GARFIELD — Two moms, both local realtors, have been making a difference at Garfield Elementary School.

One has taken the post as president of the PTO while another has helped with a fund raiser to benefit the library programs. The pair recently presented school principal Anitia Turner with a “Smart Board” to be placed in the school library for use by the students.

Tami Vitali, a realtor who lives near the Gateway area is serving her first term as PTO president. She has two children in the school and has been very energetic in promoting the benefits of having the neighborhood school.

Pattie Gardner, also a realtor, lives in the Lost Bridge area and serves as social committee chairman at the Lost Bridge Village POA.

During a recent potluck soup supper, Gardner suggested that the group raise money for the Garfield school, where the local children attend. To her suprise the pot was quickly filled with nearly $2,000 in donations.

After consulting with principal Turner at the school, Gardner and Vitali got together to aquire the Smart Board for the school library.

Turner said: “Not only can the children use the Smart Board for their classes in the library, but the rest of the children in music, art and gifted and talented programs, will benefit from this new piece of technology.”

The Garfield School has served the community since 1885 and is the oldest continuously operated public school in Arkansas. The initial structure, the Ross Building was built in 1888 and the “new” school building was constructed in 1941.

School, Pages 9 on 03/16/2011