History of Jim Stone Elementary School
Tremendous growth experienced in Conway throughout the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, with the greatest concentration on the west side of town, made it apparent to school and civic leaders that a new elementary school should be built in west Conway. Led by Mr. Raymond Simon, Superintendent, and Mr. Cecil Boothe, Principal, Jim Stone Elementary was built to accommodate this growth. Opening on August 19, 1993, Jim Stone was home to 276 students and 45 faculty and staff. The building, designed by Polk, Stanley, Saunders, and Associates, was built by Nabholz Construction Corporation with an approximate capacity of 500 students. The school was named after Mr. Jim Stone, retired Assistant Superintendent, who served Conway Public School district for 27 of his 40 years in education.
The land for Jim Stone Elementary was purchased from then Conway Mayor, David Kinley. At this time, the area was almost completely a horse and cattle ranch. There was not a through road near the campus. During the first year, Principal Cecil Boothe, had a contest with students to name the school mascot. A student noticed the horses grazing in a pasture not far from the school, and suggested that the mascot should be the Stallions. After a student vote, the school became the Jim Stone Stallions.
A very active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) made it possible to find volunteers and to fund the beginnings of a playground. Led by PTA President Julie Adkisson, additional funding was acquired to add a track during the 1994-1995 school year.
Susan Young assumed the role of principal from 1998-2004. During her tenure, the school continued to be one of the highest performing schools in the state. Under her leadership, funds were raised with the assistance of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to provide cutting edge technology for the school in the form of surround sound teacher microphone systems and Smart Technology.
After serving as the assistant principal for five years, Mark Lewis assumed the position of principal in August of 2004, where he continues today. As growth continued throughout west Conway, enrollment spiked to 635 students, until the addition of a new elementary school in the area, Woodrow Cummins Elementary, in 2008. Current enrollment is 430 students. In 2011, the school was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Out of 180,000 schools in the United States, Jim Stone Elementary was performing as one of the top 316 schools in the nation.
The land for Jim Stone Elementary was purchased from then Conway Mayor, David Kinley. At this time, the area was almost completely a horse and cattle ranch. There was not a through road near the campus. During the first year, Principal Cecil Boothe, had a contest with students to name the school mascot. A student noticed the horses grazing in a pasture not far from the school, and suggested that the mascot should be the Stallions. After a student vote, the school became the Jim Stone Stallions.
A very active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) made it possible to find volunteers and to fund the beginnings of a playground. Led by PTA President Julie Adkisson, additional funding was acquired to add a track during the 1994-1995 school year.
Susan Young assumed the role of principal from 1998-2004. During her tenure, the school continued to be one of the highest performing schools in the state. Under her leadership, funds were raised with the assistance of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to provide cutting edge technology for the school in the form of surround sound teacher microphone systems and Smart Technology.
After serving as the assistant principal for five years, Mark Lewis assumed the position of principal in August of 2004, where he continues today. As growth continued throughout west Conway, enrollment spiked to 635 students, until the addition of a new elementary school in the area, Woodrow Cummins Elementary, in 2008. Current enrollment is 430 students. In 2011, the school was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Out of 180,000 schools in the United States, Jim Stone Elementary was performing as one of the top 316 schools in the nation.