Springdale Schools Administration

Around the District With Rick Schaeffer

February 5, 2009           

     Disastrous weather only temporarily sidetracked the work of the Springdale School District because of the enormous efforts of so many in our community. Last week’s hardships became an opportunity to display the character of our people.

     It took superb leadership and work ethic for our 24 schools, our Early Childhood Center and our Alternative Learning Center to operate in a “normal” manner this week. Anyone who drove around Springdale late last week would have doubted the ability to resume classes by Monday.

     The administrative team, led by Superintendent Dr. Jim Rollins, met frequently last week attempting to determine every detail that would have to be covered for schools to safely reopen. As late as Friday the outlook for having school Monday was grim.

     By Sunday, when Mayor Doug Sprouse and Sam Goad of the street department joined our meeting, things were looking better. Thanks to the incredible efforts of workers from SWEPCO, Ozarks Electric and Carroll Electric, power had been restored to each of the Springdale school sites. Just a day earlier there were several schools still without power.

     Springdale Police Chief Kathy O’Kelley, her staff and force of officers along with the Springdale fire department, headed by Duane Atha and the school district’s maintenance crew, led by Dr. Ronnie Bradshaw, labored countless hours to insure a safe environment for students as well as members of the community.

     While all of us bemoan the loss of so many beautiful trees, including some of the most majestic trees on the Thompson Avenue side of the District Administration Building, we know that spring will still bring a resurgence in greenery that will further ease the pain caused by the ice.

     Parents, no doubt, were thankful to be transporting their children to school again. Some of them were still without power in their homes even as their kids enjoyed the warmth of the school buildings. Those in the outer reaches of our district will feel the effects longer than most of us.

     The industrious nature of our citizens was on display throughout the weekend as piles of sawed limbs could be seen stacked neatly for pickup in neighborhoods all over Springdale. The cleanup effort made it safer for those kids who walk to school to negotiate their way with less difficulty than they might have faced.

     As spring progresses our spirits will be lifted by the warmth that will come to our area but few of us will forget those cold nights spent bundled under blankets while fully clothed, attempting to sleep in frigid homes. Hopefully we will never take the services of heat and electricity for granted again.

     Certainly we should never take for granted the people who worked so hard to help us regain a comfortable environment. When we see members of the power crews, police officers, firemen, city workers and our district’s maintenance team, we should thank them and tell them how much we appreciate them.

     Gratitude for what we have may be the greatest attribute any of us can gain from the ice storm of 2009. Let’s hope it’s many years before we have to learn lessons under such uncomfortable circumstances again.