A creative presentation to introduce the annual Report to the Public was presented to School Board members by students in Mrs. Cathryn Segur's Sales and Logistics class from Pea Ridge Manufacturing and Business Academy. The students began the introduction with a video showing Pea Ridge -- community and school -- referring to their peers and family.
"We've worked on this, it's totally student driven," Segur said.
Board members questioned the students asking them if they are more comfortable in public speaking and what they like about PRMBA.
All five students said "Oh, yeah" about being more comfortable.
"We were recently selling ads for the score board," Rani Henson said. "You jump in there. Your heart is pounding ... the outside world is a lot easier than you expect it to be."
Board member Braxton Hurst said: "Just being able to communicate puts you head and shoulders above your peers."
In other business during the regular November School Board meeting, School Board members received an hour of financial training from Dan Lovelady of Beardsley Public Finance; heard about new assessment testing for students from Jon Laffoon and Chip Greenwell, principal and assistant principal, respectively, of Pea Ridge High School; and heard a report on the food service finances from Keith Martin, assistant superintendent.
"The one big change between EOC and PARC is that before, students memorized. Now, it's about performance," Greenwell said. "It will no longer be rote memorization ... We were able to train all of our teachers. We will use project-based learning. It's been a great change for our students. We have sen a higher level of engagement. We're changing 30 years of practice in our jobs."
"Project based learning and problem based learning agency is a way to engage our students in a real world problems," Greenwell said.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a plan to allow the VFW to build a veterans memorial on the downtown property;
• Hired Linda Nelsen, food service worker;
• Hired Bill Buttry, bus driver/substitute teacher; and
• Hired Rica Shackelford, elementary media/computer lab clerk.
• Set the next School Board meeting for Dec. 15 so board members can attend a continuing education meeting Dec. 8 at the Educational Coop.
General News on 12/03/2014