Hope Public Schools Board Adopts Year-End Measures

By Staff, 04/20/17 10:39 AM

HOPE – The Hope Public Schools Board approved purchasing contracts, accepted a legislative audit report and took facilities and personnel actions to complete its business for the month on Monday.

Student school supply contracts were approved for purchase from WalMart for the Yerger Middle School campus at a cost of $12,933.74, and teacher supplies through the federal Title I program for the Arch Ford program with costs at a total of $7,274.89. The Board also approved an English Language Arts contract at the cost of $44,940.

End of year personnel changes were also approved by the Board, with longtime Yerger Middle School teacher Janice Russell, who coordinated the Hempstead County Spelling Bee for 22 years, submitting her retirement notice.

Resignations were accepted by athletic trainer Emille Martin, YMS math teacher Angela Zimmerman, YMS CTE Teresa James, and Hope High School English teacher and student council sponsor Lena VanCamp.

Master Sergeant Kenneth Funchess, USAF, will also leave the Hope High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. His replacement has not been assigned.

Catherine Rowe was employed as a music teacher and assistant band director at YMS.

The Board also approved three facilities use requests, including:

–Women of Hope/Men of Valor youth conference September 16th at Yerger Middle School.

–Hope AAU Basketball practices at Hope High School auxiliary gymnasium April 18 and 20th.

–21st Century Student After School Program annual fashion show at Hope High School auditorium on April 29th.

The Board also accepted the 2016 Arkansas Legislative Audit report for the district, which cited the district for the post departure payment of some $20,059 in unused sick leave to a former principal.

Superintendent Bobby Hart said that Hempstead County Christi McQueen had been notified of the citation and had reported no findings which would require action by her office.