Gentry School District gives annual report to the public

GENTRY — The annual report to the public was presented at a special Oct. 17 meeting of the Gentry School Board at the Pioneer Activities Complex at Gentry High School, with Randy Barrett, superintendent of Gentry Public Schools; Judy Winslett, assistant superintendent; and Terrie Metz, federal curriculum and district test coordinator, presenting information on the school district’s finances, test scores and successes to the public.

Barrett reported the district to be in sound financial condition, with an ending balance at the end of the last fiscal year of approximately $1.7 million in the operating fund. He reported a budget of more than $15.45 million for the current school year, with teacher and staff salaries and benefits amounting to nearly $11 million. Due in part to enrollment numbers, this year’s expenditures are expected to exceed incoming revenue, something Barrett said would not be a problem unless it is repeated in upcoming years. The ending legal balance for the current fiscal year was estimated to again be in the $1.5 to $1.7 million range.

Barrett reported that the average annual teacher salary in the Gentry School District was $47,789, with the base starting salary at $35,000. He said per pupil expenditures in the district for the 2015 school year were just over $10,000, according to the Arkansas Department of Education Statistical Report. He said this year’s tax formula provides $6,646 per student in guaranteed funding based on estimated local tax dollars.

Current student enrollment, based on Oct. 1, 2016, numbers is 1,407, down 39 students from last year. The recent district high was 1,455 students in 2005, 2006 and 2008. The recent low was 1,384 in 2011.

Gentry School District’s millage rate is now (following the Sept. 20 millage increase) at 46 mills, which is on the high end statewide, he said. The increase was requested so that the district could build a new classroom facility at the intermediate school campus, a diesel mechanic lab and conversion charter classroom facility at the high school, as well as making some utility upgrades and improvements at the high school.

Test scores for the 20152016 school year showed Gentry School District at or above the state average in almost every category. In most cases, the district was several percentage points above the state average. Students at the middle- and high-school levels did well, according to the information presented.

Also reported was a long list of student accomplishments, including athletics, band, choir, Odyssey of the Mind, forensics and FBLA competitions.

Other successes in the district include the recent millage increase to build a new classroom facility at the intermediate school campus and a diesel technology lab and vocational classroom building at the high school. The addition of an Environmental and Spatial Technology or EAST Initiative lab for students in the intermediate and primary schools was reported, as well as the new Boys & Girls Club afterschool program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

The presentation concluded with a report on U.S. Representative Steve Womack’s visit earlier in the day on Oct. 17. In addition to his “Coffee with the Congressman” event at the Gentry Public Library, Womack also visited the diesel technology program, the new aquaponics greenhouse and the EAST Initiative classroom at the high school and interacted with Gentry students.

The full report is available on the Gentry Public School website, www.gentrypioneers.com, on the Administration page.