Congressman visits new Gentry school
GENTRY — U.S. Congressman Steve Womack and a few of his aides, along with Mayor Kevin Johnston and Fire Chief Vester Cripps, visited the new intermediate school classroom facility in Gentry on Aug. 22. Womack toured the facility and talked with students, teachers and school staff during the brief visit.
Keeta Neal, principal at Gentry Intermediate School, along with district superintendent Terrie Metz and facilities director Jason Barrett, showed Womack the classrooms, safe room and teacher work areas in the new facility which opened earlier this month and explained the school’s educational and security features.
Womack showed Shelly McGee’s fourth-grade class a photo of his classroom when he was young and asked students which school they would choose to attend, pointing out to students the difference in their classroom and desks from what he had. Students were unanimous in favoring their new classroom. He told the young students to take good care of their new school so it stays nice for other students. Womack also participated briefly in a class dealing with the five senses.
In addition to viewing new educational equipment and methods, Womack questioned school officials about safety features at the new building and security for students, including the use of school resource officers and the schools being a regular part of police patrol.