Ribbon cutting at school

Board hires personnel; buys security

— The newest campus for Pea Ridge schools - Pea Ridge Intermediate - is on the original campus downtown. A ribbon cutting is set for 4 p.m. Wednesday; the public is invited.

Just a week before school opens, superintendent Rick Neal learned that no security system was installed in the new school and that it had not been included in the initial plan of construction. Monday night, School Board members approved purchasing and installing a security system at a cost of $4,480. Neal He recommended using Dunk Fire andSecurity, which provides security for the other buildings in the district.

All four building principals praised staff members who have been at school preparing their rooms for open house this week and opening day next week. Enrollment is expected to be higher than last year, but no grades are exceeding their maximum numbers yet, principals told board members.

Board members also approved a bid from Bentonville Sound Damping LLC for acoustic material and installation at a cost of $4,916.99 for the Safe Room inorder to make it useable for In-School Suspension.

The $34,000 savings from the construction of the Intermediate School will provide the funds for both projects, Neal told board members.

Neal said plans for the football stadium have been given to Steve Elliot, architect, and will be presented to the city for a tech review the end of August. He said final approval should occur by the first of October.

In other business, the School Board:

◊Approved the transfer ofDylan Morrison, 11, and Kyle Morrison, 16, to Bentonville School District. Both have attended Bentonville and their parents constructed a home on Jack Crabtree road after being told it was in the Bentonville School District, only to learn later it was in Pea Ridge.

◊Added stipends for assistant volleyball coach, $1,500 (Courtney Hurst);

seventh-grade volleyball coach, $1,100 (Hurst); Jr.

Quiz Bowl sponsor, $500;

assistant senior high football coach, $500 (Mike Harrod); and Medicaidcoordinator (for Special Education), $1,500.

◊Approved accepting all teaching experience with proper documentation.

After a brief executive session, approved actions governing personnel including:

◊Transferred Sheila Eoff from Middle School food service manager to media specialist aide/instruction aide at the middle school (food service will have one less employee in 2012-2013).

◊Hired Dan Martin as bus driver, with one less driver in 2012-2013.

◊ Hired Belinda Ward and Carol Hughes for custodial staff.

◊Hired Chelle Tillman,Susan Johnson and Cindy Easterling as special education instructional aides.

◊Hired Heather Couch asMedicaid clerk including a stipend of $1,500 and a contract extension from 205 to 225 days.

News, Pages 1 on 08/15/2012