Students plan fundraisers to save Decatur’s schools
Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008
DECATUR ó Students, with the help of parents and community members, are working hard to help raise the money needed to keep Decatur schools open.
Although time is short ó the Arkansas State Board of Education is meeting on July 31 to decide the if the school will be annexed into another district ó students and parents hope the money and community support will help convince the state board to keep the Decatur schools open.
Plans for several fundraisers have been set since July 7, when over 70 students and parents met in the high school library to brainstorm for ideas to support the school.
Parent Becky Arnold organized the meeting after her children and their friends asked her what they could do to help.
ì Itís a good thing when the kids want to stand up for something they believe in, and I want to be there for them, î Arnold said.
So far, four events have been planned, and more are in the works ï A car wash will be held every Friday in July in the Hooperís Grocery parking lot on Main Street in Decatur. The car wash will begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Hot dogs and baked goods will be sold, and on July 25 catfish dinners will be sold, beginning at 10: 30 a.m. and throughout the afternoon.
ï A chili supper and auction followed by a benefit concert is planned for July 19 at the Veterans Park on Arkansas Highway 102, on the west side of Decatur. Events will begin at 2 p.m. and continue until dark. Dinner will be served around 5 p.m. There will be childrenís games and prizes, a silent auction of donated items, and a whole butchered hog will be raffled. Students and community members are also donating a dayís labor to be auctioned off. At 7 p.m. musicians will begin playing for the weekly Acoustic Jam, and the benefit concert will begin at 8 p.m. For more information, contact Becky Arnold at 644-0769.
ï A coed softball tournament is planned for July 26 and 27 at the Edmondson Ball Field, along Arkansas Highway 102 on the west side of Decatur. The tournament is open to players age 14 and up and there is a minimum of 10 players to a team. Family and church teams are welcome. The entry deadline is July 21, and there is a $ 100 entry fee. For more information, contact Robert Prelle at 787-0026.
ï A beach party benefit is planned for July 26 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Decatur city pool. There will be games, contests and two-on-two basketball in the pool. Hot dogs and refreshments will be served, and there will be chances to win donated items. Lifeguards, some of whom are students, will be donating their time to keep the pool open. For more information, contact David Cook at 752-3838.
Elizabeth Roberts, a senior this fall, had the innovative idea of setting up a Facebook account to let all the students know whatís going on at the school. On the group site titled, ì Join and Help Save Decatur Schools, î students can also find the addresses to state representatives and get details about the upcoming fundraisers.
Roberts has attended Decatur schools since Kindergarten, and said her parents chose Decatur schools over Bentonville schools because they wanted her to have the advantages of a smaller school.
ì Itís so close to our senior year. It would really mean a lot to keep the school open, î Roberts said.
Tessa Foreman, also a senior this fall, is helping set up the car wash on Friday, playing in the softball tournament, and participating in the other events.
Foreman wants to graduate from Decatur schools, just like both of her parents, her aunt and sister. Her mother and grandparents have also taught for many years in the district.
ì Everybody knows everybody. We learn more because we get more one-on-one time with the teachers, î she said.
More fundraisers are being planned, but there just isnít enough time to get them all in by the July 31 deadline, Arnold said.
ì At this point we just want to get through this month and show the state school board we want to make this happen, î she explained.
ì Itís really important that the kids know the community is there to support them, î Arnold said, ì Really itís all about the kids. î
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