12 Jul 2021 Despite pandemic, volunteers donated nearly 20,000 hours to serve PCSSD schools
PULASKI COUNTY – Donating nearly 20,000 hours of service, volunteers for Pulaski County Special School District stepped up to the challenge and assisted schools in unique ways during the 2020-2021 school year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PALS, People Assisting Local Schools, are an integral part of the PCSSD community. The volunteers are parents, grandparents, retirees, business volunteers and partners, police departments and more. Volunteers help with a wide variety of tasks to keep the school functioning and assist in each student’s success. During the 2020-2021 school year, 19,588 hours contributed were valued at $498,123!
Every year, there are four categories of awards given to district volunteers. Those categories recognize service at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Retta Patrick Awards: The Retta Patrick Awards are presented to individuals who have contributed the highest number of volunteer hours in the district’s elementary and high school level. The elementary school volunteer with the most hours (1,205) is Erica Bulloch at Baker Elementary School. The high school volunteer with the most hours (590 hours) is Faustine Smith from Mills University Studies High School. This is the fifth consecutive year Smith has won this award. This is the first year for Bulloch.
Bob Reynolds Awards: Bob Reynolds Awards are given to the individual who has contributed the most volunteer hours in the district’s middle schools and to the middle school with the most volunteer hours per student. The middle school volunteer with the most hours (332 hours) is Melissa McGibbony from Joe T. Robinson Middle School. The middle school with the most volunteer hours per student is Joe T. Robinson Middle School. Last year Robinson Middle won the award for most volunteer hours per student as well as the individual volunteer at a middle school award. Robinson Middle has won the middle school volunteer award for more than ten years in a row!
Harold Measel Awards: Harold Measel Awards are given to the elementary and high schools with the highest number of volunteer hours per student. The elementary school with the most hours per student is Baker Elementary. The high school with the most hours per student is Joe T. Robinson High School. This is the first year that Robinson High School has won the award since the inception of the PALS award program.
