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Hornets lose in Round 3 of the playoffs. (p. 6)
Volume 118 Number 42 - USPS 225-680
Community Events Calendar Thursday November 30 GFWC Meeting Murry’s Restaurant Hazen 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Hazen Hornet Basketball game vs. Des Arc Eagles 4:00 pm Hornets Nest JG, JB, SG, SB Monday December 4 Chamber of Commerce Meeting First United Methodist Church 6:30 pm Monday December 11 OES Meeting BancorpSouth 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm Tuesday December 12 Quorum Court Meeting Annex Building Des Arc 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Thursday December 14 Literacy Night Hazen Elementary School 6:00 pm DeValls Bluff City Council Meeting 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm City Hall Saturday December 16 Hazen Chamber of Commerce Christmas In The Park 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Prairie County, Arkansas
School Board hears Report to the Public The Hazen School District presented its annual Report to the Public at the regular meeting held on Monday, November 13, in the Hazen High School library at 6:00 p.m. Present for the meeting were Superintendent Bill Crowder and members David Strohl, Davy Williams, Freddie Rogers, Richie Ingle, Vickie Skarda, and Sandra Penn. Crowder reported that the present student enrollment for the district was as follows: Pre-K - 36 Elementary (K-8) 400 High School (9-12) 178 The racial makeup of the district is 75% Caucasian, 22% African American and 3% Other. Twelve percent of the students are classified as gifted and talented, 15% are in special education, and 74% of the district’s students are eligle for free and reduced lunches. There are 38 certified and 18 classified staff members in the elementary school. The high school has 18 certified staff members and 9 classified members. The district employs one certified staff member (the superintendent) and 14 additional classified staff. Five teachers in the elementary and three teachers in the high school are working on waivers pending certification in their teaching area. Both buildings are accredited by the State of Arkansas but both have been been
listed as “needs improvement” in the state’s accountability report. The graduation rate at the high school for 2017 was 98% as opposed to the state rate of 87%. The district area is 375 square miles which is divided into 10 bus routes. District revenues for the 2017-18 school year were reported as $5,167,620, which is down $141,877.68 from the previous year. The certified staff salaries will be $2,671,968, down from $56,837. The salary savings in this category includes the loss of an assistant principal in the elementary school. The classified salaries will increase by $24,642 to $441,230. The district expects to spend $426,058 on maintenance and operation this year, for a savings of $20,693. The cost of transportation will increase $5,372 for a total of $297,323. The special education department will also increase its spending by $50,055, making that budget $390,937. The district recently refinanced its bonds which will save the district $206,821. The debt payment will now be $150,665 for the year. The total district expenditures are expected to be $4,791,517. This total includes an additional $73,437 to be set aside for possible lawsuits and other such unforeseen costs.
The district expects to see an increase in outside government funding with the notable exception of a loss of $11,124 in th Title IIA funding and a loss of $2,904 in Title V money. Title I, Title IV, and ALE funding is expected to increase in each category by approximately $10,000. The National School Lunch (NSL) funds are expected to increase by $75,594 for a total of $485,562 for the school year. This money has fewer governmental restrictions on it and has been used over the years for additional staff salaries, professional development costs, and technology purchases. Crowder said that the district is doing several things to further academic improvement including double blocking the English Language Arts classes in the grades K-8 and using the Engage New York math curriculum. The elementary school also has an instructional interventionist in grades K-8 for math (Angie Williams) and a dyslexia interventionist (Kathy Minton) whose salaries are paid with NSL funds. Tutoring before and after school for high school students is also provided through NSL funds. The district plans to have full one-to-one technology in grades 3-12 this year. In the regular board meeting that followed the public report, the Hazen School Board approved
Superintendent Bill Crowder’s recommendations for stipends for the following staff members for the first semester of the 2017-18 school year. They were: ABC Jennifer $1000 direc- Smart Cheer Wendy $400 spon- Perry & sor Julie Young Fede- Bill ral Crowder coordinator Gate keepers
$2500
various $25 staff per members game
NCBT Bowman $1000 Carlyle Hambrick Kerr Shelman Tutor- A. Cagle $25 ing per hour Yearbook
Kremer Perry
$250
Golf C. $500 Coach Williams The board also approved the superintendent’s recommendation to pay Virtual Arkansas (VA) $5,145 for distance learning fall classes for the first semester. The State of Arkansas requires all students to take at least one online class before they graduate high school, and Virtual Arkansas is major provider for this service.
The membership fee for VA is $2500 per year plus enrollment fees of $25 per student for a one semester class, or $50 per student for a two semester class. Most of these classes are secondary level, but students can also take college level classes for concurrent credit. The board voted to transfer $203,754.66 from the operating fund into the building fund. Crowder stated that this money is the savings from the refinanced bonds. The board also agreed to move the school election date to November as required by Act 910 or 2017. Crowder said that this change was recommended by the AR School Board Association and that Des Arc is already using November for its election. Board member Ingle added that it was stated in a workshop that millages were more likely to pass in November. Crowder asked the board to approve a resolution request for Act 1240 that would allow flexibility in the school year starting date. He said that many schools are asking to start school earlier in 2018. Chad Johnson was hired as Head of Maintenance effective October 30, 2107. Johnson is a 1997 graduate of England High School and owns Johnson Sheet Metal. After hearing the principals’ reports, the board adjourned.
AR Capitol lighting ceremony Saturday (LITTLE ROCK, ARK.) – Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin announces the 79th Anniversary of the State Capitol Lighting Ceremony to be held on Saturday evening, December 2nd, starting at 5:30 pm. This year’s event will be hosted by North Little Rock Police Officer Tommy Norman, a police officer with the North Little Rock Police Department since 1998. In that time, Norman has become a national star for his dedication as a police officer and as a leading voice for community policing with a social media following of over one million people. He has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox News, CNN, and in The New York Times. The ceremony will feature the Arkansas State Police Honor Guard, and Allison Walton, an officer with the Little Rock Police Department, will sing the National Anthem. State Capitol Police Officer John Ingram will give the invocation.
The 2017 Capitol Christmas ornament features the Arkansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Representatives from Arkansas Easter Seals will assist with the lighting. Weather permitting, the Capitol Lighting will be followed by fireworks. After the fireworks, the public is invited to come into the Capitol for activities and to see all of the Christmas decorations. The Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir will perform on the second floor of the rotunda. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to see all of the children in his workshop, also in the second floor rotunda. Author Carol Dabney will be reading “Twas the Mouse Before Christmas” in the Old Supreme Court Room. If you cannot join us next Saturday, the Capitol will be open to the public during the holiday season during regular business hours Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, and on weekends and holidays from 10 am to 3 pm.
Community events brought to you by
NOTICE
Hazen Chamber of Commerce
JURY DUTY ORIENTATION
and the
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
The Arkansas State Police escorted the bodies of the Pafford helicopter crash victims down I-40 back to Helena from the state crime lab on Friday morning. The Hazen Fire Department was on hand to watch and assist if necessary. (Photo courtesy of Kim Anderson)
for the Southern District will be held on
Wednesday, November 29th NOT Friday, December 1.
Please call F&M Bank (255-3042) or The Grand Prairie Herald (255-4538) to list events.
Training will begin at 9 a.m. in the DeValls Bluff Courthouse. Gaylon Hale, Prairie County Clerk
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