Benton School Board approves 2008-09 school calendar
By LEWIS DELAVAN News editor

The Benton School Board has approved the 2008-09 school calendar.

Classes will start Monday, Aug. 18, Superintendent Tony Prothro said. Staff development days preceding school will be Aug. 12-14.

No classes will be held Friday, Nov. 14, because of the Arkansas Education Association convention.

Thanksgiving holidays will be Nov. 26-28. Christmas break will be Monday, Dec. 22 through Friday, Jan. 2.

No classes will be held Monday, Jan. 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and on Monday, Feb. 16, for George Washington's birthday.

Spring break will be March 23-27. No classes will be held on Good Friday, April 10.

Classes will be out Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day. Friday, May 29, is the last sched- uled day of classes, but make-up snow days will begin Monday, June 1, if needed.

In other business, Panther Pride awards were given a number of students, including:

• Special Olympics: Brandon Alexander, Mark Allinson, Ulenzen Darrough, Jacob Long, Alex Pearson, Mercedes Reed, Janelle Sanders and Tony Vittatow. Their teachers are Deb Law, Mary Franklin, Misty Curry and Leah Hays.

• Cheerleaders at Benton Junior High School and Benton High School were cited for honors earned in the past year.

Also, BJHS science teacher Donna Reynolds and students displayed an "Embrace Space" poster. Students signed the poster on Space Day, following a study of space exploration in 2005.

The poster was sent the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and flew on a space shuttle mission, Reynolds said.

The poster was recently returned in good condition. "We were pretty excited to see it again," she said.

Howard Perrin Elementary School Principal Gina Holstead and physical education teacher Susan Covington said participation grows annually in the school's Little Rockers marathon group. Students keep a record of their training for the Little Rockers race at the annual Little Rock Marathon.

Thirty-three trained in 2006, when Covington started the Howard Perrin group; 64 the next year and 122 this year, Holstead said.

Resignations (all effective at end of 2007-08 contract):

• Benette Cook, Caldwell Elementary School nurse;

• Holly Trantham, Benton High School business education teacher and Pep Stepper coach;

• Mike Harris, Alternative Learning Center director.

Retirements (all effective at end of 2007-08 contract):

• April Counts, BHS English teacher;

• Glenda Stueart, BHS math teacher.

Hired: • Sabrina Pertuis, Benton Junior High School kitchen helper.

During the time for citizen's participation, parent Pam Sloper told the board it should consider an additional graduation honor for excelling students who don't pursue advanced classes. Sloper said students sometimes opt to not take honors courses, but still maintain a high grade-point average.

President Andy Bloxom said the board would review the request.