Warren School Superintendent Bryan Cornish explained to School Board members Monday night that the recent failure of the millage question in the general election does not mean the millage will decrease.
The ballot question for a 41.5 millage rate failed with 812 for and 1,099 against.
However, the district was not asking for a millage increase as the rate was the same as that approved by voters in a February 2021 special election, where the millage increase was approved to help pay for the new elementary school and basketball arena. The previous rate was 36.5 mills.
Since the question failed in the general election, that only meant the rate reverted back to the last approved rate, which was the 41.5 mills.
In other action:
- Vice President Kerry Pennington presided over the meeting in the absence of President Jerry Daniels. Board members Joel Tolefree and Angela Marshall joined the meeting late as they also serve on the City Council, with the two meetings overlapping.
- Warren High School Principal Tiffany Gathen said the EAST program worked with Lakeport Plantation in Lake Village to create a 360-degrees virtual tour for their website. On Nov. 11, JROTC presented a Veterans Day program. Second nine weeks mid-progress reports will go out Friday. National Honor Society and Beta Club will have inductions on Dec. 8.
- Eastside Principal Sara Weaver reported phonological awareness skills were emphasized in the first nine weeks.
- Warren Middle School Principal Kathy Cornish said a Junior Jacks store was opened with students earning points by reaching behavior goals. A fundraiser was held to support the store.
- Assistant Superintendent Carla Wardlaw said administrators and lead teachers will do training on a PASS survey for social and emotional health.
- SEACBEC Director Devin McDiarmid said ABC preschool performed songs at the Veterans Day program. The students are making sweet potato pies this week as part of parental involvement activities. They will have a Christmas program on Dec. 1 at Immanuel Baptist Church.
At SEACBEC, 51 out of 60 WHS students passed the National Career Readiness Certificate. On Oct. 20, over 40 Skills USA members and five instructors went to the Arkansas State Fair for CTE Day.
- Brunson Elementary Principal Regina Scroggins said a SEARK Concert Association was to be held today (Tuesday). An extended day program will end Dec. 6. Students are involved in a bingo reading program. Canned goods were gathered for a food giveaway and students will celebrate Friday with a color run.
- Board members approved a motion to purchase a used school bus with American Recovery Program funds for $50,000.
- Board members approved data cabling for the new Lumberjack Arena and the new Warren Elementary School from Delta A/V Specialists for $21,680.
- Board members approved Clark Contractors to finish work on WHS classrooms from the cafeteria south.
- Board members approved a motion to install concrete slabs for basketball courts at the new Warren Elementary School by Connor Concrete for $34,800.
- Board members approved a motion for SATCO to run Internet fiber for Lumberjack Arena and the new Warren Elementary School.
- Cornish said the district applied for a SOAR reading grant for $176,400 to build a community of reading between the school district and the Warren community.
He said the new arena should be ready to hold basketball games in January. Exterior work on the new Warren Elementary School has wrapped up.
- Tolefree said although circumstances forced him and Marshall to run against each other, with him winning the election, he commended her for her 22 years of service on the School Board. Marshall said she had enjoyed her time on the board and would wrap up her term at the December meeting.