Our vision is to unite parents, community and staff in an environment of excellence and

pride where students will choose to be successful.

January 25, 2008

SEE BOARD MINUTES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE NEWSLETTER.

Principal, John Crowder, has announced that Ashdown High School has received

the “2007 College Readiness” award from the Arkansas ACT Council for increasing

the number of students taking the ACT Assessment over the past five years and for

significantly increasing their level of achievement and college readiness. Crowder

said, “Ashdown High School is in the top 4% of high schools in Arkansas, according

to a press release from Karen Pennell, ACT Assistant Vice President.” The ACT is

the college admissions test that is accepted by all colleges nationwide.

Congratulations to Becky Edmisten, District Teacher of the Year. Becky was honored at the Little

River County Chamber Banquet on the 24th. In the center Mike Walker and Becky Edmisten are

pictured with Board members, Rosa Bowman and Imogene Mize, at the Teacher of Year Breakfast

on Tuesday at the Hunter Coulter House.

It is a great honor to be chosen by your peers and these ladies are “the best”. They were

selected as Teacher of the Year from each campus. They are: (standing left to right)

Becky Edmisten (AHS), Sandy McElroy (MD), Mike Walker, Denise Smith (ALE), and

Margaret Macon (LF), (seated left to right) Hope Pierce (AJHS) and Amy Smith (MD).

The Margaret Daniel Primary Educational Foundation met January 14th to present

two grants to two teachers at Margaret Daniel Primary. The recipients were Mrs. Donna

Gabbard and Mrs. Amy Smith. Mrs. Gabbard received a grant for a Rhythm, Rhyme and

Music project in which she will be able to purchase a variety of historical costumes,

rhythm instruments and materials to help foster teamwork, focus, respect, community,

ensemble, balance and listening. Mrs. Smith's grant is for a Promethean ACTIVboard for

her classroom in which she will be able to integrate technology into all curriculum areas

with students being actively engaged to enhance their learning. The two grants totaled

$9,000. The Margaret Daniel Primary School Foundation was established in October of

2005. As to date, the foundation has awarded over $13,000 to teachers for special

projects in which student learning was the focus.

Board members pictured left to right with the grant recipients are: Beth Provence,

Brenda Tate, Amy Smith, Donna Gabbard, Mrs. Daniel, Kari Harger and Kay York.

 

Holiday Feb. 15-18

 

Margaret Daniel Primary Events

• Parent Teacher Conference on Feb. 4th

• The 100 Day Celebration will be on Feb. 1.

• Visiting TRAC children’s author, Chester Drawers, will be

on campus Feb. 13th.

C.D. Franks Elementary Events

• Second and Third grades go to the Perot on Feb. 1.

• Parent Teacher Conference on Feb. 4th

• Chester Drawers visits C.D. Feb, 13th

• Tessa Campbell’s Baby Shower- Feb. 28th

L.F. Henderson Intermediate School

• Parent Teacher Conference Feb. 7th

• Sock Hop Feb. 14, 3:30-5:30

Ashdown Jr. High School

• Sadie Hawkins Dance on Feb. 22, 7-9

Ashdown HIPPY Educator, Lori Fields, has been selected to attend the 20th Annual

National Conference for HIPPY Educators in St. Petersburg, Florida. She will

accompany Mary Harris, HIPPY Regional Coordinator, and Margie Thrower. The

HIPPY program serves 3 and 4 year old preschoolers in Ashdown.

 

Ashdown School District Board Minutes of the January 14, 2008 Meeting

The Board of Education of the Ashdown Public Schools held its regular monthly meeting

on Monday, January 14, 2008 at the High School. Board President Raymond Latson

called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. Ricky Ward called the roll. All members were

present. The meeting began with prayer by Dorothy Henderson. Mitchell Higginbotham

led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Reports to the Board

• Mr. Walker presented a review of expenditures. Dorothy Henderson made a

motion to approve. Milton Higginbotham seconded. Motion carried.

• Mr. Walker presented the financial report.

• Mr. Walker reported that the current enrollment is 1576.

• Mr. Walker gave a report on District Services Department.

Old Business

• Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve the minutes of the December

17, 2007 regular board meeting. Chuck Davis made a motion to approve.

Dorothy Henderson seconded. Motion carried.

• Mr. Walker gave a report on the construction progress and the track lighting.

He made a recommendation to approve the purchase and installation of track

lighting from Musco and Polk Electric for $118,000.00. This includes a

twenty-five year warranty on parts, labor and maintenance. Dorothy

Henderson made a motion to approve. Rosa Bowman seconded. Motion

carried.

New Business

• Mr. Walker presented Policy # ICA issued October 25, 2004 and made a

recommendation to amend the policy to match the recommendations of the

State. The word “common” in Common Core Curriculum needs to be

removed. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to approve. Chuck Davis

seconded. Motion carried.

• Mr. Walker reviewed the school calendar.

• Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve the Facility Master Plan that

Dean Lillard presented at Public Facility Master Plan meeting held prior to the

board meeting. Milton Higginbotham made a motion to approve. Ricky

Ward seconded. Motion carried.

• Mr. Walker stated the Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held on

January 24th at 6:30 p.m. at the High School Cafeteria.

• Raymond Latson asked the Board to get involved and help get parents

involved in the Achievement Gap Committee to work with the students.

• Dorothy Henderson made a motion at 7:52 p.m. to go into executive session

after a five minute break. Chuck Davis seconded. Motion carried.

• Raymond Latson called the meeting back to order at 9:35 p.m.

Personnel--Ricky Ward made a motion to return to open session. Milton Higginbotham

seconded. Motion carried. No action was taken during executive session.

• Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve FMLA for Amy Silva

beginning March 3rd. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Milton

Higginbotham seconded. Motion carried.

• Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve FMLA for Teresa Daugherty

beginning January 28th. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.

Milton Higginbotham seconded. Motion carried.

• Mr. Walker made a recommendation to accept the resignation from Athletic

Director, Todd Ledford, effective January 15th. Dorothy Henderson made a

motion to approve. Chuck Davis seconded. Motion carried.

• Milton Higginbotham made a motion to extend Mike Walker’s contract as

Superintendent another year which extends the contract to three year. Chuck

Davis seconded. Motion carried.

Dorothy Henderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:38 p.m. Rosa Bowman

seconded. Motion carried.

Raymond Latson, President Ricky Ward, Secretary