Superintendent Bryan Cornish announced at the Warren School Board meeting Thursday that Warren High School Principal Tiffany Gathen was nominated for Principal of the Year through the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals.
Honors also went to Angela Marshall, who left the board after serving for 21 years. She was presented with a plaque of appreciation.
Marshall offered thanks to her husband and family for their support, noting that her two children and one niece had gone through the Warren school system.
“Warren School District is a good school district,” she said, adding, “What I’m most grateful for is the relationships I’ve made.”
She noted that during her terms, improvements were made at Eastside Elementary, Brunson Elementary was relocated, the football stadium and turf were created, two millage increases were approved, and the new Lumberjack Arena and upcoming Warren Elementary School were constructed.
In other action:
- Cornish said the district had received a $161,000 grant from Arkansas Department of Education for safety improvements.
He also reported considerable progress was made in renovating Warren High School, the new elementary school should be ready for the next school year and a few adjustments were being made to Lumberjack Arena.
- District bookkeeper Denisa Sellers gave the financial report, noting a total current balance of $12.6 million.
- Resignations were accepted from Natasha Nealon, WHS history instructor; Katie Davis, WHS English instructor; and LaShae Thomas, computer lab facilitator at SEACBEC. Retiring personnel include Donna Lowrey, Eastside Elementary instructor; Barbara Tolefree, Eastside Elementary instructor; Billy Jones, SEACBEC instructor; Ruthie Courtney, SEACBEC instructor; and Patricia Ellis, Parent Center coordinator. Brittany Moring was granted an unpaid leave of absence.
- The board approved school legal liability and employment practices general liability coverage for $28,200 in-state and $541 out-of-state.
- A memorandum of understanding was approved between the district and Save The Children Head Start.
- Kylesha Lowe and Sharacia Smith spoke to the board about separate incidents involving their daughters at Warren Middle School. Lowe said two incidents involving her daughter had occurred and Smith claimed her daughter had been assaulted by another student at the school. No immediate board action was taken on either incident.
