West Carroll School Board Honors Retirees, Top Readers

By Brad Sam, brad@mckenziebanner.com • June 11, 2025 • Updated July 12, 2026

From the Jun 17, 2025 e-Edition

Sandra Hudgins (right), primary school cafeteria manager, retired after 30 years of service. She was presented a plaque by Director of Schools Preston Caldwell.

ATWOOD (June 5) — The West Carroll Special School District Board of Education honored two retirees during the regular meeting Thursday and also recognized exceptional readers from the elementary school.

Dwight Knight, elementary school teacher, retired after 41 years of service. Sandra Hudgins, primary school cafeteria manager, retired after 30 years of service. Each retiree was presented a plaque of appreciation.

The cafeteria at the junior/senior high school was packed with students and family members as WCES Principal Dr. Jessica Williams and librarian Pat Hudgins recognized students who achieved the goal of reading 100 books or earning 100 Accelerated Reader points this year as well as the overall achievements of the third-sixth grade classes.

The dozens of students in attendance stood and announced their final book or point total.

The third grade class read a total of 3,859 books and earned 1,735 AR points. The class increased its average reading level by 1.34 grades from the previous spring.

The fourth grade class read 4,679 books for 2,811 points. Fifth grade read 2,193 books for 2,010 points, and sixth read 1,555 books for 3,104 points.

Overall, 32 percent of WCES students achieved the 100 book/point goal.

The board approved the lone bids received for two HVAC units at the junior/senior high. Newbill's Heating and Air of Milan was the only respondent with offers of $11,450 for an 8.5-ton unit and $18,750 for a ten-ton unit.

Other approvals by the board included: the sale of band surplus items, a July field trip for FFA students to Wildersville, the 2025-26 board calendar and the creation of a Student Advisory Committee as part of the Student Government Association. The committee will work with Director of Schools Preston Caldwell on district-wide issues.

Junior/Senior High Principal Dr. Adam Douglas announced that high school students would transition to a five-block schedule this fall. Freshmen and sophomores will have Math and English year-round under the new system.

Director Caldwell announced he will undergo knee replacement surgery soon but expects to be back to work in time for the July 10 meeting, which he says will be a busy meeting addressing many policies.

The meeting adjourned in 45 minutes.