Teacher of the Dierks School District retires after 47 years in education

Tuesday, Board Members of the Dierks approved a motion to hire Jacob Chism as the head boys’ basketball coach for the 2023-2024 school year, as per the salary schedule. Chism, who recently coached at Russellville is a native of Pottsville and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas.

The board also approved another motion and it passed unanimously to hire Karley Stapp, Neesha Kirby, and Nina Hernandez as elementary teachers for the 2023-2024 school year, as per the salary schedule along with the resignations of Roddy Smith, Terri Shelton,  Kaci Quinn and Sharon Smith which went into effect May 9th 2023. Mrs. Smith taught her entire career at Dierks and is retiring after 47 years in education.

There was a motion made by Justin Simmons and seconded by Laykon Graham to approve the resolution appointing Grover Hill as member to the DeQueen/Mena Education Service Cooperative Board of Directors.  Also during the meeting there was a motion made by Jeffrey Mounts and seconded by Laykon Graham to approve school choice transfers: 24 students into the district and five out of the district. There was a motion made by Laykon Graham and seconded by Justin Simmons to accept two legal transfers: one out of the district and one into the district. All were in favor of those motions.