This story was reported by Lisa Mills. Photo caption: Des Arc Elementary School Principal Stacy Childers addresses the school board during its Sept. 28 meeting.
A group of teachers from Des Arc Elementary School expressed disappointment with the D grade given to the school by the Arkansas Department of Education, a drop from the B it received the previous school year.
They spoke Sept. 28 during the first meeting of the Des Arc School Board since the latest grades were released earlier in the month.
Board President Brent Calhoun allowed teachers two minutes each to address board members. Several questioned what more could be done to improve the school’s performance.
Teachers Callie Moore and Elizabeth McMillen said that despite additional intervention provided by teachers, interventionists and volunteers, they did not believe current efforts were enough. They suggested hiring additional employees specifically to provide intervention for struggling students.
Elementary Principal Stacy Childers said teachers, the librarian, counselor and administrators have spent available time working together and directly with students in an effort to improve test scores.
She also discussed changes in the state’s grading system, suggesting the new method makes it more difficult for schools that previously had high achievement levels to earn top grades. She said student growth now plays a significant role in determining a school’s grade.
Superintendent Marc Sherrell told Childers and the teachers that they should not feel discouraged by the D, saying he knows employees are doing their best and going beyond what is required to help students.
Sherrell said the district needs to see the next round of test scores and gain a better understanding of the state’s new grading system before determining what additional steps should be taken. He and board members said hiring additional staff could be considered, but no immediate additions were planned.
Overall, the Des Arc School District received a B for the 2025-26 school year, the same grade it received the previous year.
In other business, the board approved Donnie Sanderson to fill the vacant Zone 3 position.
Tim Baxter was hired as a substitute bus driver at a rate of $61.80 per day. The board also approved three student transfers from the Brinkley School District and one from the Hazen School District.
District Treasurer Natasha Richards presented the final financial report for the 2025-26 budget and the proposed budget for 2026-27.
The district began the 2025-26 fiscal year with a balance of $5,462,995 and ended with $5,906,486.46. The proposed 2026-27 budget begins with that $5,906,486.46 balance and projects an ending balance of $5,057,192.89.
