Trustees approve removing AHS oaks

TEXARKANA, Ark. — The Texarkana Arkansas School District Board of Trustees heard updates regarding the completion date of Arkansas Middle School and approved purchases for a school bus and weight room equipment.

Superintendent Dr. Becky Kesler said the completion date for the new Arkansas Middle School is Jan. 25, and that students should be moving in as of February. The board is planning to tour the school before it opens, and a ribbon cutting is planned for March.

“It has really come along, it looks wonderful,” Kesler said. “That has been a highlight of this year for us, working on that middle school.”

Kesler said the district saved quite a bit of money on the project, but did not have any specifics.

The board approved purchase bids on a new school bus from Summit Bus Co. for $93,865, as well as more than $220,000 for new weight room equipment and floors for the high school and new middle school.

The equipment will be purchased from Advanced Exercise, and the floors will come from RFS Sports.

The bus will be paid for through student enrollment funds, and the weight room equipment/floors will be funded through the Building Fund account.

Also approved, was a bid to remove two long-standing oak trees near the high school because they are beginning to rot and are nearing the end of their life cycle.

The district magnet grant funds will pay $9,975 to Joe Narens to remove the trees.

Arkansas High School Principal Michael Odom said removing the trees will allow for the implementation of sod underneath and the planting of additional trees, including maple trees, cypress trees and dogwood trees in the future.

The board then approved measures to increase contracts and salaries for multiple employees in accordance with the minimum wage increase from $10 to $11 that becomes effective Jan. 1.

Board member Jesse Buchanan was recognized and given an award for being on the board for 20 years now.

Kesler said Buchanan has served with five different superintendents, and has held the positions of president, vice president and secretary multiple times throughout his tenure.

“Jesse has attended 240 regular board meetings, and we figured he’s attended about 2,000 board meetings, altogether,” Kesler said. “He has 200 trainee hours, and he has been named by ASPA as an outstanding board member, an honor board member and a master board member. If I could say anything about Jesse, it’d be that he always puts the students first. He’s an excellent board member, and I hope he serves 20 more years.”