The April meeting of the Mena School Board was conducted on Tuesday the 13th in the district administration building.
The initial item on the agenda was a resolution to adopt portions of a Polk County Disaster Mitigation Plan that applies to the Mena School District. That resolution passed with no discussion.
Next Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lee Smith updated the board on the status of ESSER funds. ESSER 1 was for the mitigation of Covid 19. ESSER 2 was for the recovery of lost learning & the district is still waiting on guidelines on how ESSER 3 funds can be used.
The end of year plan was next on the agenda. Specifically the district’s policy on the wearing of masks to mitigate the spread of Covid 19. After much discussion & input from each member the board voted to modify the mask policy. Much more discussion followed on what those modifications should be. This concluded with a motion to highly recommend the use of masks as an optional method of mitigation. After the motion was seconded the board approved & the new policy will take effect immediately.
Dr. Lee Smith then updated those in attendance on the status of an E-sports program. The board had approved the creation of this program previously & Smith had been approached by those involved to take the next step in making it come to fruition.
Dr. Smith then yielded the floor to Bridgette Buckley who would update the board on academic options for the 2021-2022 school year. Two options will be available to students. That being onsite learning & the Polk County Virtual Academy. Current blended students have already been contacted by Email & are asked to respond as soon as possible if they have not already done so.
The approval of financial reports passed with no discussion.
In personnel the board accepted the resignation of Shannon Miller from LDE & Kristy Cogburn from her position as choir director at MMS & MHS.
Alicia Farringer was reassigned to MMS RTI/Interventionist
The board approved the hiring of Hannah Crafton & Carrie Bland at LDE. Amber Labertew as Interventionist at MHS. Timothy Walston as counselor & career coach at MHS & finally James Waldon as secondary math at MHS.
Before adjourning, Dr. Smith spoke on new legislation concerning the literacy program & the formation of a new literacy committee that is tasked with evaluating what is offered & filling any gaps in the program.