Nonresident students choosing Pea Ridge

Arkansas School Choice has allowed many non-residents students to enroll in the Pea Ridge schools with nearly 70 students enrolled this year through School Choice. School Board members approved the School Choice Capacity Resolution stating that provisional acceptance letters will be sent to applicants until "preliminary numbers are sorted out," according to Keith Martin, assistant superintendent. The law states that no school must lose more than three percent of its students through School Choice.

As of this week, Martin said there were about 30 applicants to enroll in Pea Ridge schools. He said the deadline had been moved up to May 1 by the state. He said there was only one student requesting to leave Pea Ridge schools through School Choice.

During the regular meeting Monday night, School Board members approved spending $278,000 for the current construction projects including the public address system and windows for the gym, furniture for the cafeteria and fine arts auditorium, pre-kindergarten remodel, roof repair at the high school and remodel to the Middle School lobby for security.

In other business, School Board members:

• Created a Middle School counseling position with an emphasis on mental health;

• Approved all certified and classified contracts presented;

• Hired Jessica Steiniger, fifth grade teacher; Jennifer Spivey, primary registrar; Shelbi Moncrief, fifth grade teacher; and Beth Ash, second grade teacher;

• Transferred Courtney Woodward from fifth grade to first grade; Ashley Clark from first grade to kindergarten; Mindy Bowlin from kindergarten to half master teacher/half ESL; Rica Shackleford from kindergarten aide to kindergarten teacher; Kelly Peters from fifth grade to third grade; Melissa Meyers from high school cheer to junior high track; and Noelle Webb to high school cheer;

• Accepted resignations from Nancy Hill, kindergarten; Tracy Bartlett, special ed; Monty Hill, band director; and Valerie Hill, choir director;

• Approved out-of-state trips for College Bound, ALE and Gifted and Talented.