Riverside board members accept resignations

Riverside School Board members accepted several resignations, filled positions, and made several transfers at the regular meeting held May 4.

Superintendent Tommy Knight reluctantly recommended the board accept the resignations of Karen Eakins, distance learning faciltator; Kristin Emery, secretary in the superintendent's office; Nicole Lindsey, algebra 1 and geometry teacher; and Tammy Davis, cheerleading coach.

The board voted unanimously to accept the resignations. Board members present were Lenn B. Nall, Mike Brickell, Greg Douglas-president, and Ricky Austin.

On Knight's recommendation, the board approved transferring Susan Presley to Ms. Eakins position and transferring Angela Donohoo from the computer lab to fill Emery's position.

The board also voted to hire David Cunningham for the math position. Cunningham has been teaching in West Memphis and lives in Paragould.

They also agreed to allow Amanda Eakins, elementary teacher, to fill the position as cheerleading coach.

Mark Cahoon with Cahoon Steiling Studio gave an update on the elementary building progress commenting the work is moving forward and the crew is doing a good job.

"It looks good to me and it has the Riverside brand with the high school," Cahoon said.

Knight updated the board on the bus shop bids. The bids came in at $188,048.25 for a 58x60' building. Tate Construction was awarded the bid. Knight said the bus shed should be completed by the time school starts in the fall.

High School Principal Jeff Priest recognized the accomplishments of students in March and April.

*Riverside Junior High Quiz Bowl team won third place in the state tournament on March 3. Zara Singleton made the All Tournament team.

*The Rebel bowling team finished as state runner-up and the girls team finished fourth. Also, Blake Hall finished in second place and Delaney George finished in seventh place. Both were named to the All-State team.

*Science Fair winners who placed at state held at UCA are Rocklan McCall, third place in chemistry with a $100 prize; Morgan Booth, honorable mention in animal science; Gabe Poe honorable mention in computer science.

*Riverside had 22 students place in the Regional Science Fair at ASU with six receiving special awards. They include Kaitlyn Reed, Hannah James, Teressa Boatman, Asia Equia, Dezarea Jones, Grace Puckett, Peyton Archer, T.J. Emison, Kim Wilson, Chloe Reese, Cassidy Hellenthal, Jennifer Hellenthal, Morgan Booth, Lauren Smith, Rocklan McCall, Brendan Despain, Starr Rangel, Gavin Rook, Natalie Milligan, Jake Raby, Gabe Poe, Donovan Moore. Special awards went to Jake Raby, Peyton Archer, Morgan Booth, Lauren Smith and Natalie Milligan.

*The band participated in the region Solo/Ensemble Festival at Highland on Saturday. Those receiving a rating of II excellent were Brittney Ditto, Austin Myrick and Chris Berry. Those receiving a rating of I superior were Brittney Ditto, Gracie Wilson, Sam Schreyer, Wyatt Wheaton and Abbeegayl Anderson. Qualifying for the State Solo/Assembly festival were Brittney Ditto and Gracie Wilson.

*Brittney Ditto and Gracie Wilson received medals on their clarinet solos at the State Solo/Ensemble Festival. Brittney earned a II excellent rating and Gracie earned a I superior rating.

*The 10th grade raised $2,376.47 for St. Jude. Riverside High School overall raised a total of $4,500.

*The baseball team finished as Conference and District Champions. Both baseball and softball teams qualified for the regional tournament.

*Six Riverside athletes qualified for the state 2A track meet in Gurdon.

*Matthew Turner received perfect attendance in grades K-12.

Graduation will be 8 p.m. Friday at the high school gymnasium.

"Hopefully, the teams will be back from the regional games on time for the start of graduation," Mr. Knight said. "This is the first time we have had a sporting event on the same day as graduation."

The board went into a short executive session before closing. No action was taken.