By: Mat Cloak
The Parsons Advocate
Superintendent Campbell provided a Regional Educational Services Agency update during last week’s Board of Education meeting. Superintendents from the region met for the third time to discuss the implications of the agency’s dissolution.
The region that includes Tucker County decided not to form an Educational Service Cooperative in place of the Regional Educational Services Agency. “It looks like our R.E.S.A. is probably going to elect not to venture into the idea of an E.S.C.,” Campbell said. “Many of us are concerned with just the bureaucratic nature of it.”
One of the main concerns going forward is the way property and money will be divided up between the counties, including Tucker, who will not form an Educational Service Cooperative.
Campbell also initiated a conversation about the opening of the Genesis Youth Crisis Center in Parsons in early 2018. After meeting with staff from the center, Campbell told the Board the school system should expect 50 to 70 different students enrolling in a school year. According to Campbell, the students enrolled at the crisis center will be considered homeless, which means they have automatic entry into a school system.
The meeting was held at Tucker County High School. With the homecoming parade, football game, and other school spirit activities throughout last week, the school’s staff and students present at the meeting commented on the busy atmosphere.
The student body representatives were present, and the class president joined the Board for the meeting. The senior class requested to move the date of graduation from May 17 and 18 to May 24 and 25, due to AP testing and the state track meet. President Tim Turner told the representatives the Board “will take a look at the dates,” and discuss the possibility of moving graduation at the next board meeting.
The roof at the high school is still incomplete. The school’s administration is waiting to hear from their insurance company about the claim. Staff reported that the temporary roof is holding, but it does leak under heavy rain and wind.
The Tucker County chapter of Future Farmers of America was approved to travel to the national convention in Indianapolis on October 24. November 7 will be a full day of instruction. There is an LISC meeting on October 25 at 4:30 at the high school. A Veteran’s Day program will be held at Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School on November 8 at 10 a.m. Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School will hold their Veteran’s Day program on November 9 at 10 a.m.
Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School will hold an afterschool STEM program for pre-K through 3rd grade running from October 10 to November 16. The program will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The next board meeting will be held on Monday, November 6 at 4 p.m. at Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School.
