New school coming to Emmet

By John Miller, 04/23/24 1:58 PM

EMMET – Changes are coming to Emmet.

Hannah Hines, chief executive officer of Hines Trucking, Inc., talked about her plans for the Emmet community, starting with establishing a new school there. This was done at a picnic held at the pavilion at Firemen’s Park Tuesday. Hines said her passion is education and there’s no college prep here. She’s been working with Emmet Mayor Dale Booker on rebuilding the old Emmet school and hopes to be ready for class by August.

Along with running Hines Trucking, and recently buying the 67 Gas and Grill, Hines is also working on her doctorate of education leadership through Texas A&M in Texarkana. She wants to show area children how things work in real time. There will be several components to the school, which will be for students in grades 7-12. These could include an ag school, a debate team, mock trial program, fishing team, rodeo team along with other electives.

The school will also be to help students with ADHD and autism, along with others. Hines said the school will work to develop internships with business and industries in the area and do things existing schools in the area can’t do. One such thing is the drivers school she’s starting through the trucking company to help overcome the national shortage of truckers. The school, once it’s up and going, she said, will prepare students for college. Those not wanting to go to college will still be ahead of the game because of the experience gained through the electives they’ve taken.

Hines is looking into what it will cost to run the school and how to keep those costs down. She said in talking with Prescott Superintendent Robert Poole, she learned it costs around $8,000 per student per year. She’s looking into ways to keep the costs down so parents can afford to send their children to the school. One way could be through partnerships with businesses and getting them to fund scholarships.

Linda Hamilton, former owner at 67 Gas and Grill, said there are five baseball teams in Nevada County with nowhere to practice because of the condition of the fields in Prescott. However, by contacting others, an agreement was reached so they can practice at the field in Emmet. Hamilton said this brings revenue to the community as people stop by the store going and coming. Plans are to put a batting cage in the gym once it’s been renovated, along with offering Tae kwon do classes.

Hines, who has ADHD, said her mother, Vicky, pulled her out of the Prescott schools and sent her to Texarkana to get an education because Prescott didn’t have the facilities for dealing with ADHD children.

Other needs were also discussed. DeAnna Allen talked about the need for affordable housing. She said when this school gets going, people will be wanting to send their children to Emmet and housing will be a must. She said there are several vacant lots where houses could be built.

Hamilton pointed out Hines has already secured the lot next to the convenience store for truck parking and is working to resurface the tennis courts for a landing zone for medical helicopters, adding the courts will also be used for pickle ball. The need for lighting was brought up. Booker said Emmet has portable lighting. Hines said she’s got a crew bringing lighting and can get solar lighting that doesn’t need replacing.

On the topic of the school, Hines said vouchers will be used and the school will be accredited.