White Hall School District board members Tuesday authorized Superintendent Gary Williams to seek a five-year waiver from state education officials that would allow the district to consider an earlier start to the school year than usual, starting in August 2025.
The first day of classes for the 2024-25 school year will be Aug. 19, but Williams hopes the Arkansas Department of Education will allow the WHSD to consider making a five-day head start to allow for makeup days due to the weather and more preparation time for state testing.
“It doesn’t mean that we will. It means we have the opportunity to look at it and decide if this will be good for our district or not,” Williams said.
The WHSD has to make up four days due to a snowstorm that kept schools closed between Jan. 16-19.
School districts plan their calendar either based on the minimum 178 days or 1,068 hours of instruction time as required by the state. Starting next school year, White Hall will offer 173 class days, but each one will be slightly longer to satisfy the minimum number of hours.
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“It’s going to be a very similar calendar, so you won’t just see a tremendous difference between what we’ve had in the past and what we have coming next year,” he said.
BRIGHT FUTURES
Following a presentation by public information officer Jennifer Menard, the WHSD board agreed to make the district an affiliate community of Bright Futures, an initiative that creates synergy between communities and schools to help meet children’s basic needs within 24 hours.
By joining this year, Bright Futures is waiving a $3,000 fee and will provide training and resources.
STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Four WHSD students advanced to the Jefferson County Spelling Bee, scheduled for Thursday: sixth-graders Paisley Wallace and Emon Alam, Hardin Elementary fourth-grader Ty Baugh and Hardin fifth-grader Adalynn Lampkin.
Six White Hall High students made the All-State Choir: Caroline McGahhey, Anna Mathews, Hannah Estess, Laila Adams, Tristan Gates and John Richardson.
At the state indoor track meet in Fayetteville, Braeden Bell won the overall 60-meter dash title (6.78 seconds), Kylah Demmings won the 5A title and took third overall in the long jump (17 feet, 8 inches), and James Thornton placed third in 5A and overall in the 60 meters (6.97).
The middle school Future Business Leaders of America, sponsored by Laura Smith, won first place for the largest chapter membership (49) and fifth place for largest chapter market share in the spring conference at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Individual winners included: Cole Lockhart, first place in 1-minute timed typing; Keylee Via, first place in public speaking; Paige Price, first place in running an effective meeting; Kodi McNeill, first place in career research; Laini Tidwell, second place in 3-minute timed typing; Eva Ridder, second place in elevator speech; Savana Camp, second place in leadership; Virginia Smart and Via, second place in talent show; Mahkenzy Devine and Alyssa Wiley, third place in business graphics; Ariel Ridder, third place in business reports; Yaseen Alghazali, fifth place in computer concepts; Smart, fifth place in proofreading; and Jacob Works, fifth place in business etiquette.
Works, Camp, Price, Eva Ridder and McNeill advanced to state competition.
Jeremy Hartley and Chase Filhiol won first place in the middle school Region 6 Stock Market Game.
And White Hall High won the AP Female Diversity Award for 2022-23. Schools that have achieved 50% or higher female exam taker representation in one or both AP computer science courses, or a percentage of female computer science exam takers that meets or exceeds the school’s female population, are honored.
IN OTHER DISTRICT BUSINESS
Beginning July 1, all employees in the district will be paid monthly to ensure a more efficient payroll. Williams estimated 85% of staff members are on a monthly payroll, with the remaining 15% paid twice monthly. He said it is unusual in school business to have more than one pay frequency.
“Have we polled the employees to see what their thoughts were?” board trustee Roy Agee asked. Williams answered that a poll was not done, but those affected have been notified.
The salary schedule for 2024-25 will be similar to this school year’s, which saw all teachers receive a salary of at least $50,000 under the Arkansas LEARNS Act signed into law last year. Williams said the salaries from this school year are locked in to give administrators an opportunity to review budgets and revenue. “There is no expectation, once this is approved, that if you are on step 12 you’ll go to step 13 in 2025-26,” Williams said. “The new legislation is coming up in February next year, and we’ll wait to see what their funding formula is like.”
The district will also upgrade its information technology network and add central management. Chris Hopkins, the district’s IT director, said the upgrade will replace network switches that are at least 14 years old.
In addition, one 14-passenger and two 77-passenger buses will be purchased, along with a truck for the agriculture department.
PERSONNEL MOVES
Certified contracts were extended for campus and district administration personnel.
Retirement letters were accepted from high school math teacher David Vance, middle school English teacher Julianna Bobo and Gandy Elementary special education teacher Paula Vance, all effective at the end of this school year.
Sarah Breedlove will step down as White Hall High’s boys and girls tennis coach, effective next school year.