MENA SCHOOL BOARD MEETING 11/19/24
The November meeting of the Mena School Board was held on Tuesday in the District Administration Building and there was a light agenda.
The meeting began with the Superintendent’s Report. Dr. Lee Smith quickly recognized Assistant Superintendent Bridget Buckley who reported on academics and the ATLAS interim assessments. Buckley stated that by the end of the week, the district will have completed all interim assessments in grades 3 through 10 in science, math, reading, and writing. These assessments help us look at individual standards and see where students are progressing and might need some intervention. It also allows us to judge our pacing and instructional practices. Kindergarten through 3rd Grade have taken over 800 testlets that are designed based on the screeners given at the beginning of the year. Those screeners helped us understand where students were on level for their grade and where they weren’t. The testlets help identify where the student is lacking in reading or math. The data is helping the staff at Louise Durham and Holly Harshman know where to focus their efforts. It also helps us to see where our instruction is working well.
In new business, the board voted in favor of the recommended expulsion of two students due to failure to comply with the Second Chance Program contracts. Students who are recommended for expulsion may be eligible to appeal to the Superintendent of Schools for placement in the Second Chance Program to avoid expulsion. This program is designed to allow eligible students a possibility of continuing to stay on track to graduation with their peers as a Mena student but under strict probation and with specific limitations.
Next on the agenda was approval of the School Choice Policy update followed by a School Choice Capacity Resolution being read. A district can claim a lack of capacity when it reaches 95% of its maximum student capacity. Students may be accepted unless additional staff is needed or if the student is serving an expulsion.
The board also approved a revision in the Classified Salary Schedule to correct the miscalculation of a pay rate.
Dr. Smith then informed the board that a second bid had been received for repairs to the bleachers at Jim Rackley Gymnasium. The bid was higher than the first bid of $22,184.00. The board voted to accept the first bid submitted by SOPA.
The board then voted to accept Rose Aircraft of Mena as a Community Service Partner. The new LEARNS Act now requires that students have 75 pre-approved Community Service Hours needed for Graduation. Approved partners, by law, allow students to earn those hours without the need for direct supervision of the school.
Dr. Smith then gave an update on projects and stated that the Hensley Activity Center is 99% complete. He also invited everyone in attendance to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, November 20th at noon.
The board then approved the latest financial report. Dr. Smith stated that the district’s revenue was $176,000.00 above expenses in October and recommended a $500.00 bonus for all district employees which was also approved.
Finally, in Personnel the board accepted the retirement of:
Dora Venable-Bus Driver
Teresa Clark-Secretary Holly Harshman Elementary
The resignation of:
Kendra Cooper-Paraprofessional Mena High School
The hiring of:
Jacqueline Romine-Paraprofessional Louise Durham Elementary
Teresa Tish Cox-Special Education Para Mena High School
Rhiannon Fisher-Secretary Holly Harshman Elementary