Parade sparks debate
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/64917/
ROGERS — The positive comments that usually open a meeting of the Rogers School Board took an unusual turn Tuesday when the announcement of a new community event turned into a debate about the Homecoming Parade.
Representatives from the Rogers Booster Club and the Rogers Noon Rotary were on the agenda to introduce the new event, possibly the start of a new tradition. Community Pride Week would be scheduled each year for the week before the game between the two city high schools, said Mike Gower of the Noon Rotary. The celebration of community pride might discourage vandalism that can result from a close rivalry, he said. Both student councils, both bands and all the spirit squads would be involved, he said.
Superintendent Janie Darr explained that both high-school principals had recommended the cancellation of the Homecoming Parade this year. The new event might replace the parade, she speculated.
“ Everybody loves a parade, ” Rogers Mayor Steve Womack said, when Darr invited him to speak. “ Some traditions deserve to have standing as we pass through this unprecedented change. ” He recommended that the community should be involved in the decision to abolish the Homecoming Parade.
Senior class sponsor Patti Jennings was also in the audience. She reminded the board that the rivalry between classes as they built floats got out of hand some years back. Eventually, float building by all three classes had to be closely supervised at the National Guard Armory to ensure that no one’s private property was vandalized. There’s no space big enough to build all the floats from two high schools, she said.
There’s also a scheduling issue, she said. It’s impossible for students to complete a full day of classes at 3: 40 p. m. and be ready to march in a 4 p. m. parade.
Rogers High School administrative assistant Billi Sue Hankins disagreed. The seniors deserve a parade, she said, and she appealed to the board and the administration to make it happen.
Finally, Board President Joye Kelley suggested a community meeting to talk about the parade. While it’s usually the student councils and school administrators who make that kind of decision, she hopes that with community input, a consensus can be reached. The meeting will be at 7 p. m. Thursday at the administration building. Womack promised to attend.
Much later in the meeting, the board learned that the district is owed approximately $ 18, 000 for school lunches. Food Service Director Margie Bower presented new guidelines for students charging meals.
In the past, the schools allowed elementary- and middle-school students to “ charge” lunches if they didn’t have money in their accounts. Although their parents were notified of the delinquent accounts, the students could still eat at school. Bowers suggested changing the guidelines to reflect the change in grade configurations. Under the new guidelines, elementary-school students will be allowed to continue to charge meals, and the account will be turned over to a collection agency if it reaches a negative balance of $ 50 with no payment arrangement.