The August meeting of the Mena School Board was held in the district administration building on Tuesday, August 20th with all members present.
The meeting began with the superintendent’s report in which Dr. Lee Smith informed the board that the district had been chosen to receive a High Impact Tutoring Grant. The grant is awarded by the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and will be facilitated by the Bailey Group. The tutoring program will begin the last week of September and will focus on 4th and 5th grade literacy.
In new business the board approved the removal of a certain student from the second chance program and reinstated expulsion.
The board approved the repair of cameras in the Mena High School parking lot at a cost of $11,475.86. The cameras were damaged by a recent lightning strike.
Next the board approved the purchase of new cameras for the high school journalism classes at a cost of $14,480.28.
New community service partners were next on the agenda. The board approved the addition of Sam Heath Custom Cabinets, New Heights Gymnastics, and the Mountain View Methodist Church.
The board then approved an addition to the student handbook at Holly Harshman Elementary to include the banning of energy drinks on campus.
District Maintenance Supervisor Danny Minton then updated the board on projects. He stated that there had been a few air conditioning issues to start the school year but they had been addressed. Minton also said that the roof had been completed on the Hensley Activity Center and that the plumbing was close to being completed. He is anticipating the HAC to be completed by mid October.
Dr. Smith added that parking lot improvements are on the horizon. He asked the board to approve the resurfacing of the parking lot at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium with gravel at a cost not to exceed $35,000.00. The board approved.
Next on the agenda was the financial report. Dr. Smith said that revenue in July once again outpaced expenses.
Finally in personnel the board accepted
Resignations:
Tanesha Chambers - LDE PK Paraprofessional
Charles Morgan - On-call bus driver only
Rachel Dover - On-call bus driver only
Landon Dover - On-call bus driver only
Restructuring:
Leah Taylor - From LDE PK Para to LDE Para with contract day changed from 184 to 179 days.
Hire:
Ashten Bowser - LDE teacher
Vincent Coleman - bus driver
Mark Mabry - on-call bus driver
Justin Head - on-call bus driver
Randy Peters - ½ time pm On-call bus driver
Chad Arnold - ½ time am On-call bus driver
Logan McCourtney - ½ time am. On-call bus driver.