Growth continues to impact Pea Ridge Schools. School Board members approved the creation of four new positions as the April School Board meeting.
"Our numbers for first graders going into second grade... " Tracy Hagar, principal of the Primary School, said, "show we will need a second grade teacher. I'd like to move Melissa Woods from special education to be one of our teachers. She will really help us with phonics."
Keith Martin, assistant superintendent, told the board the School District has had the same number of maintenance staff for the past 13 years.
"We have added one-quarter of a million square feet and 1,000 students," he said, adding that the main job for the new position would be exterior building and grounds maintenance.
Keln Taylor, IT director, requested an additional employee. "We've grown," he said. There are 2,500 devices on the school network, he said. "We're constantly looking to improve."
Police Chief Ryan Walker told the board there are currently two School Resource officers and four campuses.
"We're hoping to add another SRO. The primary focus would be at the Intermediate School since it's away from the others. Officer (Mike) Lira has 16 years in law enforcement and has a desire and a real drive to work with our kids. I think he'd be a great fit ... we could better serve our kids."
School superintendent Rick Neal told board members that he, Walker and Mayor Jackie Crabtree have had many conversations about the SRO program and they hope to add a fourth officer after the first of the year.
After an executive session, board members approved contracts of certified and classified personnel.
General News on 04/25/2018