DECATUR -- The cafeteria was packed at Northside Elementary in Decatur Aug. 7 as teachers, coaches and staff gathered for the Decatur School District's annual breakfast and in-service meeting.
Everybody from Decatur Middle and High Schools, Northside Elementary and the Pre-K school gathered to meet the new teachers and hear Steve Watkins, district superintendent, give his report on the new school year and what to expect in the coming months.
"We will be focusing our efforts on reading," said Watkins. This is one area we will be focusing on for improvement in the come year."
Watkins presented a report from the Arkansas Education Department on reading test scores from the 2018-19 school year.
The district experienced one of the lowest teacher turnover rates in the last three years. Decatur hired only five new teachers, mainly at the high school, while shifting some duties around to existing teachers and staff.
New to the district this year is Jessica Thomas, who will teach high school English. Megan Boyd will teach fourth grade English and social studies. J.C. Dorsey will teach high school science and Andrea Kehr will also teach high school science and English. Kristina Pyle, who was hired prior to the breakfast, will take on the ALE facilitator duties.
Watkins also unveiled an ambitious construction project the Decatur School Board has had in the works for the past year. The plan is to give Decatur High School a major renovation to the existing structure which was constructed in 1971. The new plan, will cost an estimated $5 million and includes and a new cafeteria, office/teacher workroom, band room, art room and several additional classrooms. Construction on the new project is expected to begin sometime in 2020.
"The future for the Decatur School District is bright," Watkins stated as he concluded his early morning presentation.
General News on 08/14/2019