May 30, 2007

Text Box: You are cordially invited to attend Ashdown School District Retirement Reception May 31st from 3:30-4:30 pm Hunter-Coulter House given in honor of Charlotte Cobb        Diane Blankenship Lin Johnson        Rebecca Edmisten

 

 

 

The Teen leaders 4H are collecting old cell phones, working or non-working.  The recycle box will be by the front office.  We will accept phones until the 4th of June.  There will also be a collection box at Brookshire’s thru the month of June.

Mrs. Risinger is organizing a trip for students for the summer of 2008 to either Mexico or Puerto Rico.  Those interested need to attend an informational meeting in her room on Thursday, May 31 at 7:00.

This will be our last newsletter for the school year.  This has been a good year and our students have accumulated a mountain of awards.  Thanks to the work you have done as teachers, parents and community.  It is so rewarding to be involved with a school district that cares about children and are willing to go the extra mile.  Susan Simmons, Newsletter Editor

 

 

 

 

You are encouraged to take advantage of an opportunity to view some wonderful art work by our students at Margaret Daniel Primary.  Each child in our school has a piece of art that is displayed in the hallways.  I invite you to come to our school to view these fine pieces and while you are browsing, please pick up a handful of Blue ribbons to place on some of your favorites.  I think you will be quite impressed with the quality and workmanship of our students.  The school is open from 8am until 4pm each day and you are welcome to come at your leisure and enjoy art with us.

 

Attention CTA members--Any CTA member who has a child that graduated from Ashdown High School that will be attending college in the fall is eligible for a $250 scholarship from Ashdown CTA.  To be eligible, the student must have graduated from Ashdown High in 2007, send me a copy of their college student ID.  and a copy of their schedule.  For information, please contact Debbie Greathouse at 898-4417.

Ashdown Junior High conducted a survey to see if there is interest in unifying all of our schools under the “Panther” mascot.  The survey, designed by Debbie Greathouse and Lin Johnson, was given to every student, parent, and staff member of Ashdown Jr. High.  The student and parent survey was on the same sheet of paper, but had to be signed individually by the student and the parent. The results of the returned survey showed 266 of 348 or 76% believe unifying the junior high and senior high under the “Panther” mascot would be a positive change.  If you would like to see the entire survey, email dgreathouse@ashdownschools.org for a copy.  If you would like to give an opinion, email Mike Walker, Superintendent, at mwalker@ashdownschools.org or call him at 870-898-3208 before June 10th.

 

 

Ashdown Junior High Calendar

May 31st--Open Response Day

                Teacher Retirement District Reception at Hunter

                Coulter House from 3:30-4:30

June 1st--Semester Tests--Periods 1-5

June 4th--Semester Tests--Periods 6-8, Move to next year's classroom during last part 

               of day

June 5th--Semester Test Make-up day, Student Council Field Trip, 6th grade Teachers move to     campus

June 6th--Semester Test Make-up day, FCCLA Field Trip, Grades due.  All teacher paper work must be turned in.  All teachers will be on campus until 12:00 and must have all work turned in and rooms ready for summer cleaning before they can check out.

 

 

HEALTH WARNING--Fruit flavored hand sanitizer is potentially dangerous if it is licked by young children.  Make sure that is not available to children at school.

 

Ashdown Junior High Summer School dates are:

Week 1: June 18 – 21, Week 2: June 25 – 28, Week 3: July 2 – 3, & Week 4: July 9 - 12 

The times of Summer School are:  Daily 8:00 - 12:00

 

 

Community Notice of Interest—Saturday, June 2nd the Little River Memorial Hospital at 451 West Locke Street will be having a FREE prostate cancer screening event from 9 am -12 pm.

 

 

 

ASHDOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

May 21, 2007

 

The Board of Education of the Ashdown Public Schools held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 21, 2007 at the Administrative Office. Board President Raymond Latson called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.  Ricky Ward called the roll.  All members were present.  The meeting began with prayer by Raymond Latson.  John Crowder led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

Report to Board

·         Mr. Walker presented a review of expenditures.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to approve.  Chuck Davis seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker presented the financial report.

·         Mr. Walker reported that the current enrollment is 1602 as of May 16th.

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

·         Chuck Davis and Rosa Bowman gave a report on the National School Board Association Conference.  Chuck read two quotes from presenters at the conference.  F. W. De Klerk, former President of South Africa said “Don’t think of brilliant ways to do the wrong thing better.”  Kimberly Oliver, National Teacher of the Year stated “The effects of a good teacher impacts students a lot more than class size, materials and facilities.”

 

Old Business

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2007 meeting.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept the recommendation.   Imogene Mize seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker gave a report on the progress of the construction and made a recommendation to purchase teacher cabinets and book shelves for High School classrooms from ACI at a cost of $33,755.37.  Chuck Davis made a motion to accept.  Dorothy Henderson seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to purchase computers from Dell for two High School labs at a cost of $25,081.30 each.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Milton Higginbotham seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation for a change order for additional security cameras at High School from National Telephone at a cost of $$3,105.99.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Rosa Bowman seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to purchase office furniture for the High School Food Service Manager’s office from ACI at a cost of $1,726.79.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Imogene Mize seconded.  Motion carried.

 

New Business

·         Mr. Walker reviewed the school calendar.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve summer hours as presented.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Ricky Ward seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Ricky Ward made a motion to suspend the agenda and table the stipend proposal until personnel after executive session.  Chuck Davis seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker presented the Bus Driver Salary Schedule proposal for the 2007 – 2008 school year and made a recommendation to accept.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Chuck Davis seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker asked the Board to change the June meeting date due to conflicts with the Co-Op workshop with Dr. Bobbie Davis and the Administrators summer meeting.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to move the meeting to June 11th.  Chuck Davis seconded.  Motion carried.

 

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to adopt the Proposed Budget of Expenditures with Tax Levy for Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2008 to and including June 30, 2009 as presented.  Chuck Davis made a motion to accept.  Dorothy Henderson seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve the purchase of Earobics software at a cost of $16,420.00 to be paid for out of the 21st Century Grant at Margaret Daniel Primary School.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Imogene Mize seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker presented the Food Service Job Descriptions proposal from CPPC and made a recommendation to approve.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Imogene Mize seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Dorothy Henderson made a motion at 7:10 p.m. to go into executive session after a five minute break.  Rosa Bowman seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Raymond Latson called the meeting back to order at 8:35 p.m.

 

Personnel

·         Ricky Ward made a motion to return to open session.  Chuck Davis seconded. Motion carried.

·         No action was taken during executive session.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to accept the resignations from John Daughtery and Terri Frost effective the end of the 2006 – 2007 school year.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Ricky Ward seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to accept the letters of intent to retire from Diane Blankenship, Lin Johnson and Joye Hendrix at the end of the 2006 – 2007 school year.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Imogene Mize seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation for a 240 day contract for Literacy Coaches Kim Goff and Teresa Wake and Math Specialist Jo Walker for the 2007 – 2008 school year.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Chuck Davis seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to hire Nancy Coker as High School Counselor/Skills Class Teacher on a 205 day contract for the 2007 – 2008 school year.  Milton Higginbotham made a motion to accept.  Dorothy Henderson seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to hire Korillene Harris as Jr. High Counselor for the 2007 – 2008 school year.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Milton Higginbotham seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to rehire Classified Staff as presented.  Ricky Ward made a motion to accept.  Dorothy Henderson seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve the list of certified staff to teach summer programs to be paid $25.00 per hour.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Ricky Ward seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to approve the coaching assignments as presented for the 2007 – 2008 school year.  Milton Higginbotham made a motion to accept.  Dorothy Henderson seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to change the contract for bus drivers from 178 to 179 for the 2007 – 2008 school year due to ˝ day in calendar.  Dorothy Henderson made a motion to accept.  Ricky Ward seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Mr. Walker made a recommendation to accept as a first reading the stipend list as presented.  Ricky Ward made a motion to accept.  Dorothy Henderson seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Dorothy Henderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Imogene Mize seconded. Motion carried.