Growing pains?

Enrollment numbers tell the story in the Vilonia School District.

Superintendent Dr. Frank Mitchell reported to board members Monday night that there are 2,714 students in the district, up 79 students from the same time last year.

The moral of that story, Mitchell believes, is that patrons need to pass a 5.5-mill increase in the Tuesday, Sept. 21, school election to build a new $8 million middle school.

Sixth-grade teacher Betty Baxter agreed during the board meeting that the middle school is out of room with "maybe a closet" left.

Vilonia Elementary Principal Mark Crowder remarked, "We're using our closets," which brought laughter from those present.

Crowder said prior to the meeting, "We're using closets for people and kids and that's the truth."

A new middle school for grades 5, 6 and 7 would move the fifth grade out of the elementary school and make room for existing programs, he said. The building would accommodate 900 students.

At the middle school, Baxter said, "We had to hire a new teacher last week, and we had to rearrange several students' schedules to get the numbers down. There are just bodies everywhere."

The bathrooms and cafeteria are two problem areas.

"They (students) spend more time waiting in line for lunch than enjoying lunch."

She said middle school students are "scattered" among four buildings, even being bused across Highway 64 to the old gym for classes.

Mitchell said Vilonia is a growing community, and he doesn't see that slowing down any time soon.

"I think the growth in this area is just going to accelerate," Mitchell said.

"Housing out here's pretty well maxed out," and developers are building subdivisions to meet the needs, he said.

The expansion east of Conway, including the Conway Commons shopping center, has contributed to Vilonia's growth, Mitchell maintained.

A decision on a proposed Vilonia bypass will play a role in that growth as well, he added.

Mitchell also told board members that he was notified that Friendship Baptist Church, not the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department, will be used as a polling place.

In other business:

After an executive session, the board hired Teresa Atkinson as a counselor through a grant received to work with suspended and expelled students; Kelley Lovelady, vocal music; Kim Mitchell, part-time nurse; Shanda Sutton, Eagles Landing; Sarah Davenport, aide; Tamara Tallant, food service worker; Amy Hobbs, elementary teacher; Tiffany Shannon, custodian; Joy Moore, aide; Carol Moore, middle school teacher; Karen Caldwell, night custodian; Andra Boren, food service; Amber Baker and Misti Beck, day care workers; accepted the resignations of Brandi Keedy, kindergarten; Kathy Greer, food service, Wilma Winningham, bus driver; Tammy Reach, food service manager.

Mitchell reported on a $300,000 grant the district is receiving over a two-year period to provide services to students who have been suspended or expelled. Mitchell said students will receive counseling and do community service work.

"This is really a plus for us," Mitchell said of the grant.

Space is a problem for the in-school suspension program, and board members approved spending $39,341 for a portable building, paid for with the grant.

Deborah McAfee, assistant principal at Vilonia Primary School, wrote the grant.

She said the idea is to try to prevent suspensions and expulsions by placing students in a structured environment and teach them to give something back to the community. Students caught smoking, for example, might have to visit a cancer treatment center and clean cigarette butts off the highway.

"It would keep the kids from having a vacation at home while they're suspended," she said.

Board member Jim Wooley was absent.

(Staff writer Tammy Keith can be reached by e-mail at tammy.keith@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238.)