Tag Archives: Pocahontas School District

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

POCAHONTAS SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PURCHASE NEW SCHOOL BUS

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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

    NO MORE CONCUSSIONS FOR THE POCAHONTAS REDSKINS

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POCAHONTAS – The Pocahontas School District football team will have new helmets as Coach Charles Baty requested the board to purchase new, improved concussion resistant helmets from Xenith, a new helmets manufacturing company, on Feb. 24.

Baty said they could buy the Xenith helmets which, go for $440 each through a Stack program where the school will pay $125 per helmet. He said the Xenith helmets are made with the latest technology which include an adjustable pad and band, and can be custom adjusted to fit large and small size heads.

“My main concern is to keep our children safe, and the new helmets are of superior quality, number one rated according to a Virginia Tech study. We received a case of reported concussion and we don’t want that to happen to our children. My goal is to put them in the best helmet; we all look alike; we all feel valued,” Baty said.

Baty said the helmets they used before, although of durable quality, did not have the adjustable pads and bands to keep the helmet tightly fixed on the players’ heads. The team currently has only 12 concussion resistant helmets. The new helmets, if purchased, will cost $40 each to recondition every year for five years.

Baty said both junior and senior high school teams needed a total of 115 helmets. Currently, the school spends $41,000 a year to recondition the current helmets.

“From the financial step, I think this is a good deal, coach your looking after the kids impresses me,” Gary Cole, the vice president of the board, said.

Cole said putting the children’s welfare first was more important. He said the helmet was also affordable and within the football budget.

“What I like about this Xenith helmet is you can tighten the bands and custom it to fit your child’s head such that when it’s knocked, it doesn’t fall off,” Secretary Karen Baltz reiterated.

In the girls’ basketball games, senior girls will play Pulaski Robinson in the first round of regionals at Valley View Thursday, Feb. 27, beginning at 4.p.m.