DECATUR -- In the June 16 school board meeting, Larry Ben, who has been Decatur superintendent since 2010, delivered his final report to the Decatur School Board. In his report, Ben delivered a bit of good news regarding the enrollment figures for the 2013-14 school year.
"We had 556 students in the Decatur school system this school year, which is up by 46 over last year and up by 96 over four years ago," Ben reported. "The Decatur school district enrollment continues its upward trend and, with the influxes of new jobs in the area, the district will continue to expand these numbers."
With this growth comes the need to expand some services. Ben recognized that the district will have to look at restructuring its transportation system in anticipation of more growth in the student population for the coming school year.
"We were pretty full toward the end of the year as far as our existing bus routes are concerned," Ben stated. "We will have to look at adding additional routes next year, which means we will need to hire an additional driver and possibly purchase another route bus."
Ben suggested starting school at different times might enable some buses to work double routes. He suggested the district look into starting Northside Elementary earlier and the middle school and high school later, allowing the bus system to run double routes. The double-route system would allow buses to pick up and deliver students to one school and then turn around and pick up and deliver students from the other two schools.
"I'm not saying this is the answer, by no means, but this is something you may need to look at in the future," Ben concluded.
Ben reported that the summer program has 90 students enrolled. They recently took a field trip from Springdale to Winslow aboard the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad excursion train on June 5. This was the first of four field trips scheduled for the summer program.
"The kids studied railroad history for a week prior to the train trip," Ben said. "I understand that the kids are still talking about their train ride experience."
Ben concluded his report with a presentation by Jim Mayer, from J.K.J. Architects, on the revisions to the safe room plans. Mayer drew up the plans based on the recommendation of the school board during the May meeting. The drawing included the extension of the walls to 24 feet and the acoustical wall and ceiling material that was chosen by the board.
School board members reviewed the drawing before voting to accept the plans. The next step is a review by a building inspector and applying for a permit.
In other board business, the Decatur School Board approved the hiring of Doug Holly as transportation/maintenance director and passed a resolution to contract with family of a board member.
• Approved the authorized signature change on the Decatur school district bank accounts from Larry Ben to Jeff Gravette.
• Approved the purchase of additional furnishings required to outfit Decatur Middle School next year.
General News on 06/25/2014