Warren School Superintendent Bryan Cornish gave an update on construction activities at Monday’s Warren School Board meeting.
He said footings had been poured at Warren High School and that hopefully, school personnel could move back in it by the first of August.
At Lumberjack Arena, a canopy and handicapped lift are in the process of being installed. Some thermostat issues are being addressed.
The new Warren Elementary School painting is ongoing. Some tile work had to be redone, with the wrong color of tile being replaced in classrooms and hallways. Lighting is 90 percent complete. Exterior work is on hold due to the weather.
In other action:
- Resignations were accepted from Amanda Ozment, Eastside Music Instructor; Savannah Patterson, WHS history instructor; Michael Brown, WHS math instructor; Madison Zaliski, WHS science instructor; and Gia Morse, WHS math instructor.
Board members voted to give Cornish a one-year contract extension. He had two years left on his current contract, so that will extend his contract to the 2025-26 school year.
- The 2023-24 school calendar was approved, with the school year beginning Aug. 21. Cornish said that would give the district more time to complete the repairs at WHS.
- Two used buses were purchased for $100,000 using American Recovery Program Act funds.
- A letter was received from Mayor Gregg Reep asking the school district to participate in an exploratory study of repairs to Warren Cultural Center. Board members indicated they would be open to participating in the study but would not offer a long-term commitment.
- Mona Pennister addressed the board asking for consideration of other options than expelling a student. She added that such punishments would be detrimental to the learning environment and might push such students into dropping out of school. She said other measures such as peer, group or individual counseling should be explored.
- In minute messages, SEACBEC Director Devin McDiarmid said the center celebrated Career and Technical Education Month in February by having numerous guest speakers, presenters and special events. There were 20 representatives at the Technical College Day Fair. A Health Occupation Students of America blood drive was held.
Teachers Kasey Reep and Emily Harton took Bryleigh Bickers, Cristal Castillo and Ana Romero to compete at the HOSA Conference in Hot Springs. Castillo received a silver medal for placing second in the state for extemporaneous writing.
Instructor Jamie Vail attended the United Welding Institute, watching two Hermitage students rank eighth and 12th out of 120 competitors.
ABC has had over 20 guest speakers and community volunteers in February and March. A highlight for Dr. Seuss’ birthday was Tamara Johnson visiting each classroom dressed as the Cat In The Hat.
- Warren Middle School Principal Kathy Cornish said eighth-grade students are traveling to Jonesboro to visit Hybrol, a conveyor system manufacturing company, and Arkansas State University. Junior cheerleading tryouts will be held March 29. Gifted and Talented program sixth-grade students Scout Ballentine, Emanuel Puhamba and McKenley Bryant were nominated for the Discovering Excellence in Arkansas Award.
- WHS Principal Tiffany Gathen said the Arkansas Junior ACT test was completed on Feb. 28. A total of 108 out of 113 juniors took advantage of this free test. EAST is one of three Founders Award winners out of 260 schools. State-required National Career Readiness Certificate testing of seniors has been completed.
- Brunson Elementary Principal Regina Scroggins said Feb. 27-March 3 was Read Across America Week. People from the community read to students. Scroggins attended a meeting at Southeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative about the new LEARNS Act. Brunson students are working on meeting reading goals. On Thursday, March Madness will be celebrated as a good behavior initiative, with students not having a discipline referral playing in a basketball tournament or serving as a Brunson cheerleader.