Oark Achievements Celebrated At Board Meeting
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SCHOOL BOARD COVERAGE – OARK/JASPER- SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE
Recognition of student and staff achievements opened the meeting of the Jasper School Board on Monday, June 15.
Oark student Cassidy Gosnell was recognized for placing third in two categories, K-3 color photograph and K-3 live action, at the Arkansas Association of Instructional Media (AAIM) Student Media Festival. Keira Edgmon also won third place in the grades 9-12 black and white photograph category.
The Board also recognized Sandy Allen, Oark media specialist, who was presented the 2026 Heloise Griffin Scholarship at the AAIM conference in Jonesboro earlier this month.
During the academic report, the Board reviewed data comparing district campuses to other schools in the OUR Educational Service Cooperative. Oark was noted as ranking first in seventh grade reading, math and science.
Kingston ranked first in all third grade subjects, and third in ninth grade algebra. Jasper ranked first in fifth grade reading, second in third grade language arts and reading, second in fourth grade science and second in seventh grade language arts and reading.
Kingston Update
Bryan Law, Kingston superintendent, provided a letter stating Kingston School met the conditions for the first 25% of funding it will receive from the Jasper School District.
Based on the third quarter average daily members of 185 students, Kingston will receive a total of $1,374,327, with a first installment of $343,581.75. This installment amount must be provided within 10 days from the date of the letter, June 15.
Jasper Superintendent Kim Liggett told the Board legislators have determined the district will be reimbursed for the money, though the timeline is vague.
Other Matters
–The Board approved the purchase of Benchmark Curriculum for kindergarten through sixth grades at a cost of $10,965.60.
–Policy updates for 2026-27 were approved as presented and include required legislative updates.
–Board members approved the student handbook and extracurricular handbook for 2026-27.
–The pay schedule for academic and activity stipends for the upcoming school year was approved, as was the schedule for other rates of pay for substitutes, sporting event staff, bus drivers, therapy services, tutors and summer workers.
–The Board voted to authorize the district to purchase school supplies for all students.
–An out-of-state trip for Jasper High School ball teams was approved for camps in Branson, Mo.
Personnel
Employed were Lorie Cantrell, Oark second grade teacher; April Willis, Jasper kindergarten teacher; Brent Edgmon, Jasper campus mechanic; Sheila Murphy, Jasper campus summer worker; Nicole Bellinger, Kingston summer worker; Stephanie Alderson, Oark summer tutoring; and Diana Thomas, Jasper summer feeding program.
The resignation of Brittany Brisco was accepted.
The next meeting of the Jasper School Board will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 20, at the Jasper campus.
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Published In This Week’s Edition
This story appears in the June 17, 2026, edition of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Johnson and Franklin counties.
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