Watson Chapel School District Superintendent Keith McGee’s desire for his next project is to give Coleman Elementary a new cafeteria and storm shelter.
Talking with parents at a “Cupcakes and Conversation” gathering inside the existing Coleman cafeteria last week, McGee said a new meal hall on the same side of West 13th Avenue where third- through fifth-grade classrooms exist would improve safety. Those students presently have to cross the street for lunch.
State law also requires storm shelters for new structures on school campuses, and the proposed shelter would be built as part of the new cafeteria complex, McGee said.
McGee turned in a formal request to the Arkansas Department of Education for partnership funding toward the new structures. Such funding has also gone toward construction of the new Watson Chapel and Pine Bluff high schools to open in 2026, in addition to the money generated from recent millage increases.
“If they approve that proposal, then it will go out potentially for funding in the 2027-29 cycle,” McGee said. “Hopefully we’ll hear back soon on when they accept that proposal.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Second grade is stationed at Coleman but will move to Edgewood Elementary for the 2026-27 school year. That will create room for pre-kindergarten at Coleman, and the existing cafeteria will be for that group.
The 1-hour gathering provided cupcakes for the attendees, many of whom had children who were also honored for scoring Level 3 or 4 on last spring’s Arkansas Teaching, Learning and Assessment System. Acting Principal Reginald Forte also reminded parents of third-graders that, under the Arkansas LEARNS Act of 2023, those in that class who do not master grade-level reading skills on the ATLAS will not be promoted to fourth grade unless they have a “good-cause exemption.”
A student may qualify by falling into a category of either those with the most significant cognitive disabilities, students with disabilities (non-DLM), English learner, previously retained, receiving intensive support or assessment portfolio. Students who have experienced an isolated traumatic event that directly impacted performance on the assessment may have a good-cause exemption.
District officials said in September the move of second grade to Edgewood would help prevent those students from falling behind grade level in reading.
“Our district has provided what you call interim tests,” Forte said. “They’re really provided by the state, but we administer those tests. In fact, this week we’ve been administering those tests, and that gives us a gauging of who’s going to be Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 or Level 4. We take those tests and our teachers meet in those CTMs (collaborative team meetings), and we come up with a plan to address those parents. So, we’re well ahead of the game when it comes to helping our students get prepared.”
