The Mena School Board held its regular January meeting on Monday in the district administration building. This meeting was postponed from the previous Tuesday due to frozen precipitation.
The Meeting began with the superintendent’s report. Dr. Lee Smith told those attending that January was School Board Appreciation Month and board members were presented with gifts of thanks from each building’s faculty and staff. Building principals, who presented the gifts, echoed Smith’s comments of thanks and appreciation.
Smith then notified the board that their Statements of Financial Interest were due January 31st, 2024. The Arkansas Statement of Financial Interest (SFI) Report is a disclosure report that is filed by certain public officials and candidates for public office in Arkansas. Under Arkansas law, individuals holding certain positions or seeking certain offices are required to file an SFI report with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
Smith then told the board that the Mena Alternative Education Program would be recognized at Alternative Education Day in Little Rock next month. Bridget Buckley, Celeste Ashcraft, Shanda Craig, and students will be representing Mena at the event.
Dr. Smith next asked the board for their support in pursuing a waiver from the state to start the 2024-2025 academic calendar prior to August 19th, 2024. The Arkansas State Board of Education may grant a school district a waiver to begin school on an earlier or a later date if the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education determines that there exists a material and substantial reason for the school district to begin school on an earlier or a later date. The board approved the resolution to seek a waiver.
Next on the agenda was a proposal for legal services. Smith recommended that the district retain the Maddox and Maddox Law Firm. The board approved.
The renewal of the board’s legal liability insurance was next on the agenda. The Cadence Insurance Company submitted a premium of $9533.00 for general liability and $541.00 for professional liability. The board approved.
Assistant Superintendent Bridget Buckley went over the winter 2024 model policy updates. She noted several minor changes and the board approved.
Project updates were next on the agenda and Dr. Smith noted that the additional access control systems had started being installed. He also noted that the value engineering estimates on the renovation and expansion of the concession stand and bathrooms at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium had been completed. That estimate was 42.8% higher than anticipated. After a brief discussion, the board agreed that it would be in the district's best interest if they pursued alternatives or at the least negotiated an amount that was more in line with the budget.
Next, the board approved the most recent financial report. Smith stated that the district remains on target for the end of the school year.
The renewal of the superintendent’s contract was next on the agenda. The board expressed their approval of the job Dr. Smith has been doing and voted to extend his contract one additional year to remain a three-year contract.
Finally, in personnel, the board accepted the retirement of Mena Middle School Principal Todd Coogan. As well as the resignation of MMS Secretary Terri Harrison and MMS Nurse Brooke Maechler.