Nevada board reorganizes

By John Miller, 10/28/22 10:37 AM

ROSSTON – It was reorganization time for the Nevada School Board at its October meeting Thursday night.

Superintendent Roy McCoy reminded the panel it traditionally rotates positions who whoever was an officer the year before moved up to the next position with the president going to the bottom of the list again. Or, he said, the board could simply vote for whoever it wanted in whichever position. Ordinarily, the person with only a year left before the next election is the president. This would have put Matt Herring, one of the newest members, as president as he drew the one-year term after the election. Instead, the board chose to name Brandon Rhodes as president, Chris Fore as vice president and LaSonia Standoak as secretary.

In other business, McCoy reminded the board it approved bonuses for all employees during the September meeting, but no amount was set. Thursday night, he said the bonus will be $2,300 pre-tax for every Nevada employee, regardless of classification. The bonus will be on their November check.

He informed the panel the October enrollment was 414 in the district, which is up 40 students from this time last year. McCoy also said the girl’s volleyball team made it to the second round of regionals, which is impressive as the program is only in its second year. He added, the team will basically be returning next year as most are juniors.

One of the new buses the district ordered arrived and the other could be in any day. The SUV it ordered has a projected delivery date of Dec. 28, unless something changes.

Four members of the staff were approved to attend the Blue Ribbon School Conference in Orlando, FLfrom Nov 28 to Dec. 2.

Principal Tonda Pennington said the students are settled into their routines and intervention is again the focus for Nevada Elementary. Students from Nevada High will be going to Southern Arkansas University next Thursday to see what’s offered, and will later visit the Camden campus of SAU.

After a 30-minute executive session, the board approved hiring Ronald Creech as a bus driver and appointed Allison Cox as head coach of the girl’s softball team. It also voted to terminate Lilly Gulley, a bus driver.

The board’s November meeting will be held on Nov. 17 instead of its usual date, which falls on Thanksgiving. The December meeting will also be early, on Dec. 8, as Jason Holsclaw will be on hand to provide a financial training session.