Do you want to be a substitute at Gentry Public Schools? Existing substitutes will be happy to learn about our increase in substitute daily pay! New substitutes can apply on the ESS website at https://ess.com/.
We just finished a fantastic Homecoming. Lots of memories were made. How many past homecoming queens and maids do we have out there? Comment below with your year if you were a Pioneer Homecoming Queen or Maid in the past. We'd love to hear from you! #PioneerPride
Gentry Public Schools is thrilled to share several significant updates from tonight's school board meeting.
New Assistant Superintendent Announcement:
We are delighted to announce that Devon Conrad has been appointed as the new Assistant Superintendent for Gentry Public Schools. Currently the Principal of Gentry Primary School, Mrs. Conrad will take over from Christie Toland, who is retiring at the end of this school year. Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Conrad when you see her! We will soon begin the process of hiring her replacement.
Increased Substitute Teacher Pay:
Just a reminder that our substitute teachers are contracted through ESS (formerly Subteach) and are not directly employed by us. We’re pleased to inform you that the board has approved ESS to offer a raise in the daily pay rate for our substitutes, aligning us with the highest-paying neighboring districts. This change is vital, as we had previously been one of the lowest-paying districts, making Gentry a less attractive option for substitutes. We hope this pay increase, along with enhanced promotion from both ESS and our school, will improve our fill rates and lessen the need for staff to cover classes.
Security Enhancements: CSSO Program:
Safety is our utmost priority. We’re excited to announce that the board has approved the establishment of a CSSO (Commissioned School Security Officer) program, following a presentation from detectives with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO). Many neighboring districts and schools statewide have already implemented CSSO programs.
CSSOs will be staff members who undergo comprehensive law enforcement training under BCSO’s authority and will add an important layer of security for our students and staff. The selection process for CSSOs will be highly selective to ensure only the most qualified individuals are chosen. We expect the program to be operational as early as late spring. The CSSO program will complement our existing security team, which includes two full-time School Resource Officers (SROs) and two part-time SROs.
Facility Security Enhancements:
We’re also happy to report that we’ve secured a safety grant that will enable us to make significant security upgrades to several of our buildings. This funding will facilitate the installation of a two-way radio system for communication between building administrators and the addition of fencing to control foot traffic at secondary entrances.
The board has approved locally funded initiatives to complete our master key system, which is nearly finished but needs a few final improvements. We are also moving forward with the implementation of more electronic door access controls at our middle and high schools to ensure these buildings meet the standards of our other facilities. These controls will feature badge access for staff, buzz-in cameras for students, and enhanced door security to prevent unauthorized entry. Additionally, staff will have access to more doors using their badges, while students can utilize the buzz-in camera system to be let in remotely, eliminating the need to knock for assistance. These upgrades will be installed at the entrances most commonly used by staff and students.
These facility improvements align with the priorities identified by the state. These updates signify meaningful progress in our district’s commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for our students and staff.
Remember, you can find staff and administrator contact information on our website, www.gentrypioneers.com; reaching out to us directly ensures you receive timely and accurate information through the appropriate channels if you have any questions. Thank you all for your ongoing dedication, and as always, go Pioneers!
Gentry vs. Berryville Community Tailgate
It’s time for our annual Chili Competition Tailgate! Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 chili pots. Since it’s Senior Night, we’ll start at 5:00 and finish in time for everyone to be seated for the Senior Night festivities. Let’s come together to celebrate our team’s amazing season—it’s our last regular season home game, and we want to pack the stands! We were just voted NWA’s best fanbase, so let’s show everyone why! Please sign up to bring a pot of chili or side dishes. We’ll provide paper products and homemade cinnamon rolls from Sleepy Hollow. Chili, cinnamon rolls, and Pioneer football—there’s no better way to spend a Friday night!
Go Pioneers!
Congrats Gentry Pioneer Fans! We won the title of Best Fanbase in NWA by a landslide over Har-Ber with a 97.6%. (OVER 36,000 VOTES!!!)
Go Pioneers!
Gentry wins Yarnell's Sweetest Play again - Week 6! That's two weeks this season!
https://www.5newsonline.com/video/sports/high-school/hs-football/sweetest-play/gentry-wins-yarnells-sweetest-play-of-week-six/527-7582ce25-daf6-4c0a-838b-01cd1ebc3738
Go Pioneers!
Important information for School Bus Safety Week including the Practice Bus Emergency Evacuations Schedule, Bus Safety Guidelines, and Bus Seating Changes. Please visit http://bit.ly/40bytBE for details.
The Pioneer Reminder is here! You can access this and past copies in the link below. For more information, check our website. Go Pioneers! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1He153_JAjnr4Z0LFSLm-Z38j9_h6qZ1l?usp=drive_link
Hey Gentry fans! We’ve made it to the FINALS in the competition to determine the best fan base in NWA! We really need your votes right now. You can vote as many times as you'd like using the form. Voting ends at 12:30 pm on Sunday. Click the link below and show your support for Gentry! https://bit.ly/3zTYdYv
Janae Fairchild is our featured educator this week. Mrs. Fairchild is a key part of the success of our FFA program at Gentry. Agriculture education is her passion, and it shows. This program requires a lot of sweat and labor to be successful. Thank you, Mrs. Fairchild, for your investment into the future of Gentry!
🎉 Superintendent Dr. Tyler Broyles is incredibly thankful for the wonderful gifts received on Boss's Day! A heartfelt thanks goes out to the admin and central office team for this thoughtful gesture. The comical card highlights the lighthearted fun we share in our offices.
Dr. Broyles humorously responded, "I’m so glad our staff gets to see me every day; it truly is an honor for them to get to work with me." 😂
Thank you all for making Boss's Day special! 🌟
Thank you!
Gentry Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tyler Broyles is pictured with Senator Tyler Dees, Representative Delia Haak, Gentry Mayor Kevin Johnston, and other members of the Western Benton County Partnership Board at the 2nd Annual Mike Simmons Service Above Self Award Luncheon. The event honored the 2024 Awardee, Attorney General Tim Griffin, at John Brown University.
Sharing and Caring of Benton County will collect applications and conduct interviews for the Christmas Assistance Program today, October 15, in the GMS/GHS Cafeteria from 4:00-7:00 pm. You will need to bring your completed application and required documentation with you. If you can't make it to this event, there are other events scheduled throughout the county.
Hello Pioneers! As we dive deeper into the school year, we’d like to share some helpful tips to promote success within our entire school community. This message serves as a friendly reminder of our stance on bullying and provides useful insights; it is not in response to any specific incident. Gentry Public Schools maintains a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. The term "bullying" can sometimes be misunderstood, especially in a school environment. We do not accept harmful comments or malicious behavior among students, and any such actions will be addressed in accordance with our student handbook. However, it’s essential to recognize that not all negative interactions qualify as bullying.
Bullying is defined as any intentional action, whether electronic, written, verbal, or physical, that:
Physically harms a student or damages their property; Significantly interferes with a student’s education; Is severe, persistent, or pervasive enough to create an intimidating or threatening learning environment; Disrupts the orderly operation of the school.
Bullying may also be considered harassment if motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, or other distinguishing characteristics.
Examples of bullying and harassment may include: Repeated or widespread taunting, name-calling, belittling, or mocking; Behavior intended to harm someone's relationships, such as gossip, rumors, or social exclusion; Non-verbal intimidation or menacing gestures;
Verbal or written threats of harm to a student or their belongings; Blackmail, extortion, or coercion; Blocking access to school property or facilities; Theft or hiding of personal items;
Stalking; Physical harm or damage to property; Cyberbullying through social media, messaging, websites, etc.
Parents can support their children by promoting kindness and respect towards others. Social media has increasingly become a platform for bullying, so we encourage you to closely monitor your child's devices. If your child faces bullying, it's important to understand that unkind people can be found at any age, which highlights the need for developing effective coping skills. However, this does not mean we will overlook any reports of bullying. It is vital to report any instances of bullying quickly so the school can respond appropriately. If we are not informed about a bullying incident, we are unable to address it.
We depend on timely reports through the proper channels to address bullying efficiently. Delayed reports or reports received through indirect channels, such as social media, may hinder our ability to investigate effectively. Thus, students are encouraged to share any bullying concerns with a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Or, they can utilize an Anonymous Bullying Report Form to report incidents without revealing their identity. Timely reporting is crucial, as evidence may diminish over time. It’s also important to note that bullying can occur outside of school grounds and hours, but if it impacts the school environment, it may still lead to disciplinary action.
There may be times when the evidence is insufficient to resolve a situation in a way that pleases everyone. While this may be frustrating, please understand that it is also intended to protect your child by ensuring that a clear standard of evidence is met before any disciplinary action is taken. As an educational institution, we have limits on the extent of our investigations, but we will utilize all available resources to thoroughly address any issue. Furthermore, student discipline is confidential, meaning we cannot share the details of any actions taken with other families. As a result, it may sometimes seem like an issue has not been addressed, but please know that we investigate every report thoroughly.
We hope you find these tips helpful in better understanding what bullying is and how you can assist in preventing and resolving it. Our goal in sharing messages like this throughout the school year is to remain proactive rather than reactive, and to demonstrate our commitment to keeping our community informed about our priorities and how they can contribute.
Happy Columbus Day!
Hello Pioneers! It's that time again! Your 6-1 and top-25 Pioneer Football Team is in the news again. Click the first link below to vote for Gentry in "Yarnell's Sweetest Play of Week Six! | 5NEWS." Also, in a separate poll, want to prove we have the best fans in NWA? Prep Sports NWA wants to know! Click the second link below to cast your vote for Gentry! Let's win both and show our Pioneer Pride!
Vote Gentry Yarnell's Sweetest Play - https://bit.ly/4eFPGHK
Vote Gentry Best Fans in NWA - https://bit.ly/48o8EQV
