THE NASHVILLE HH HH Preserving SouthwestNews-LEADER Arkansas’s Heritage While Leading Through the 21st Century Wednesday, April 25, 2018 u Vol. 15, Issue 43 u 24 pages, 2 sections u 75¢ Leader Special meeting Board of school board, www.swarkansasnews.com NJHS teachers postponed OPINION 4A By John R. Schirmer Freedom of News-Leader staff A group of Nashville Junior High Information School teachers had planned to meet Act is for with the Nashville School Board Tues- day night, April 24, to voice their con- the public. cerns about the process recently used in naming a new assistant principal Spring Home for the school. Instead, the meeting was postponed Improvement early Tuesday afternoon, and board ideas. 6B-7B president Monica Clark will meet with the committee privately. It was not immediately known if or when the public meeting with the Dinner board would be rescheduled. theater Members of the NJHS search com- mittee had prepared a statement to Thursday present to the board about the reasons for their choice and to express their at NHS concerns about the board’s action at the The Nashville High meeting. The board did not follow the School Drama Class will committee’s recommendation. present “Dinner at Eight, “The interview committee was obvi- Dead by Nine” Thursday, ously upset about the board not taking April 26, in the NHS their recommendation,” Superinten- cafeteria. dent Doug Graham said Tuesday. “The Doors will open at committee at NJHS and the administra- 6:30 p.m., and the pro- tion were terribly disappointed.” gram will start at 7 p.m. Graham presented the committee’s The event is a dinner recommendation of Ashley Riggs to theater. News-Leader photo/JOHN R. SCHIRMER the board at the April 16 meeting. The Tickets are $10, FAMILY TRADITION. Clyde Bell of Mineral Springs and granddaughter Bravyn Bell visit after recommendation died for lack of a sec- which includes the show, the Nashville High School FFA banquet Thursday, April 19, at the NHS cafeteria. Clyde Bell ond, and board member Randy Elliott spaghetti dinner and was a member of the Mineral Springs FFA chapter during his high school days. Bravyn Bell is then made a recommendation to select dessert. treasurer of the Nashville chapter. More banquet pictures, page 12B. Holly Couch. His recommendation The play is produced passed 5-0. by special arrangement Graham said he supports “some in- with Pioneer Drama Ser- dividual meetings to come to common vice, Inc., Denver, Colo. Nashville School District receives ground” about the process. He wants “the staff, administration and board to 3 B’s and a C on school report card get on the same page to make the best Aftershock decisions for kids.” By John R. Schirmer from an A and primary was two report card is 99 percent, with a The school board was “100 percent News-Leader staff set Sunday points from a B.” college going rate of 56 percent. See NJHS • Page 5A The Nashville School District Part of the report card is The Nashville School District at stadium received three B’s and one C based on test scores from the spends $9,021.49 per student. The second After- on school report cards issued ACT Aspire, and only one grade The average number of years shock will be Sunday, recently by the Arkansas De- level is tested at primary, Gra- teaching experience is 17.28, the April 29, at 6 p.m. at partment of Education. ham said. card said. HCCC exec Scrapper Stadium. The cards cover the 2016-17 “This is the second year for Student to teacher ratio is The event is a academic year. Aspire. We saw a lot of growth. 14:1, with an average class size youth rally for students Campuses which received The more years we give it, by of 15. put on leave in grades 7-12 from B’s include high school, junior experience I hope we do a better The grading scale is different throughout Southwest high and elementary. job,” Graham said. for elementary, middle school No financial concerns, Arkansas, according to Primary school received a C. Along with scores from As- or junior high, and high school. board chairman says organizers. “Overall, I’m pleased with pire, grades are based on gradu- The district “will take our our grades,” Superintendent ation rates for high schools and scores and build on them. By Louie Graves Aftershock will feature News-Leader staff games, music, give- Doug Graham said. “We have other aspects of student success They’re indicative of the work aways and guest speak- three above average and one and school quality at all grade done by our staff and students The veteran administrator at the ers. average. The only part I’m dis- levels. with buy-in from parents. Over- Howard County Children’s Center appointed in is that junior high For Nashville High School, all, I’m pleased with where we has been placed on paid administra- was a couple of points away the graduation rate listed on the stand,” Graham said. tive leave while a Little Rock law firm investigates personnel complaints at Hispanic the center. Night set NHS recognized among top 5 percent Tim Freel, administrator for 14 years, was placed on leave at the at Cossatot in state for student growth, graduation board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, in De Queen April 10. At a called meeting on Thurs- By John R. Schirmer Superintendent Doug Graham any hardware that the commit- day, April 19, the HCCC board voted to The University of News-Leader staff said about the recognition for tee agrees on is fair game. We’ll retain the firm of Friday, Eldredge and Arkansas Cossatot will Nashville High School has NHS.” wait on the recommendation,” Clark to investigate. host the 4th Hispanic received a growth award from The awards are based on Graham said. Board chairman Donny Woods Night event honoring the the Arkansas School Recogni- student growth on test scores “We’re proud of high school told the newspaper that stories about academic achievement tion Program based on student and graduation rates. for qualifying for the money. I financial irregularities, Medicare ir- among Latinos on Thurs- performance, student academic NHS will appoint a com- hope that in a short time, we regularities or problems with clients day, April 26, at 7 p.m. growth and graduation rate. mittee of parents, teachers and will have more than one campus were “absolutely false.” The celebration will be NHS will receive $38,112.48 administrators to decide how to qualify.” He said there had been some com- held in the Weyerhaeus- for being in the top 5 percent spend the money, Graham said. Nashville Elementary School plaints and the board felt they needed er Room in the Skilled statewide for growth/gradua- It may be used for personnel, qualified for the growth award to be addressed. Further, he said, the Trades Building on the tion in 2017. equipment and technology. two years ago, according to board wanted a third party to inves- De Queen Campus. “We’re awfully pleased,” “Any program, any software, Graham. See HCCC • Page 5A Current UA Cossatot students, high school seniors, UA Cossatot alumni, and their families are invited to attend. ‘Pink Ladies’ UA Cossatot Board of Visitors member and at hospital Sevier County rancher Robert Martinez will ad- recognized dress students and their The ‘Pink Ladies’ at How- families. ard Memorial Hospital an- A meal will be catered nually contribute about 4500 by La Media Luna Mexi- volunteer hours for the in- can Restaurant. stitution. And they have done so Inside the News-Leader since being organized at the Obituaries, 2A ‘old’ hospital in 1975. Early Files, 3A On Thursday of last week, the hospital held a reception Opinion, 4A in the lobby to recognize the Sports, 8A-12A Howard Memorial Hospital Trends, B Auxiliary during Nation- Classifieds, 7B al Volunteer Appreciation Month, according to Susan Wingrove whois in charge of the auxiliary. News-Leader photo/LOUIE GRAVES There have been male HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED. A lobby reception with cake Thursday morning, April 19, called auxiliary members in the attention to National Volunteer Appreciation Month and to the Howard Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. The past, but they didn’t have volunteers have served the hospital since 1975. At the reception were, from left, Pat Blakely, Carma Bradshaw, to wear the distinctive pink Betty Carroll, Tempie LaMothe, Pam Wynn, Liz Coleman, Judy Carpenter, Joyce Teague, Deborah Canaday, jackets. Pam Shankles, Nell Crisp, Donna Futrell, Becky Finigan, Lenora Jordan. Not Pictured: Mable Sanders, Doris See HMH • Page 5A Ray, Velma Owens, Nelda Barton, Betty Tollett, Bobbie Parker, Marilyn Bradley. 2A Obituaries Wednesday, April 25, 2018 Nashville News-Leader Obituaries Christian Health Center still He was retired from Tallant of Morrilton, Ark., filling vital community need Southwestern Bell Tele- Charisse and husband Hank Things may get busier at phone. Mr. Tallant was an Huffman of Albuquerque, the local free health clinic Army veteran and served his N.M., Kathrin Tallant of depending upon chang- country when he was called Nashville, and Michael and es wrought by removal of to do so. He enjoyed gar- wife Tyanna Collins of Hot ‘Obamacare.’ dening, riding motorcycles, Springs, Ark.; a sister, Joyce Leslie Reeder, administra- watching football games, and husband Ronald Geck tive assistant at the Christian Health Center of Howard and had a heart bigger than of Deer Park, Texas, and one County, spoke to Nashville life he was willing to help brother; Jim Tallant of Nash- Rotarians, last Wednesday, anyone. He was also an avid ville; also 8 grandchildren, and said the free clinic was reader.