Elementary school principal hired

Wayne Carr of Paragould has been hired as the new Eureka Springs Elementary School principal.

Carr was formally hired by the board of education Thursday evening during its regular meeting.

Thirty-four persons applied for the job being vacated by Debbie Davis. She has resigned to become principal of a new elementary school in Springdale this fall.

Carr is currently in charge of school improvements and staff development for the Greene County School District, in northeastern Arkansas, from his office in Marmaduke.

He was born and raised in Greene County. He has a bachelor of science in education and a master's of science in education from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He is working on a doctoral program in education leadership.

He is a certified administrator in preschool through 12th grades.

He says he has taught "just about everything," but has spent most of his career in administrative roles. He has taught in remedial math, social studies and Title 1 federal programs.

He has served as the district's federal programs coordinator and worked with curriculum development in Marmaduke.

"The school system there is all in one building," he said Thursday evening. "We have 750 students K-12 in Marmaduke, split K-6 and 7-12. We also have pre-school, day care and Head Start programs in the school."

He and his wife, Shalia, have been married 36 years. They have a son and a daughter and five grandchildren, all in Paragould.

Shalia is director of food service for the schools in Marmaduke.

In his community, Carr has been active as a member of the Paragould Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, serving as a coordinator between industry and the schools.

He has been involved with the Arkansas Scholars Program through the state Chamber of Commerce.

"We have been to Eureka a few times as visitors," Carr said. "I applied for the job looking for a new challenge, something different in my work. I think this will be an interesting job."

In other business, the board adopted the calendar for the 2004-2005 school year. There are 190 teaching days included, five inservice days for teachers, and five snow days.

School will start for students Aug. 19, 2004, and end June 3, 2005, depending on snow days.

Spring break is moved to March 21-25 in 2005.

The semester break will be Dec. 20 to 31, with Jan. 3 as the first day of classes after the break.

Inservice days will be Aug. 12, 16, 17, 18, Oct. 22, Nov. 24 , Jan. 17, March 18 and May 23.

The board adopted a "terrorism/evacuation" policy which includes guidelines for emergency evacuation of the school.

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Elementary school principal hired

Wayne Carr of Paragould has been hired as the new Eureka Springs Elementary School principal.

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