Representatives from American Kraft Paper Industries donated a $10,000 check to the White Hall School District toward outstanding student lunch accounts during the district’s board meeting Tuesday.
Bill Ward, president and CEO of American Kraft Paper’s Pine Bluff mill, said the company was looking for an opportunity to give back to local schools and the community. He attended the presentation along with Brooke Holcomb, AKP’s senior director of supply chain and capital expenses; Samantha Stocks, AKP’s chief financial officer and Brandi Russell, AKP’s human resources manager.
“This came to our attention,” Ward said. “The ladies did a good job of rounding this up and giving us an opportunity to help out schools from White Hall. “We’re just glad we can help out in someone’s ways.”
The WHSD was “super excited” about the donation, district Superintendent Gary Williams said after the meeting.
“Community partners are important to school districts all over the state, and White Hall has tremendous community partners,” Williams said. “This is just another great example. We have families who may not qualify for free and reduced lunch and they’re still obligated to pay that bill. This will give some relief to some of those families. … Certainly we’re thankful to them and their support. It’s huge.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
It is not immediately clear how many student accounts will be impacted by this.
Stocks said she was happy AKP could help during the holiday season when some families are struggling.
“Maybe this will help ease that burden around the holidays and they don’t have to worry about those balances,” Stocks said.
Russell hopes other industries in the area will follow suit and “make a change in some child’s life.”
THERAPY DOG POLICY CONSIDERED
Board members voted to table discussion of a policy for a therapy dog on campus.
Williams said a middle school teacher asked about bringing such a dog to the office area and had talked with superintendents in other districts who had permitted dogs.
“It goes through a required training to be considered,” Williams said. “It’s another tool that can be used to help some situations, but the board wanted to think about it a little more and what it means, and I appreciate their thoughts on this and take time to make sure they support it before they allow it.”
The voluntary policy would not allow students or staff members in general to bring any pet to school, and the requirements for a therapy dog are restrictive, Williams added.
“Even if (the dogs) quality, they still would have to have principal approval and superintendent approval if the board approves the policy,” Williams said. “If they don’t we’ll find other ways to continue to help our students and see where it goes.”
Board member Scott Pittillo, who moved to table the policy, said he wanted to make sure the dogs were not distracting to the learning environment.
GOING YONDR
The district will purchase a package from Yondr International that strengthens phone-free spaces with the help of a grant Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced in July.
Yondr provides cellphone pouches that are locked during the school day but can be opened with an unlocking base.
“Our policy is that cellphones are not allowed on campus during the day,” Williams said. “They have to be put away. It’s not a change in policy; it’s just a tool to help with policy enforcement.”
PERSONNEL MOVE
The board accepted the resignation of Margie Parker as director of special education, effective the end of the school year.