Baptist Health Family Clinic
Taking care of Hot Spring County residents
Baptist Health Family Clinic in Malvern has been a service to the needs of the community since 1983. The staff at Baptist Health Family Clinic are focused on taking care of all Hot Spring County and the surrounding areas for health needs.
With 15 employees, Baptist Health Family Clinic recently added two physicians Dr. Richard Chastain and his wife Dr. Laura Lester along with Dr. Ray Bollen. Nurse Practitioner Heather Grigsby has also been added for the Allergy Clinic.
Baptist Heath Family Clinic work together as a team and care for one another as a family. Traci Harrington is the clinic manager and Jamie Burris is the administrator for Baptist Health.
Baptist Health Family Clinic is located at 1234 S. Main Street in Malvern and their contact phone number is 501- 337- 9066.
The Malvern School District is comprised of four schools and has an enrollment of 1,929 students, according to the Arkansas Department of Education.
In the school’s report card it is noted that 53.5 percent of students are white, 27.7 percent are African American, 9.8 percent are Hispanic/ Latino and 8.5 percent are two or more races.
Seventy-seven percent of students are also low income.
Malvern School District Superintendent Brian Golden said school officials and staff focus on providing a variety of opportunities for students.
He noted that the district has partnerships with local colleges.
Through these programs, students can earn college credit hours while also completing their required classes for a high school diploma.
High school students also have the option take part in flexible scheduling which allows them to be employed while also completing their high school education.
At Malvern High School, students can take vocational classes and work as an apprentice in job fields including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. This saves student both time and money, he said.
Staff work to prepare students for the future including individuals who decide to continue their education in college or join the workforce, Golden said adding that by providing a variety of opportunities for students, the district helps the students try new things and determine what they want to do in their lives.
Along with various pathways available for students, the Malvern School District said extra curricular activities for students are “second to none.”
These activities including EAST, Art Club, Band, Beta Club, Choir, Debate Club, FCCLA, FFA, Fishing Club, National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl, Spanish Club, Student Council and Yearbook staff.
Malvern is the only district in the county that offers JROTC for students, Golden said.
The district also makes technology a priority and is a 1:1 school district, meaning a device is available for each student.
Golden said the district also has top notch facilities. The latest project to be completed is the renovation of the entire Malvern High School campus.
Because the district received about $5.8 million in state partnership funds for the project, school officials felt it was more cost efficient to renovate the former building that was constructed in 1971 than to build a new school from scratch.
Along with changes to classrooms, the library, cafeteria and auditorium, the project included renovations to the Bill Hunt Fieldhouse and the construction of a new press box at Claude Mann Stadium.
Even though COVID- 19 has been a hot topic for
school districts across the state, Golden said that the Malvern School District has been fortunate and the number of students and staff who have tested positive or been in quarantine because of COVID-19 has been low.
The district has also not have to shut down at any time because of a spike in cases.
Golden said students are doing a good job wearing masks and following safety protocols. He also commended the staff for making changes as needed. He noted that for those in the school district, this is a difficult time saying that they are fighting “an invisible enemy.”
He added that both students and staff are doing a great job and he is extremely proud of them.