GF board approves discounted student passes for athletic events

The Green Forest School District is giving students a cheap way to attend sporting events and support the Tigers.

At its regular monthly meeting held Tuesday, Aug. 19, the district’s board of directors approved using student passes at a greatly discounted price for admission to Tigers athletic events.

“Our board had expressed the need to get more students into the games so they could cheer on our teams, and also be in a safe, nurturing environment here at the school,” Green Forest Superintendent David Gilmore said. “The board wanted to make it more affordable to our students and families.”

The board developed a similar system last year, but didn’t get it going until near the end of football season, Gilmore said.

“Not as many students took part in it last year, so we wanted to get off to an early start this year,” he said.

Under the new system, athletes in all sports can get into any sporting event throughout the year for free.

Non-athlete students can purchase a fall sports pass, good for admission to all football, volleyball, cross country, golf, wrestling and basketball events, for $15.

A spring sports pass is available, also at $15, for admission to track, baseball, softball and soccer events.

For students interested in all sports, an all-year pass, good for admission to all events, can be purchased for $25, Gilmore said.

“Our student-athletes get into events free as a perk for participating in a sport,” Gilmore said. “Our students that are not athletes will have the opportunity to purchase a fall season pass, a spring season pass, and a year-long pass if they choose.

“It’s at a great cost reduction to our students and their families.”

The normal price for admission to events is $7 for adults and $5 for students, and is a price set by the conference, Gilmore said.

“That price is set by the conference so that you pay the same amount at any of our conference games,” he said. “Our pass will only work at our home events, but it is still a great value to the student.”

Students in the district’s EAST program are designing badges that will be used for the athletic passes, the superintendent said.

BOARD TERMS TABLED

The board, with only six members in attendance, couldn’t decide which direction it wanted to go in when it came to term limits.

Act 503 allows Arkansas school districts to select either four-year or six-year terms for school board members. The law requires that terms be staggered so that the same number of positions are up for election during each school board election, if possible.

School board elections can only occur in even-numbered years, under Act 503.

Three board members — Kenny Bonham, Rodney Hayhurst and Kayleen Powell — voted for fouryear terms, while Alechia Meador, Nicki Hill and Katrina Newberry opted for six-year terms, Gilmore said.

“A few board members were interested in a six-year term, stating that they felt they needed that long of a term to make a difference,” the superintendent said. “Others felt like it should be similar to other elected officials with a four-year term.”

With the vote on each 3-3 the board voted to table the topic until next month’s meeting.