Retirees honored at PSB
PRESCOTT – May’s meeting of the Prescott School Board, Tuesday night, had a party atmosphere – and with good reason. The board recognized the retirement of four employees who had more than 100 years of service to the district.
However, two students were recognized by the board first. Ryan Johnson and A.J. Cook were honored for their accomplishments on the track. The two were winners in the Meet of Champions and were named to the All-State Track team by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Track coach Brian Glass was honored for winning his 11th state track title, and 16th consecutive junior district track title.
Glass said he couldn’t have asked for more outstanding athletes then Johnson and Cook. He added Cook is looking at getting a full ride to college with a track scholarship and Johnson already has a full scholarship to play football at Missouri Southern.
Teresa Bell, Kathie Janes, Deborah McGough and Patricia Roberts were recognized for the years of service they’ve given to the Prescott School District. Once the board took care of business, those in the packed board room enjoyed cake and punch.
The board wasted no time in taking care of business. One student was accepted as coming to Prescott under the school choice act, while three were released to go to other districts.
Robert Poole, superintendent, gave the enrollment at 951, with 348 in Prescott Elementary School, 319 in Prescott Junior High School and 284 in Prescott High School.
He said the district has received 76 percent of its anticipated revenue and spent 73 percent. The district, he told the board, will be busy cleaning up the budgets for the end of the fiscal year.
Service contracts for occupational therapists Stacy Davis and Ashley Mclean were approved by the board. Poole said there are no changes in their contracts for the 2019-2020 school year.
The board also approved the teacher salary schedule increase. Under the changes, the starting salary for a teacher with a Bachelor’s degree will be $32,000 and those with a Master’s will start with $37,000. This is being done to meet the salary requirements established by a law passed by the Arkansas Legislature and signed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Summer hours for the district will be Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. with offices closed Fridays. This will start on June 3 and end on Aug. 2 and is what the district has done in the past.
Starting July 9 and running through July 30, the district will have a summer feeding program for children 18 and under. The free meal will be from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Tuesday’s only at the PJHS cafeteria.
