May 1, 2007
Ashdown High School students enjoyed a day off today while the main building was being cleared of smoke and the smell. Minor damage was done to the biology room. The fire was noticed between 5 and 5:30 a.m. when custodians, Chester Jones and Arlena Reed, came to work. They noticed the smell and saw smoke coming from the vent pipes. They quickly alerted the authorities and the police and fire department responded quickly. Mike Walker stated, “only minor damage was done to the classroom.”
The driveway at the front of the new high school looks nice and is waiting for the concrete to be poured. It will not be long now. Things are shaping up……………..
The AHS Senior Research Practicum and Projects class will present their
year long research project before a panel of judges on Thursday, May 3,
in the AHS library. Students have researched their topic dealing with
either behavior or the mind, collected data, advocated and will present an oral explanation and visual display about their research. The oral presentations will be held the morning of May 3, with the visual display portion open to the public beginning at 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. On Friday, May 4, the students will individually defend their
project before a committee of teachers, administrators, and educational
professionals. This portion of their project, however, will not be open to the public. Jeanne Jackson is the sponsoring teacher.
The AHS Student Council will be making care packages to send to our soldiers in Iraq. There will be a collection box set up in the high school lobby by the trophy cases.
Ashdown Junior High is sponsoring a "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive until May 12. This is to benefit our local food bank. Please bring nonperishable food items.
Shelby Fiegel (Joe-AJHS), Caitlin Smith (Denise-ALE), Ryan Fortune, and Bailey Teston
The 9th Grade Ashdown TARGETS Round About Courage team won second place in state competition in Benton. In the style of theater-in-the-round, the team showed heroism in a toy store. The team solved their challenge and entertained the audience with comical characters who were toys themselves. LeAnn Teston and Terri Frost were the team coaches.
Ashdown Junior High is sponsoring a Weight Busters program for the staff. The program will encourage reaching and maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in walking to improve physical fitness. Contact Lin Johnson for more information.
Congratulations to the following FFA students for there competition in State this past weekend in Fayetteville. The Dairy Cattle team won third place out of 36 teams. Individuals placed were Morgan McRae (Teri-AJHS) placed 9th, Rachael Guidry (Dennis and Catherine-HS) place 12th and Wade Kennemore placed 24th out of 154 individuals. The Ag communications team placed 5th out of 9 teams. Amanda Ward (Board member Ricky Ward) place 3rd individual and Lila Sivley placed 5th out of 46 individuals.
The AJHS Talent Show is Thursday, May 10th. To sign up for an audition time, you will need to stop by the library sometime this week. Auditions will be Tuesday, May 8th. The cost to attend the Talent Show this year will be $2.
Jamie Sullivan, Samantha Edgar, Dara Gaines,
Ali Staton, and Whitney McWhirter
The 6th Grade Ashdown TARGETS Round About Courage team won fourth place in state competition in Benton. These Medieval Challengers presented the audience with a hero in the style of theater-in-the-round. With the team popping out of a book to make the story come alive, they learned that knowing how to read could help them escape from the overbearing queen. Rachelle Sullivan and Mindy McWhirter coached the team.
State Destination ImagiNation
Back Row: Anthony Bennett, Erin Royal, Elizabeth Fields, Nicole Crowder (John- AHS & Karen-LF) Front Row: Kyle Burrow, Reagan Teston, Chandler Matthews
The 3rd Grade Ashdown TARGETS CSI: DI team competed in state competition in Benton and will advance to Global Finals in Knoxville, TN. The first step the team took in solving the challenge was meeting with Sgt. Gary Gregory and learning about real crime scene investigation. The team then created a device to analyze evidence from their crime scene. The device was used in a humorous skit about a murder in “The Shop Till You Drop” grocery store. LeAnn Teston is the team coach.
Margaret Daniel Primary and C.D. Franks Elementary hosted receptions for volunteers during National Volunteer Week.
Spring Fling a Big Success. The weather was perfect for the annual Margaret Daniel/C.D. Franks PTO Spring Fling held on April 28. Nearly $6,000 was raised. There were many activities for families and the Ashdown Police Department (McGruff), Ashdown Fire Department, Arkansas State Police, CCCUA, Girl Scouts of America, and Boy Scouts of America, and some of our elected officials were on hand to participate. Many thanks to our community partners.
"Healthy Children Learn Better"
School Nurses’ Day is May 9th
The
DMEC co-op has asked for our teachers to try and log into their on-line account
to make sure that there are not any problems. Registration opens Monday and
this will help to eliminate problems letting into the workshops you are wanting.
Dick Johnson, class of 67, received the Paul Eells Distinguished American Award which is awarded by the Arkansas Chapter of the National Football and Hall of Fame Inc. He is Athletic Director in Fayetteville, Arkansas Schools.
Carla Pierce Chalmers, class of 97, has been named Junior Analyst of the Year for the United States Army. The award read, “Specialist Chalmers’ exemplary performance and devotion to duty reflect credit upon herself, the United States Army and the National Security Agency (NSA).
And in Closing
. . .
"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other
way."
— Mark Twain
See Board Meeting Notes at the end of this newsletter
ASHDOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION
March 19, 2007
The Board of Education of the Ashdown Public Schools held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, April 16, 2007 at the Parent Center. Board President Raymond Latson called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Ricky Ward called the roll. Raymond Latson, Dorothy Henderson, Imogene Mize, Milton Higginbotham and Ricky Ward were present. Chuck Davis and Rosa Bowman were absent. The meeting
began with prayer by Milton Higginbotham. Susan Simmons led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Report to 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 1614.
· Mr. Walker gave a report on District Services Department.
Old Business
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve the minutes of the March 19, 2007 meeting. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept the recommendation. Milton Higginbotham seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker gave a report on the progress of the construction and made a recommendation to purchase another cashier station for a second serving line in the cafeteria. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Milton Higginbotham seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to purchase 375 student desks from Missco Contract Sales at $97.00 each for a cost of $36,375.00 plus shipping and tax. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Imogene Mize seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to purchase 28 white boards 4 X 12 for $313.00 each and 4 white boards 4 X 16 for $416.00 each from Missco for a total cost of $10,428.00 plus tax and shipping. Milton Higginbotham made a motion to accept. Dorothy Henderson seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to purchase 25 tack boards for $48.00 each for a total of $1,200.00 plus tax and shipping. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Ricky Ward seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker stated construction has started on the track.
New Business
· Mr. Walker reviewed the school calendar and added the Scholarship Tea on April 29th at the Jr. High.
· Mr. Walker presented the calendar options for the 2007 – 2008 school year and stated the employees selected Calendar Option 1. He made a recommendation to approve. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Imogene Mize seconded. Ricky Ward, Milton Higginbotham, Imogene Mize and Dorothy Henderson voted yes. Raymond Latson voted no. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to purchase thirteen Dell computer systems for the East Lab at $1,495.68 for a total of $21,241.11. Workforce Education may reimburse the district for part of this expense. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Milton Higginbotham seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to renew the ASBA Policy Service at a cost of $968.00 per year for a total of $2,904.00. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Milton Higginbotham seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve loss of credit for one high school student as presented for excessive absences. Milton Higginbotham made a motion to accept. Dorothy Henderson seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker stated Annie Turner needed to know if the board members intend to go to the NSBA Regional Conference and asked the board members to fill our the form for travel and reservations.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to hire Angela Pauley as Occupational Therapist for the 2007 – 2008 school year for $56.00 per hour. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Ricky Ward seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to hire Katy Lingle as Speech Therapist for the 2007 – 2008 school year for $56.00 per hour. The daily rate for workshops will be $100.00 flat rate. Dorothy Henderson made motion to accept. Milton Higginbotham seconded. Motion carried.
· Ricky Ward made a motion at 7:50 p.m. to go into executive session after a five minute break. Dorothy Henderson seconded. Motion carried.
· Raymond Latson called the meeting back to order at 8:35 p.m.
Personnel
· Dorothy Henderson made a motion to return to open session. Ricky Ward seconded. Motion carried.
· No action was taken during executive session.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to create two new positions for a self contained class at Jr. High for the 2007 – 2008 school year. A teacher and a para-professional will be needed. They will be paid one half from district funds and one half from Title 6B. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Milton Higginbotham seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to accept the resignation of Pam McElhannon at the end of this school year. Ricky Ward made a motion to accept. Dorothy Henderson seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to accept the resignation of Donnette Dickson as Cheer Leader Sponsor at the end of this school year. Ricky Ward made a motion to accept. Dorothy Henderson seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to rehire Certified Staff as presented. Ricky Ward made a motion to accept. Dorothy Henderson seconded. Motion carried.
· Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve a raise of 15 cents per hour for Classified Staff and $700.00 for Certified Staff for the 2007 – 2008 school year. Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept. Ricky Ward seconded. Motion carried.
· Dorothy Henderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Imogene Mize seconded. Motion carried.