Manila School Board welcomes robotics team

Manila School Board members got a firsthand showing of the Manila Middle School robotics team project that qualified for international competition, accepted several resignations, hired new personnel, discussed salary and farm contracts at the March meeting held Tuesday.

The Robotics team, led by Heath Hawkins, MMS Robotics coach, thanked the school board for allowing them the opportunity to compete.

The international competition will be held in Fayetteville on May 16. The team won second place in the Grand Championship at state competition to qualify to move forward. Many MMS teams have won state honors in the seven years since robotics was implemented in the school but this is the first to go beyond the state competition.

The team, made up of all young men, also traveled Wednesday to several places - Hytro, EPC and Riverside - before traveling to Little Rock next week where they will page for Rep. Johnny Rye, and show their project to Governor Asa Hutchinson.

Hawkins explained the robotics competition is much more than just building a robot to compete through a list of challenges.

“That is only one portion,” he said. “The team has to pick a project with a real world problem, research and come up with a solution. This year's theme is Into Orbit.”

Hawkins said team members use skills including math, language and technology and computer coding and programming.

He said middle school has six teams made up of about 40 students involved in the robotics program.

Each team member introduced himself, told why he enjoyed being part of the robotics program and then the team demonstrated their product for removing deadly Mars dust from astronauts' suits.

School board members then asked them several questions about their project which they answered without hesitation.

Board member Monte Middleton commended the team for representing Manila School District well.

Superintendent Jason Evers presented the excellent 2018 audit report with zero findings.

The board approved the audit and President Jeremy Jackson said the board appreciates the attention to details that gave the district a perfect audit.

“Great job,” Jackson said.

Following an executive session, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignations of Teri Cossey, fourth grade teacher; Carey Cossey, girls assistant coach physical education; and Steven Milligan, assistant high school principal and athletic director.

Superintendent Evers recommended the hiring of Jordan Weaver, boys assistant basketball coach; assigning Jake Hill to head football coach; and hiring Malorie Adcock as elementary counselor. All three were approved unanimously.

All certified staff were rehired for the 2019-2010 school year.

The board then approved, on Superintendent Evers' recommendation, to add $500 to the base salary for certified personnel.

The board voted to enter into a farm contract with Donner's Farm to raise peanuts on school ground after an agreement with Scott Adams to forego the current contract.

Evers then announced the middle school had been approved for an EAST grant and will receive a $250,000 technology grant.

“We just have to provide the space and instructor,” Evers said. “Manila will have the EAST program starting in the fifth grade through high school.”

Evers said the district had 97 employees receive the attendance bonus for the third nine weeks compared to 104 at the second nine weeks.

“We are holding strong,” Evers said. “Also as of now, there are zero findings in accreditation in all three of our buildings.”

The Manila School Board meets regularly at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month.