Stories by Rose Ann Pearce
RSSMusic, Education Come Together For Students
Fourth-, Fifth-Graders sing, play with Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra
Music and education came together Friday when 1,600 fourth- and fifth-graders played recorders alongside the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra in a program promoted by the renowned New York venue, Carnegie Hall. Continue reading...
Greenland Approves $500 Pay Hike For Teachers
Support personnel will receive 1.5 percent pay increase
More than 80 teachers and administrators will see a $500 pay increase next school year. Continue reading...
'Charlie Brown,' Students Prepare For Book Sale
Charlie Brown is a celebrity around Vandergriff Elementary School since lending his name to a successful fundraising event for the Fayetteville Animal Shelter. Continue reading...
Students Honor Former Classmate
Class raises $1,400 for Olivia’s Basket
Bekah Smith, a seventh-grader at Holt Middle School, fondly remembers the tea parties she used to have with her friend, Olivia Ray. Continue reading...
Breakfast Celebrates Seniors' Year
The Class of 2013 at Fayetteville High School celebrated the end of the school year over scrambled eggs and bacon, and tonight, the same students will receive their diplomas, flip the tassels and begin to make their way in the world.
Continue reading...
Lincoln Sets Plan for Seeking New Superintendent
District Wants New Boss On Board By July 1
The Lincoln School Board plans to advertise nationally and statewide to find its next superintendent, hopefully by July 1. Continue reading...
Top Graduates Look Ahead
Seniors Reflect On Education, Future
Caitlyn Denison of Huntsville High School, Tony Li of Fayetteville High School and Adam Mendoca of Haas Hall Academy were named to NWA Media’s All-Academic Team 2013 based on nominations from school officials. Continue reading...
Lincoln Superintendent Resigns
Clay Hendrix has resigned his position as Lincoln school superintendent, effective at the end of the school year. Continue reading...
Ideas flow for community center
Yvonne Richardson Community Center holds public meeting
Heavy rain may have kept people at home Thursday, but there was no lack of ideas offered by a handful of residents for the future of the Yvonne Richardson Community Center. Continue reading...
High School Magazine Receives National, State Recognition
Students celebrate 2013 edition of Connotations with book signing party
A group of students at Fayetteville High School were cheering Wednesday night, celebrating the success of last year’s Connotations while launching the 2013 edition of the school’s literary magazine. Continue reading...
Superintendents Learn About New Laws
All High School Students Will Take At Least One Digital Learning Course
School officials in Northwest Arkansas are keeping a watchful, and in some cases, wary eye on what effect new laws will have on their districts. Continue reading...
Teachers Awarded $257,890 in Grants
Annual Celebration Of Education Draws 300
The Fayetteville Public Education Foundation handed out $257,890 in program and teacher grants and scholarships at its annual Celebration of Excellence on Monday. Continue reading...
Owl Creek School Considers Longer School Year
Continuous learning calendar similar to two other Fayetteville schools
Teachers and administrators at Owl Creek School are putting the finishing touches on information for parents about moving to a continuous learning calendar for the 2014-15 school year. Continue reading...
Students Participate In Robotics
Students were having a lot fun in a classroom Wednesday at Leverett Elementary School. Continue reading...
Standards To Impact Science Classes
New standards for teaching science, from kindergarten to 12th grade, focus on hands-on applications to engage students in an intense study of scientific concepts. Continue reading...
Students Learn Importance of Drinking Water
Fourth-Graders Encouraged to keep water bottles at their desks
Students at Asbell Elementary School are learning how important drinking water throughout the day is to their education. Continue reading...
Official Impressed By Farm To School Program
Over a lunch of local food products, national and state leaders in child nutrition received a crash course in Fayetteville School District’s farm to school lunch program.
“This was a wonderful meal,” said Kevin Concannon, U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary of food, nutrition and consumer services. Concannon was at Owl Creek School to learn about the district’s farm to school and sustainability programs. Continue reading...
New School Expands
Fundraising Campaign To Pay For New Preschool, Auditorium
The New School, one of Fayettevilles oldest private schools, is writing a new chapter in its history. Continue reading...
Districts Wait For Word On Funding
Pending legislation may give school districts a small increase in the formula used to distribute state dollars. Continue reading...
92 Honored At Banquet
Waitsman Receives Volunteer Of The Year Award
On any given day, hundreds of parents and grandparents and others attend Fayetteville schools, not as students, but as volunteers. Continue reading...
Basketball Trumps Library Expansion Discussion
The Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball team apparently trumped a discussion on the expansion of children’s services and space at the Fayetteville Public Library on Saturday morning. Continue reading...
School Safety Discussed
Expert: Building Relationships With Students Important
Building relationships between teachers and students might help prevent some school shootings but no single measure will stop all shootings, a national safety specialist told Northwest Arkansas superintendents. Continue reading...
Schools Concerned Over Legislation
New calculation gives more weight to students who qualify for free lunches
Some school superintendents in Northwest Arkansas are concerned about legislation that would cut money for economically disadvantaged students while others are planning how to use more money they could receive. Continue reading...
Elkins Students Try Out Laptops
The School District is buying laptop computers for every student in the high school, basing its decision on a recommendation from students. Continue reading...
Students Spend Break In China
Thoughts of standing on Chinese soil, seeing The Great Wall and visiting other historical and educational sites in Beijing, Xian or Shanghai overwhelmed Kyndal Atkinson. Continue reading...
School Projects Moving Forward In Washington County
The Farmington School District is just weeks away from breaking ground on the first phase of a high school, adding to the list of school construction in Washington County. Continue reading...
School District Leave Policy Revised
Revisions to a leave policy for support staff were approved by the Fayetteville School Board on Thursday over the objections of three members. Continue reading...
'Uncertain' Budget Outlined for Greenland Board
The financial picture for next fiscal year in the Greenland School District looks uncertain, depending on legislation in the current session in Little Rock, Superintendent Charles Cudney told School Board members Wednesday. Continue reading...
Elkins Hires New Superintendent
The Elkins School Board hired a veteran educator from Benton as its superintendent. Continue reading...
Five Honored for Contributions to Community
Recognition is part of Women’s History Month
Five Fayetteville women were honored Monday as Women of History for their varied contributions to the community from political activism to government service and business to founding a program for intellectually disabled to women’s athletics. Continue reading...
City Council mulls changes to ordinance for Farmers’ Market
Downtown market opens April 6
The City Council is considering amendments to a 40-year-old city ordinance that created the downtown Farmers’ Market. Continue reading...
Superintendents Concerned About School Choice Bill
Northwest Arkansas superintendents are concerned a bill on school choice before the Senate Education Committee threatens financial stability and educational efficiency and could result in a resegregation of schools districts across the state. Continue reading...
Head Start Trims School Year
Program Reacts To 5 Percent Federal Budget Cut
The Head Start program and six of its centers in Washington County plan to close 13 days earlier than usual this spring because of federal budget cuts. Continue reading...
New Junior High School Moving Ahead
SPRINGDALE — Construction on a new junior high school is moving ahead on schedule, meaning the School District should get the building from Baldwin & Shell, the contractor, in mid- to late-May and plans are being made to open the school in August. Continue reading...
E-Books Slip Into School Libraries
Middle School Students May Be Reading More
FAYETTEVILLE — Some students are reading more books in school libraries and not because the books are more interesting or the titles more intriguing. Continue reading...
Haas Halls Plans For Free-Standing Campus
FAYETTEVILLE — From its beginning in a dairy barn to classrooms in an old restaurant and fitness center, Haas Hall Academy may be on the verge of another move. Continue reading...
School Offers Short Seminars for Parents
Parents University scheduled for Saturday at Owl Creek School
FAYETTEVILLE — A program dealing with academic, health, behavior and other topics will be offered Saturday at Owl Creek School. Continue reading...
Blues Concert Blends Music, Civil Rights Lessons
FAYETTEVILLE — Seventh-graders jumped from their seats, clapping and dancing to the beat of the songs performed Friday by members of the Ozark Blues Society at McNair Middle School. Continue reading...
Board Updated On Teacher Evaluation System
FAYETTEVILLE — Principals and assistant principals at Fayetteville’s 14 schools are at work training to implement a new teacher evaluation system that will be piloted statewide next school year, a central office administrator told the School Board on Thursday. Continue reading...
Greenland Recycles Its Way to Top of Heap
GREENLAND — High school students have taken a 10-year-old school recycling program to new heights, gaining state and national recognition. Continue reading...
School Keeps Tax Money
Supreme Court Upholds Financing District Ruling
FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed Thursday money from a property tax increase approved in a school millage election cannot be used by the city for a downtown redevelopment project. Continue reading...
Fired Teacher Can Appeal To Circuit Court
FAYETTEVILLE — Tim Hollis, the popular teacher and debate coach fired early Tuesday, has the option to appeal the School Board’s decision to Washington County Circuit Court, according to the state law covering teacher terminations. Continue reading...
Hollis Termination Upheld By Fayetteville School Board
FAYETTEVILLE — After nearly nine hours of testimony and 40 minutes of deliberation, the Fayetteville School Board upheld the recommendation that Tim Hollis, a popular teacher and debate coach, be fired. Continue reading...
High School Moves Ahead with Small Learning Communities
FAYETTEVILLE — Small learning communities are causing small changes at the high school, according to students and teachers. Continue reading...
Schools Get Grants For Outdoor Facilities
Disc golf, track and recreation equipment will be added
FAYETTEVILLE — Three schools in Fayetteville have each received a $10,000 grant to establish outdoor recreation facilities as part of the state’s effort to fight obesity among children. Continue reading...
Owl Creek Lauded for Student Achievement
School One Of Four In Arkansas To Receive National Honor
FAYETTEVILLE — The band played, the choir sang and cheering students waved shiny silver pom-poms as Owl Creek School was recognized for academic achievement Tuesday. Continue reading...
Tax District Lawsuit Still Alive
Arkansas Supreme Court To Hear Oral Arguments
FAYETTEVILLE — A property tax case pitting the city against the School District will be argued Thursday before the state Supreme Court. Continue reading...
Debate Coach’s Hearing Slated
Board Mulls Termination
FAYETTEVILLE — The School Board has scheduled yet another hearing to consider the recommended termination of a high school teacher. Continue reading...
Lincoln Schools Close again
Students still sick with stomach ailment
LINCOLN — Students in Lincoln schools are still getting sick after a two-day break, so the district is closing again today and Monday. Continue reading...
Transition Study Begins at High School
Ninth-graders move to high school in 2015
FAYETTEVILLE — The intermingling of ninth-graders with older students at Fayetteville High School was an overarching concern as a 24-member committee met Monday to begin discussion of that transition in three years. Continue reading...
























