By Christine Miyawa
Delta Digital News Service

POCAHONTAS – The Pocahontas School District will acquire a new school bus. Board members voted unanimously Feb.24 to approve the purchase of a 2021 Blue Bird 89 passenger All American School bus for $112,740.

“This is exactly the same as the bus we ordered last year, this one we would have netted the option of a swing-out radiator. Anytime you do something to the front, you have to pull out the whole radiator. This new one will swing out on the hinge it will be a lot easier for them to get into,” Supt. Jerry Martens said.

The art students will have an art sale and the proceeds will go towards visual art scholarship award of $200 to one or two of the best senior art students during the annual senior award. The board approved the proposal the visual art teacher presented. Two art teachers and administrators will choose the winners from the applicants.

Charles Parten, a parent at the school, complained over a misplaced school band drum he was reimbursing the school for. He said his son returned the drum back and placed the instrument into the band room. Judy McClain, a board member, said the students must hand over the drums to the band director when leaving. Any drums not handed to the director of the band and left in the band room will be charged to the parent’s account if lost. The board, however, agreed to discuss the matter further and get back to Parten with regards to the payment.

In other business, three staff members resigned, four students in grades 2, 5 and 9 transferred to Sloan Hendrix School District and an 11th grade student relocated to Hoxie School District.

The school hired a new assistant cheer coach and technology-support, specialist.

The board agreed to increase the seventh grade cheerleading stipend to $1,538 for a staff member for the remaining part of the year.

Martens said the next school year would begin August 13, 2021, and the last day of school will be May 26, 2021. This year, the school will break for summer May 23.

Editors Note: Photo by James Day on Unsplash