Neal commends staff for their many accomplishments

Enumerating the many accomplishments of 2015, school superintendent Rick Neal deferred the honors to his staff after his evaluation by the School Board Monday night.

“Pea Ridge is definitely on the map. I can’t do it without those people out here,” Neal said, pointing to the school administrators and staff.

Beginning the regular monthly meeting, members of the Blackhawk football team and cheer squad were applauded as the captains from the teams were asked to come forward and speak.

“Thank you for supporting us and believing in us,” Nicole Henson, cheerleader, said to the board members and audience.

“We had two special groups that had an incredible fall,” superintendent Rick Neal said, as athletic director Tony Travis prepared a video highlighting the fall athletic programs.

Gage Cawthon, football senior, said: “James Tackett scoring a touchdown against Pulaski Robinson. That swung the momentum.”

Another highlight, he said was “watching Cody Foltz scoop it up and try to take it back while losing 12 yards … we had fun in practices. They were serious, but we had fun.”

“We are proud of each and every one of you,” Neal said to the students.

After a brief executive session for the superintendent’s evaluation, board members asked Neal to share some of his accomplishments over the past year.

“There are so many good things that we started over the year,” Neal said — the table top activity with the city, crisis planning with each individual building, hiring Leslie Moline as assistant principal at the Middle School one year ago — are all a part of the successes, he said, adding that renovations in technology and the buildings were accomplished.

Other firsts included the “Leader in Me” project begun at school, the fine arts building completed, Pea Ridge Manufacturing and Business Academy growth and the flex-mod schedule. He said school officials from across the state visited Pea Ridge to see PRMBA and the flex-mod schedule in action.

And, the new school-city complex to be built this year is the first of its kind in the state. School and city officials are working on a new administration building to house both entities.

“There’s not anything like it,” Neal said. “We’ve gotten a lot of state recognition.”

“This is a special group of people I work with every day,” Neal said. “I let them do their job and they make me look good. They do their best every day for the kids.”

Board president Jenny Wood said: “It was his accomplishments, it’s been district accomplishments. We thank each of y’all. As a board, his evaluation was good. We’re hoping he plans to stay around.”

In other business, School Board members:

• Approved an out-of-state trip for PRMBA to Pittsburg State, Pittsburg, Kan.