Tag Archives: Jerry Martens

POCAHONTAS SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CLOSE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS

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By Christine Miyawa
Delta Digital News Service

POCAHONTAS – The Pocahontas School District to close March 17, amid fears of the Covid-19 catching the students, faculty and staff.

“The division of Elementary and Secondary Education instructed the Pocahontas School District to close beginning Tuesday, March 17 to Friday, March 27,” the Superintendent, Jerry Martens, said on the school district website.

The closure includes all academic and extracurricular activities.

So far, no report of anyone testing positive for coronavirus reported in Pocahontas.

The school gave the students Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) packages to guide in their studies at home.

Martens said the school would resume classes Monday, March 30.

“No student is allowed on campus for any reason as per the request of the commissioner of education and the governor of Arkansas,” Martens said.

He said students would be able to contact their teachers through email for questions concerning AMI assignments.

Editor’s Note: Photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash

POCAHONTAS SCHOOL BOARD TO OPEN NEW CHECKING ACCOUNT AFTER DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY

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By Christine Miyawa
Delta Digital News Service

POCAHONTAS – The school board of the Pocahontas School District voted March 16, to open a new checking account for the new elementary school amid reports of fraudulent activity on the current checking account.

“There has not been any money lost by the district at this time, Jerry Martens, the superintendent said.

The board is yet to file a police report as per the audit request. Martens said the bank suggested the board close the current account and open a new one. The bank also required minutes of the school board meeting approving the changes to open a new account.

During the executive session, the six- member-board agreed to increase the grade 7 cheerleader stipend to $1538, paid in the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

The board hired Amy Story as grade 7 cheer sponsor, Junior assistant cheer sponsor and senior citizen cheer sponsor for a stipend of $1400 for the school year 2020-2021.

The board also voted to hire a new cafeteria worker for the Junior high.

On a separate note, Martens said a couple of boys requested to transfer from Pocahontas School District to Sloan Hendricks School District.

He told the board, the Sloan Hendricks superintendent declined the request saying, the school would not be able to accommodate the boys because grade 9 is full and he would have to hire a new teacher should he take the boys.

Editors Note: Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash