SPRINGDALE -- The School Board's newest member is Debbie Creek, a controller for Harps Foods and Springdale Chamber of Commerce board member, following a board vote Thursday.
The board briefly went into executive session during the meeting to discuss four candidates for the volunteer position held by Kathy McFetridge until earlier this month, when McFetridge was appointed to the Arkansas Board of Education. Kevin Ownbey, School Board president, said all of the candidates were excellent choices.
"She just came out on top," Ownbey said of Creek, pointing to her participation in the City Council Parent Teacher Association and other local education groups. "She already is the epitome of Springdale schools."
Ownbey declined to name the other candidates. He said Creek is an accountant working on her master's degree in business administration.
Creek didn't attend the meeting and didn't respond to an email requesting comment after the meeting. She spoke on the importance of helping the district at a 2016 Harps-sponsored kickoff event for the nonprofit Springdale Public Schools Education Foundation.
"The kids that you have are the business and community leaders of the future," she said.
District officials Thursday also announced honors for two employees. First, Ozark Guidance named Springdale High School head football coach Zak Clark its 2018 Mental Health Champion for his "Manhood Series" for team members. The 2-year-old program offers mentorship from community members and includes small support groups.
Ozark Guidance program coordinator Erin Goodwin wrote in an email to district officials the program shares skills and lessons in persistence, courage and emotional health. Clark was anonymously nominated, according to the email.
Clark on Thursday downplayed his importance, saying the project is a collaborative one.
"We want to talk about things that are tough and difficult for guys," he told the board.
Amy Sandy, an instructor at Sonora Elementary School, was also one of two educators in the state to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, assistant superintendent Kathy Morledge said.
Sandy said she'd gone to Washington to speak with officials at the U.S. Department of Education about her work.
"I just felt like what we do here in Springdale needed to get out," she told the board.
NW News on 07/27/2018