, and the student handbook is currently being reworked. It will be presented to the board at the May meeting for approval.

One of the policies being examined is the absentee policy. McAffee said a task force has been looking at policies from six other districts. Representatives from the personnel policy committee, school board, parents and administration are on the task force.

Next year, he said, the Arkansas General Assembly will be in session and the entire handbook may have to be redone. He said between 300 and 700 bills are expected to be addressed on education alone. Those passed will have to be incorporated into the handbook accordingly.

In other business, the board approved the 1998-99 school calendar, which will remain virtually the same. There will be 178 days when students will be in class, while teachers will be at school 185 days.

Students will enjoy an extra day off for Thanksgiving next year, as school will close the Wednesday before the holiday.

Because policies being addressed for change are still out, McAffee said, personnel issues will be examined at the May meeting as well. This will include the hiring of all certified and non- certified staff.