Blytheville Middle School may soon have a decorative fence on one side to help deter students from running across the street before and after school.
Superintendent Richard Atwill told members of the Blytheville School Board Monday night that he had always thought that nice fencing would cost more than $40,000. But he recently learned that high-quality, heavy aluminum fencing could be purchased for less than $5,000.
"That cost doesn't include installation," he added.
Board members were shown photographs of the fencing, which is decorative as well as functional.
"I'm not putting a chain link fence out there," Atwill said.
Board members discussed using brick or stones to create columns for the fencing panels. Board president Tommy Bennett urged Atwill to continue gathering information and return to the board for further action.
Atwill also reported that the district had saved more than $83,000 on food purchases this school year by joining a purchasing group of other schools. The district also purchased individual freezers for each cafeteria to take food from a large freezer at the service center. Having the large freezer allows the district to take advantage of commodity food programs, which provide large shipments of food at little or no cost to the district.
The board also heard a report from Diane Hay, the district's gifted and talented program director. Hay told the board that a representative from the State Department of Education monitored the district's program on April 8 and ruled that the program was in compliance with state guidelines. Only a few minor problems were found, mostly referring to documentation of programming. These problems have been fixed and the program is scheduled to expand into the fifth grade next year. The state monitors the program every three years, Hay said.
Blytheville Intermediate School will have a new principal starting June 1, after the board voted to hire David White, who currently works in the Hoxie School District. White replaces Dee Keiter, who will become an assistant principal at Blytheville Primary School.
Other employees appointed during the session were Donna Bowers, counselor at Central Elementary; Thea Austin, art at Blytheville Middle School; Jennilee Baker, third-grade teacher; LaDonna Foster and Ashton Kincaid, literacy at BMS; Danny Helms, sixth grade; Phillip King, fifth and sixth grades; Regina Merriweather, third grade; Pamala Stark, first grade; Susan Tonner, counselor at BMS; Patricia Green, aide at BPS; Alison Nichols, literacy lab at BMS; Richard Nash, paraprofessional at Blytheville Charter School; and Tamara Jones, secretary at the maintenance/service center.
The board also accepted the retirement and resignation of several employees. Those retiring are Linda Bullock, special education at CES; Patsy Flock, sixth grade; Pam Pruett, family/consumer sciences at Blytheville High School and Pat Avery, cafeteria.
Those resigning include Marie Holifield, third grade; Tracy Myers, speech pathologist; Richard Nash, charter teacher; Marlee Schweppe, business teacher; Linda Snider, English teacher; Jackie Tunstall, science teacher; Whitney Mosley, fourth-grade teacher; and Teresa Powers, paraprofessional.
The board also approved changes to the district's policies and student handbooks for next school year.
dhilton@blythevillecourier.com