By Haley Smith
Staff Writer
SMACKOVER — The Smackover School Board was presented with their quarterly report of the school-based health center from SBHC employee Becky Dixon.
“This has been a huge benefit for our students,” said Superintendent Dave Wilcox. “The benefit and students that we will get to reach are only going to go up from here.”
According to the Arkansas Department of Education’s website, school-based health centers (SBHC) provide basic physical, mental, dental or other services as needed. The health center provides services beyond the scope of the school nurse practice and is not intended to replace the school nurse.
“At first we were just going off recommendations, and now students are seeking us out for mental health help,” Dixon said.
Smackover’s SBHC has been in operation for about two years and has seen 354 students from the district.
“You can see a difference this has had in our children’s smiles,” said Smackover High School Principal Jan Henderson.
The school board also approved the purchase of a freezer from Glenn Mechanical for the school cafeteria.
“We received a proposal from Glenn Mechanical with the specifications of the job with a price of $57,769, Wilcox said.
This will be taking the school’s existing freezer and converting it to a walk in cooler and adding a new freezer on to it.
The school also recognized the High School engineering team.
One hundred ninety-two students, ranging from second grade through 12th grade participated in Lockheed Martin E-week.
Of all these students, 12 students recently came in first place for the second year in a row.
They brought two trophies — one for the school to keep that was made by the machine shop at Lockheed Martin and the other is what the winner gets to take home until the competition for next year.
“We would also like to thank Austin Sharp and Matt Brument with Lockheed Martin,” said Jennifer Lee, curriculum director. “It is obvious that you have taken a lot of time with these kids. What you are doing has an impact.”
Norphlet Middle School Principal Keith Coleman presented the board with his student of the month, Rylee Darden.
“She has a spunky personality and a go-getter attitude,” Coleman said. “She’s the type of kid that you can pick with and she’ll come back at you, and I have to say, I like that.”
Darden is highly involved in her school and community. She is in Beta club, Vice-President for student council, cheerleader, basketball team, Jr. Miss Derek 2016 and in track.
Henderson also presented two seniors as her students of the month; Jackson Beevers and D.T. Simpson. Both boys recently participated in the 2017 Skills USA state competition and both took first place in their own divisions. They have attended the Southark Welding program for two years and also have their NCCER Welding Certificate.
The school hired Pamela Carr, Donna Osborne and Pat House.
Resignations for the district include Debra Tolin, David Preston, Shannon Berry, Brandi Boyd, Lottie Preston and Rebecca McKnight.
Haley Smith can be emailed at [email protected]. Follow her on facebook and twitter at @hsmithEDNT.