MENA SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, February 20th
The meeting began with the Superintendent’s Report. Dr. Lee Smith recognized the service of School Board Member Edd Puckett for his 18 years on the board. Puckett was attending his final meeting as a member of the board and was presented with a departing gift from the board and administration.
Smith then stated that the placement of a new resource officer at the Holly Harshman Elementary campus would be happening soon and the state should rule on the district’s application for a waiver, to start the 24-25 school year early, later this week.
Dr. Smith then yielded the floor to Assistant Superintendent Bridget Buckley and she shared the district’s academic update.
Highlights:
All students in K-5 made gains from October to January and are on a positive trajectory.
High Achievement in ELA: 9th grade (75% of students ‘ready’)
High Achievement in Math: 8th grade (60% of students ‘ready’)
Even though gains have been made, the current trajectory appears to show that the district will not reach the target of 70% on-level reading by the end of the year. However, the target can still be reached by examining data to pinpoint the areas of struggle, adjusting classroom instruction, and identifying ways to support individual students for interventions.
The expectation of reading and writing in all classrooms has been set. Practice and follow-through continue to be areas that we know we need to focus on.
The schools are continuing our work with The Bailey Group which is consulting with us on curriculum and instruction support for all staff K-12. Day one for secondary staff will be March 25th and all staff will have days this summer set aside for planning.
In new business, the school board member training report was given by Dr. Smith. He stated that all board members had met the minimum requirement for hours of training. With many earning a surplus of hours.
Next was the approval of the ASBA 2024 workers’ compensation. There was a premium increase of $5195.00 and it was approved by the board.
Number three on the agenda was an update to the Mena Middle School handbook. This is in regards to Algebra I being made available to 8th grade students in 24-25 and sets out criteria for students to qualify. The board approved.
Next was athletic worker pay. Gatekeepers and those on scoreboard duty will be paid $25.00 per game. That was approved.
District Maintenance Supervisor Danny Minton then gave a facilities update. Sixteen truckloads of steel have arrived for the construction of the new Hensley Activity Center and Petree Construction is expected to begin setting legs for the facility later this week. The new awning at Louise Durham Elementary has been completed and connects the main building with the cafeteria and gym. Preparations continue at Union Bank Park and Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium for the baseball, softball, and track seasons. Repairs continue on the HVAC at Mena High School stemming from a recent lightning strike.
Dr. Smith added that a total of three bids were received for the groundwork and turf at the activity center. The lowest bid was submitted by the Royal Ridge Co. for $315,095.00. That bid was approved by the board.
Smith also told the board that the district has not been able to hit the targeted expense for an addition to the concession and bathrooms at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium. The board voted to allow the superintendent to negotiate in good faith for that construction project.
The district received three bids for the installation of a new sound system in the MHS Performing Arts Center. Wells Audio submitted the low bid of $29,317.00 and it was approved.
The March board meeting was scheduled to fall during spring break so the board voted to move it to Thursday, March 14th.
Next on the agenda was the issue of school board members being elected by zone vs. at-large. In 2022
the state, as a result of the latest census, required Mena to draw up and elect board members by zone. Recently the state realized that a number of districts do not have the racial or cultural diversity that would require zones and have allowed districts to return to an at-large system. Therefore as each seat on the Mena School Board comes up for reelection it will become an at-large seat.
Dr. Smith then presented the board with the most recent financial report. Stating that revenue once again outpaced expenses in the past month and the district remains on target for the year.
In Personnel the board accepted the retirement of:
Annita Hendrix - MHS Social Studies - 37 years
Mitch Milne - MMS Custodian
Karen Wimberly - HHE 5th Grade
The board accepted the resignation of:
Vincent Coleman - Grounds and afternoon bus route
Tyler Smedley - Bus Driver
The board approved the hiring of:
Teresa Warner - MMS Principal
Michael Rugula - MMS Clerical
Janette Bernard - MMS LPN
Finally, the board approved the 2024-2025 Administrator Contract Renewal.