School officials and School Board members reviewed plans for a new high school during the December board meeting.
Superintendent Rick Neal said the plans were created after viewing numerous high schools.
"These are tentative drawings," Neal said, adding that Landon Nobles, a "Pea Ridge guy," will help with the project. He said one wing of the school, which will provide classrooms for 10th, 11th and 12th grades, will be college and career focused. The 140,000-square foot high school included an 1,800-square foot gym which will seat 3,000 people and will be able to accommodate graduation.
Neal said school officials are working with both the University of Arkansas and Walmart on aspects of the new school.
"The hallways are big and wide; classrooms are expandable. It's open -- a true college setting," Neal said.
"We've had quite the year at the high school," principal Charley Clark said, adding that Monday was the first day all year to not have football practice. "That's quite the stat."
He said he received a comment from a parent telling him how much the good character and service of the football players has affected her child, a student at the primary school. Clark said the students have incorporated younger athletes with practice on the field, by allowing them to enter the field prior to games and with greeting students before school.
"It speaks so highly of coach (Stephen) Neal and all he's doing with the program," Clark said.
Communications director Mark Laster said the community responded very well to supporting the football team and that a local businessman offered to donate the $5,000 to cover the cost of airing the football game on the livestream feed.
The football season was extended several weeks beyond the regular season as the Blackhawks won playoff game after playoff game until competing in the final championship game Friday night in Little Rock. The Arkansas Athletics Association governs the playoffs and charges the schools to broadcast the games.
"We've had a good response... the community is so involved in the athletic program and the good things coaches are doing, and the community drive that's incorporated into the players," Laster said. "They competed very well. We're very proud of them."
The food service account has a balance of more than $123,000, according to assistant superintendent Keith Martin, who said there should be an improvement after the winter break as there has been a change in a food vendor. Martin also said much school building maintenance will be accomplished during the winter break when students are not in classrooms.
Neal said two men have shown an interest in helping with the Boys & Girls Club and he hopes to build the program.
In other business, the board:
• Met briefly in closed session, but took no public action following the meeting;
• Approved the student transfer of Pearson Wright into the district;
• Approved PE requirement waiver due to disability for a senior;
• Approved two out-of-state school trips; and
• Accepted the resignation of teacher Amber Spillman with regret.
Board member Jeff Neil concluded the meeting saying: "I know this first semester has had some extremely positive and extremely negative things. I would just like to say I'm extremely impressed with the administration and staff that we have here. If we've got to face the negative, I'd rather do that with this group."
General News on 12/14/2016