Berryville board OKs higher meal prices

A list of annual approvals, plus a handful of new business OK’s highlighted the Berryville School Board’s monthly meeting held Monday, May 20.

One change that will affect students next school year will be the price for breakfast and lunch as the board approved a 25-cent increase to meals.

“We work off the recommendation of the state department, and they have a formula they go through,” Berryville Superintendent Owen Powell said. “They recommended us to raise our meal prices by a quarter.”

Breakfast for students at all campuses will now be $2.25 while lunch will be $2.75 for students in kindergarten through fifth grade and $3 for students in grades 6 through 12.

“It’s just like at your home, whenever you go to buy groceries, prices are really hitting everyone hard,” Powell said. “It’s no different for schools. Whenever we go purchase all that food for the students, it’s probably tripled in price over the last probably two years.

“This isn’t something we like to do. It’s something we have to do.”

The board also approved $75,743 for playground equipment for the new ABC Preschool building, which Powell said should be wrapped up within the next month.

“It’s obviously a large piece of playground equipment, but there was some sticker shock on that for me whenever I started to research it,” he said.

“It’s pretty expensive, but it’s needed. It’ll probably be there for 30 years.”

The board also adopted a resolution asking the state department of education to approve the hiring of current district paraprofessional Misty Gregory as a teacher, something that is required since she’s the wife of board member Travis Gregory, Powell said.

“She’s actually worked in the district for the last nine years as a paraprofessional, but has also been going to school to get her degree to teach,” he said. “She’s finished that up and even though she already works for the district, she would be changing positions, so it’s a process we have to go through. The board approved a resolution saying that they approve of her hiring.

“Now it goes to the state commissioner of education and he actually has to approve it. So, he’ll look over everything and hopefully approves it. She’s been a good employee for the district for nine years and has worked hard on her degree. Hopefully it’ll work out.”

The board also approved a new ALE paraprofessional position and a new security position for the elementary campus.

“Our school resource officer at the K-5 building, Dan Wilson, is retiring from the Berryville Police Department, and he does a really good job for us over on that side of the campus,” Powell said. “We’re going to create a position for him and instead of SRO he will be a commissioned school security officer and will still be over security on the K-5 campus.”

The board voted on school choice transfers, which include 14 new students coming into the district and 12 students leaving the district.

Also approved was the annual supplemental insurance renewal for students and extending school year services for special education students.

Powell reported the final attendance number of the year for the district was 1,774.

Board approved the resignations of Leah Etchison, Kourtney McCullough and Isabella Sadler as elementary teachers, Adam Brannon as middle school teacher, Cody Curtis and Jacquelyn Brand as high school teachers, Kristy Evans as elementary school nurse and Gerri Stuppy as intermediate school nurse.

Hires approved included Brooke Poole, Larina Cenobio, Shelby Hicks, Jodi Atchley, Taylor Smith, Morganne Ray and Raxhel Hasty as elementary teachers, Nancy Pruente, Kate Williams and Misty Gregory as intermediate teachers, Jeb Willborg and Sarah Wages as middle school teachers, Gracen Agent and Samantha McKnight as high school teachers, Jasah Jones, Wendy Wheeler and Madi Jurez as special education teachers, Kristen Whetham as assistant athletic director, Michaela Chaney as elementary nurse, Michael Maule as ALE Paraprofessional, Hilary Coley and Margie Tom as special education paraprofessionals, Ashton Smith as technology paraprofessional, Hilary Parks as intermediate secretary, Jessica Jackson as intermediate nurse, Samantha Burke as cheer coach, Joni Kelch as bus route driver and Jeff Odell as custodian.