Board OKs School Audit

PRAIRIE GROVE — In a meeting that only lasted about 20 minutes, Prairie Grove School Board voted to accept the school’s audit report for 2014-2015.

The audit was completed by Roger W. Griffin, C.P.A., of Fayetteville. Griffin met with the board an hour before its meeting to conduct a workshop on understanding audits. The meeting will count toward professional development hours that are required by school board members.

Assistant Superintendent Missy Hixson gave her monthly update on curriculum to board members at the Dec. 21 meeting. She said a team of elementary teachers had recently returned from a leadership training workshop at Petit Jean Mountain State Park. A group of middle school teachers is scheduled to teach a workshop in January.

Hixson reported that states no longer fall under the federal law No Child Left Behind, which means that the federal government will release its hold on schools, giving control back to the states.

“Woohoo,” Hixson commented, noting this will allow states to set their own growth standards, instead of adhering to regulations passed at the federal level.

It will take time to work out all the details, Hixson said.

Assistant Superintendent David Kellogg gave an update on school facilities. He said a few “odds and ends” for the new basketball facility and new wing at Prairie Grove Elementary School are being completed. New playground equipment for the elementary school has been ordered.

Students in first grade through 12th grade will participate in a training called Rachel’s Challenge on Jan. 6. According to a fact sheet about Rachel’s Challenge, the program “exists to equip and inspire individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying and negativity with acts of respect, kindness and compassion.” The program is based on the writings and life of Rachel Joy Scott, a student who died in the Columbine school shootings in 1999.

The board accepted the resignations of two employees, a bus mechanic and middle school paraprofessional.

It also approved student transfers, five from Lincoln to Prairie Grove, three from Prairie Grove to Farmington and one from Prairie Grove to Fayetteville. These are not new transfers, said Superintendent Allen Williams. Students had moved from their home district and were asking to be able to remain in that district.