Board shown appreciation; approves COVID policies

By Staff, 01/22/21 9:50 AM

PRESCOTT – It was appreciation night for the Prescott School Board prior to its January meeting Thursday.

The board met in the cafeteria at Prescott Junior High School, which had been set up providing each with a table for one, where they were served a meal before the meeting. The appreciation continued in the board room where there was cake and punch, and a plate-size cookie for each member. The cookies were a gift from Prescott Elementary School (PES).

Robert Poole, superintendent of the Prescott School District (PSD), told how he appreciates the board and how people talk about what a good board the PSD has as compared to other districts, because it gets things done. He said it’s the hardest job in the country – for the pay. Poole presented the members with certificates of appreciation from the Arkansas School Board Association (ASBA), and letters from PJHS and Prescott High School (PHS).

When the board’s business began, Poole informed them each member had completed the number of training hours as required by the ASBA.

The board approved two policy updates, both dealing with COVID emergency leave. One was for licensed personnel and the other for classified personnel. This is paid leave for those employees who have to deal with a COVID emergency or are quarantined due to COVID-19.

The panel also approved changing the contract for using school property. Under the new terms, those seeking to use PSD facilities, either indoors or out, are responsible for following COVID protocols as set by the state and district.

A proposed calendar for the 2021-22 school year was approved by the board and will be sent on to the district’s Personnel Policy Committee for review and changes, before being sent back to the board for final approval. The calendar includes a week for Thanksgiving, two-and-a-half weeks for the Christmas break, with the school year starting on Aug. 16, 2021 and ending May 27, 2022.

Enrollment is down slightly from last month, Poole said. There are 939 students enrolled in the PSD, with 353 at PES, 300 in PJHS and 286 at PHS.

On the financial front, Poole said the district looks good now with more than $2 million in its coffers. This, he said, is more than the district had this time last year and attributed it to $150,000 being collected in taxes this year. He told the board there should be no problems unless something drastic happens between now and the end of the year.

He suggested the board approve a policy to align with state spending, which now allows districts to spend up to $20,000 without board approval. Poole said this was passed by the legislature last year. The spending limit at the PSD was $10,000 prior to the board approving the new limit Thursday.