WHSD appoints Brian Huitt to board
Brian Huitt has been appointed to the White Hall School District board to fulfill the remainder of James Welden’s term in Zone 5.
Welden’s term was to expire in 2028, according to the board member’s profile on the district website. He was first elected in 2017. It was not revealed why Welden stepped down, but the district posted an opening for the position on Nov. 27.
“I’ve got two kids that are going to school. One just started middle school, and the other is in elementary school,” said Huitt, a senior splicing manager with MasTec Communications of Little Rock. “Me and my wife, we’ve always been engaged parents. My in-laws are former school teachers. The White Hall School District has always been a really engaged school district, and as an engaged parent, I have an opportunity to serve these parents and students.”
The White Hall board voted unanimously for Huitt during Tuesday’s regular meeting.
“We had a couple of letters and we really talked to everybody in the community, got a feel of the people,” board President Dr. Raymond Jones said. “We wanted somebody who was interested in the school district and would be a solid board member. We got nothing but good reviews on our recommendation. That’s the kind of person we want on the board, someone who’ll do his homework and be a good example for us.”
Huitt said his ideologies are similar to Welden’s, and he’d like to help the WHSD continue on the same trend and bring common-sense ideas to the district.
“I feel like the school district is doing a great job,” he said. “The superintendent has been great, and the board members have been great. Keep the same flow, if you will.”
WILLIAMS EARNS DEFERRED BONUS, EXTRA YEAR
Board members unanimously awarded Superintendent Gary Williams a one-year contract extension through 2025-26 and 10% retention bonus that is being deferred to his fourth year. Williams took over the helm at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
The district is also adding $5,000 to that retention bonus, according to Jones.
“People acknowledge [Williams] as one of the better superintendents in the state,” he said. “We want to make sure we keep him. He saved us a lot of money. He’s pretty much paid for his contract. He saved us a tremendous amount of money. He’s a diligent worker. He’s not going to get us in any legal, financial or personal or public relations problem. That’s a money savings.”
Williams said he is excited for the future in White Hall and being in the town. He came after a seven-year stint as superintendent in the Crossett district.
“My wife and I have been here for about two years, and it’s been
a good move for us,” Williams said. “We are looking forward to being here for a long time. I’m thankful for this board and to work with the staff and the community and to work with our kids. It’s all a good feeling to know your work is appreciated and you’ve got the support of your board and you’ve got a good place to work. Just blessed.”
DISTRICT ATTENDANCE IMPROVES
The average attendance rate in the WHSD is 2 percentage points higher than this time last year, according to district staff.
The district-wide rate improved to 94%. Gandy Elementary surpassed that with 96%.
“That’s one of our focuses this year, is to improve attendance because it wasn’t so great last year,” Gandy Principal LaKendra Lovelady said. “This year, we’ve been looking at student attendance, grade-level as well as teacher attendance.”
A good attendance rate, Lovelady said, is at least 95%, but she challenged her school to reach 97%.
“That means you can only miss one day,” she said. “I challenged them for that, and I would give them a pizza party. Unfortunately, nobody made that, but I would say 95% is good.”
Lovelady said she highlights attendance in a monthly newsletter she distributes to parents and guardians. The newsletter also honors those with perfect attendance.
“If they get perfect attendance, they get a Blow Pop, and they work really hard to get that Blow Pop,” Lovelady said. “And they get that recognition on the Intercom, calling their name out. They really like that.”
The grade level with the highest percentage rate also receives an extra recess, Lovelady added.
HONORS
Eight White Hall Middle School students placed at the Region IV FCCLA STAR events Nov. 16 in Hamburg. FCCLA stands for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, and STAR means Students Taking Action with Recognition.
Gold winners were Emma Glover in Chapter Service Project and Allie Rushing in Career Investigation. Silver winners were Nafia Saira in Focus on Children, Virginia Smart in Repurpose and Redesign, Ellie Watkins and Ashlyn Hodges in Hospitality and Tourism, and Emma Watson and Abree Enloe in Event Management.
These students have advanced to the state STAR Events and Leadership Conference in April in Hot Springs. Lynzie Martin Miller is the middle school FCCLA adviser.
Four Gandy Elementary students won first place in the Southeast Arkansas Regional Art Exhibit at the University of Arkansas at Monticello last spring. Following a ceremony and reception, the winning artwork was displayed at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library in Little Rock from May to September.
Winners included:
■ Nora Greenlee, kindergarten: “Greenlee City,” oil pastel and tempera;
■ Cambrie Watkins, first grade: “Snowball at Night,” oil pastel;
■ Adalynn Swopes, third grade: “The Bubbly Fish,” oil pastel and tempera;
■ Lillian Hallman, fifth grade: “Stormy Lake,” crayon, watercolor and acrylic.
Art teacher Julie Caple said she was “very proud of these students and their accomplishments.”
FINANCES
The WHSD balance through November was $9,144,416.68 this year. That was more than a $200,000 increase from the same time in 2022.
PERSONNEL MOVES
Resignations were accepted from high school secretary Juanita Watson (effective Jan. 12) and middle school administrative assistant Morgan Riggins (effective Feb. 16).
New hires include high school secretary Candice Green (effective today) and high school business teacher Metasha Olson (effective Jan. 5). Also, Shelly Rogne has been hired as a long-term substitute for a Moody Elementary teacher on maternity leave (effective Jan. 8).