First Week Good One For Districts

SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY SCHOOL YEAR STARTS SMOOTHLY

The first week of school went smoothly in Farmington, Prairie Grove and Lincoln, according to administration officials.

Mary Ann Spears, Lincoln superintendent, said the first days of school went very well at each school in the district.

“Our students, teachers, support staff and administrators are excited about the new school year and we are focusing all efforts on the business of learning,” Spears said.

Becki Griscom, executive director of support services for the district, said teachers and staff appreciated the community support they had received.

Teachers returned to school a week earlier than students at Lincoln.

“The teachers and staff enjoyed lunch during their first week back at school, Griscom said. “The lunches were provided by Central United Methodist Church, Arvest Bank and Simmons Bank.”

Current enrollment at the Lincoln School District is 1,227 for grades K-12, about the same as last year’s first week enrollment.

Farmington High School opened its new Freshman Academy with 193 ninth-graders and Bob Echols, principal, said the academy had a great start to the new year.

“The kids were here ready to go and the teachers were ready to go,” Echols said.

Bryan Law, superintendent, said Farmington had 2,243 students enrolled the first week of school, compared to 2,183 at the end of the 2012-13 school year, an increase of about 60 students.

He expects the enrollment will continue to fluctuate through Labor Day but estimates Farmington will be up for the year around 60 students.

“That’s about the same amount of growth as last year and it’s a

fairly significant growth,” Law said.

The first week of school went about as smoothly as the district has ever had, he said, adding, “We’re off to a good start.”

Prairie Grove schools also were up in number, compared to last year.

The count for the first day of school was 1,800 students, an increase of 16 compared to the first day of school last year, acording to Allen Williams, Prairie Grove superintendent. The computer says the school district should have 1,872 students.

“It’s bouncing around a little bit but it usually settles down after Labor Day,” Williams said.

He said he thinks Prairie Grove will increase by around 25 students this year.

Last year, Prairie Grove’s enrollment grew by 82 students during the year and Williams said that was the most growth the school has had in a long time.

Like the other superintendents, Williams reported everything went smoothly the first few days of class.

“We’ve had a good first week, the best I can tell,” Williams added.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Ninth-graders in the new Freshman Academy at Farmington High School come into their third-hour class Monday morning. The new academy had 193 students enrolled the first week of class. School officials in Farmington, Lincoln and Prairie Grove all...