January 5: Former Smackover-Norphlet school leader dies, by Matt Hutcheson
Longtime former Smackover-Norphlet School Board member Jerry Hegwood passed away on Christmas Day in 2020 and many of his colleagues took time to remember his work for the district.
"He was always looking for ways to improve education and to improve our campuses. He was not timid in voicing his opinion but was always fair and honest, dedicated and just. He didn't flip flop on tough decisions. As a board member, you sometimes have to make tough decisions. It's not always a very popular job, but he always did it with dignity," then-SNSD vice president Lynn Birchfield said.
Others echoed the sentiment.
"I worked at the school for 25 years, so I got to know him that way, in town and as a board member. He was an absolute gentleman, very consistent and very caring... He's one of the best board members I've served with and served under," board member Chris Long said.
February 14: El Dorado's own hidden figure, by Marvin Richards
John R. Dykes founded the first African-American school on North Columbia Street in El Dorado in 1897. There is a portrait of the late John R. Dykes, and in a Washington High School historical pamphlet that sits on a table not too far from his portrait, a dedication to Dykes from a 1952 edition of the school's yearbook, The Hornet, written by Leamon Cheatham. It reads as follows:
"Although little has even been written about this illustrious scholar and his achievements, his equal as a historian and educator has seldom been found. Not only did he sacrifice his ability and time, but also his money to establish a sound educational program."
March 1: SouthArk board dialogues on steady enrollment decline, by Marvin Richards
College enrollment in Arkansas was a major topic of discussion during a March workshop held by the South Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees.
"From 2011 to the fall (semester) of 2020, we had 174,000 Arkansans attending college and this past fall (semester), we were down to 147,000 students enrolled," SouthArk president Bentley Wallace explained. "That is a significant decline in college-going rates here in Arkansas."
The Board dialogued on possible reasons for the decline including family planning decisions, COVID-19 and the economy.
April 29: Wildcats hold 14th Academic Signing Day, by Marvin Richards
El Dorado High School held its 14th annual Academic Signing Day in April to honor 300 graduating seniors set to receive the El Dorado Promise scholarship.
Speakers included R. Madison Murphy, a board member for the Murphy Oil Corporation; Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives Matthew Shepherd; and University of Arkansas Head Men's Basketball Coach Eric Musselman, who delivered the keynote address virtually.
"Parents, you should be extremely proud," El Dorado Schools Superintendent Jim Tucker said. "The El Dorado Promise will save you right at $50,000. Thank you Murphy Oil Corporation."
"If every student sitting in front of me took full advantage of the El Dorado Promise, we're looking in front of me right at $14 million in savings. That's a pretty big number, guys," Tucker added.
May 19: Challengers win out in Parkers Chapel school board races, by Matt Hutcheson
Although several county school districts had at least one race in this year's school board election, only Parkers Chapel had new candidates win out over incumbents.
In the race for the Position 4 seat, challenger Kristina Madison won out over incumbent Grace Paliculict. In the Position 5 race, Lisa Murray defeated challenger Emily Carelock. The two were sworn into their new positions on May 24.
"I think I was in shock at first... This is the first election I've been a part of, it's a new experience. I'm just very thankful and proud of the community for getting out to vote and letting everyone hear their voice," Madison said.
June 4: Foundation honors outstanding Wildcat teachers, by Matt Hutcheson
The 2020/2021 school year concluded with the El Dorado Education Foundation's teacher excellence awards. Honorees included teachers from each school in the district and 15 semifinalists, nine finalists and the three Outstanding Educator winners.
The Outstanding Educator winners were Leah Barbarotto for the elementary schools, Calandra Brown for the middle/junior high level and Clair Antoon at the high school level.
"A colleague commented that this educator has high expectations and does not accept anything less than what these high expectations demand. Yet, this educator still has a fun and motivating manner. Students do not want to let this teacher down and in this class, students, they find a love of learning," said state Rep. Sonia Barker of Barbarotto.
High school Outstanding Educator winner Clair Antoon was an El Dorado Promise graduate, marking the first time the award has gone to a Promise graduate.
July 18: SouthArk readies trainer ambulance, by Marvin Richards
South Arkansas Community College's new ambulance trainer, a tool enhancing the school's EMS program, was announced in July. The ambulance was acquired in partnership with Columbia County Ambulance Service in Magnolia owner Amanda Warren-Newton.
"Having this ambulance will give students a hands-on approach on how to operate an ambulance. The next reason I wanted it was for the paramedics aspect of our program," Justin Murphree, SouthArk EMS program director said. "When paramedics are working in an ambulance they are securing the head, they're breathing for the patient, they are suctioning for the patient. With the simulated ambulance trainer that we currently have, I can't adequately assess how the students are doing for airway management and such. But by having this ambulance with a side door that I can stand in, I can better assess the students and what they're doing."
August 12: El Dorado School District adopts universal masking, by Caitlan Butler, with additional reporting by Matt Hutcheson
During a special-called meeting on Aug. 11, the El Dorado School Board voted 4-3 to mandate masks for district students, staff and faculty, as well as campus visitors. The decision followed a preliminary injunction made by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox on Aug. 6 to temporarily block the state's ability to enforce Act 1002, which bans mask mandates by local governmental entities, including public school districts.
The policy has since changed several times; in November, it was lifted totally before being reinstated after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Since then, the district has implemented a new mask policy, where the number of new cases per 10,000 residents of the district over two weeks is considered and it's decided each week whether students will have to mask up or not.
The Smackover-Norphlet School District also started the school year with a mask mandate. Two weeks into the 2021/2022 school year, the Parkers Chapel School District temporarily put a mask mandate into place after 90 students had to be sent home for quarantine.
The decision to mandate masks at the start of school in the ESD caused heated debate. A town hall was held at El Dorado High School on Aug. 31, where those who supported masks and those who didn't were able to share their thoughts on the matter with school board members and Superintendent Jim Tucker. A variety of viewpoints were given during the meeting.
"I hate wearing this mask as much as anyone else does, but I would hate it more to be lying at home and trying to do all four of these AP classes and college classes and trying to do the work at home. Being in class is more important," Jana Powell, an EHS senior, said. "When I'm at home, it's so hard to try to learn that material. ... If I wanted to learn virtually, I would have signed up virtually. I want to be in school. Even though I hate these masks, it's better than being at home trying to learn this hard material and getting to where I want to be in life and going to college."
September 24: High honor for Hugh, by Caitlan Butler
In September, the El Dorado School District announced that Hugh Goodwin had been recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School for "exemplary achievement gap closing." It was one of only four schools in the state to receive the distinction.
"Basically, we adapted the phrase 'whatever it takes,'" Hugh Goodwin Principal Jesica Collins said. "It's just doing whatever it takes -- trying to meet the whole child, involving our community, our parents and everybody to have that. Not only are we teaching curriculum, but, you know, it's much more than that."
Hugh Goodwin and district officials accepted the award in Washington, D.C. in November and an official celebration was held locally on Nov. 11. The district was recognized by the State Board of Education in December.
October 3: EHS students inspired during College Application Month event, by Matt Hutcheson
El Dorado students had the chance in October to hear about the college experience and the possibilities in their future from several local officials and college graduates. The event served to kick off October as Arkansas College Application Month, the subject of a proclamation issued in September by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Speakers included State Speaker of the House Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado; El Dorado Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer; EHS girls basketball coach Ashlee Curtis; Kayla Morgan, a 2017 EHS graduate; Vanessa Williams, director of counseling and disability support services at South Arkansas Community College; and Gregory Hawkins, a 2009 EHS graduate and director of student experience at SouthArk.
"Life is going to happen whether you like it or not. From here on things are going to change. You're facing a pandemic and things I didn't have to face. I want you all to keep it going; you're the future and you are what's next. We're counting on you to go after what you want," Hawkins said.
November 6: SouthArk reopens pantry to fight food insecurity among students, by Matt Hutcheson
South Arkansas Community College completed efforts in early November to reopen and rebrand its food pantry program, which allows students to take food they need free of charge.
"Food insecurity is a problem in the region, and that also affects our student population. We decided to use those funds to bolster what we were doing with the food pantry. This step we're taking now is intended to rebrand the food pantry to maybe alleviate some of the reluctance from students who need it from utilizing it... Basically, it's a free grocery store for students to use. That's the thrust of the concept," SouthArk Marketing Director Heath Waldrop said.
The pantry is located in the campus's library and holds such kitchen essentials as rice, pasta noodles, canned food of many different kinds, water and sports drinks and single-serving snacks.
December 27: ESD pursues dismissal of mask lawsuit, by Caitlan Butler
In November, lawyers at the Story Law Firm filed suit against the El Dorado School District, El Dorado School Board and Superintendent Jim Tucker on behalf of parents Luke Baston, Clifford O. Wilson III, Jamie Wilson and Karen Lynn Dunn regarding the mask mandate that was in place for district students, staff, faculty and visitors at the time.
In the suit, the group of parents allege that the ESD, school board and Tucker violated their fundamental rights as lined out in the state's constitution by mandating masks, and that the district's mask mandate was imposed illegally; they asked for a temporary restraining order to block enforcement of the mandate as well.
"I could not imagine sending them to school in a mask for a single day. The mandate was bizarre: masks inhibit breathing, do not stop viruses, encourage sickness, propagate fear, are used to break spirits and to torture," Dunn said at the September town hall that was held at El Dorado High School to discuss the district's mask mandate. "These masks cause horrific psychological damage."
Attorneys from the Friday, Eldredge and Clark firm who are representing the district, school board and Tucker, responded to the suit's allegations in filings on Dec. 2.
According to the district's response, the ESD's mask mandate is legal because government entities, including local school boards, are permitted to take measures -- such as requiring vaccinations, according to case law cited in the in the response, or, in this case, face masks -- to protect public health.
On Dec. 21, attorneys for the district filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, including a petition for damages. The motion reiterates the district's contention that the mask mandate is legal and that the district has the authority to enforce such a mandate. Additionally, it says that the parents failed to look for alternative relief outside of the judicial system, such as seeking an exemption to the mask mandate or transferring school districts.
On Dec. 29, Pulaski County Judge Tim Fox ruled that the state's ban on government mask mandates was unconstitutional.
No response to the motion for dismissal had been filed by Thursday.
Jerry Hegwood, bottom row, far right, passed away on Dec. 25, 2020. Hegwood served on the Smackover-Norphlet Board of Directors for 26 years. (Contributed)
An old family portrait of John R. Dykes marks his birth date. (Contributed)
The El Dorado High School class of 2021 posed in style for the 14th annual Academic Signing Day. (News-Times file)
In this group photo, the Outstanding Award Winners are front row, left to right: Calandra Brown, Clair Antoon and Leah Barbarotto. Back row, presenters at the event included, left to right: Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer, Roger Landes of Murphy Oil, Don Miller of Murphy USA, Rep. Matthew Shepherd, Courtney Crotty of Murphy USA and Rep. Sonia Barker. (Contributed)
SouthArk school officials pose in front of the school’s new ambulance trainer vehicle. From left to right are Columbia County Ambulance Service owner Amanda Warren-Newton; SouthArk emergency medical services program director Justin Murphree; SouthArk academic affairs vice president Dr. Stephanie Tully-Dartez; SouthArk president Dr. Bentley Wallace; and SouthArk health sciences dean Caroline Hammond. (Contributed)
El Dorado School District Superintendent Jim Tucker speaks during an August school board meeting as President Susan Turbeville, left, and member Renee Skinner, right, listen. (News-Times file)
A College Application Month event was held at El Dorado High School in October. (News-Times file)
SouthArk’s Stars Market is a free grocery store designed to help students avoid food insecurity. It is located in the campus’s library. (News-Times file)