Mena School District

MMS 7th grade student Clara White! Getting it done!

A thank you to MPS & Aramark employees from an anonymous patron. Thank you and all that help make it possible for the food boxes. We appreciate it so much. It has eased some stress during this time. The stress of having to purchase enough food to feed our constantly hungry growing children during a time where most are out of work. The stress of having to go to public places like the grocery store and try and shop cheaply, quickly, and stay healthy. My children who are missing going to school were very excited to see the items they are use to at school. They even pretended they were back at school with our plates that look similar to school trays. Grabbing their milks first and walking around the kitchen as it was the lunch line. Thank you so much again! We are lucky and grateful to have such a kind and helpful school and community. - A grateful family Week 2 meals will be delivered on Monday April 6th. See the schedule below..

If you would like to be added to next week’s meal preorder list for delivery or pickup on Monday, April 6th, please directly contact our Aramark Food Service Director by phone at (479)234-1161 by 3pm today (Wed. 4/1) Any further questions or comments about your weekly preorder, please call (479)234-1161. Thank you for your continued support as we strive to meet the needs of our students, parents, and community during this time.

Applications for the 2020-2021 school year are now available and can be completed online at the link below. PCVA is an online, home based educational option for K-12 students. For more information, contact PCVA Director Bridget Buckley at bridget.buckley@menaschools.org or 479-216-0205. https://forms.gle/13iWJAdUPgCMYDKS7

LDE Kindergartener Maybree Davis working on her Eureka Math from home!

HHE 3rd Grade Cross Curriculum Lesson!

3rd Grade HHE student, Trip Davis is cooking up lots of fun on his AMI Day from home this morning!

HHE 3rd Grade Cross Curriculum Lesson!

HHE 4th Grade Cross Curriculum Lesson

HHE 5th Grade Cross Curriculum Lesson

GT Lesson Plans for HHE 3rd-5th grade March 30- April 3, 2020

Dear Mena Middle School Parents: I wanted to reach out to Mena Middle School students and parents as we begin this different and ever evolving time for education. I hope that you and your family are safe and patiently dealing with the COVID-19 situation. Here are some options as we continue our offsite education: If you have internet access: Please continue to work your lessons and communicate with your teacher through Google classroom. If you do not have internet access: You can watch Arkansas PBS “‘Arkansas AMI” for grades 6-8 at 11:00 - 1:00 for curriculum based learning from the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. For more information about how to watch, go to myarkansaspbs.org/channelinformation At this time in an effort to slow the spread, we are not asking any packets of work to be returned from the week before Spring Break. We will release information later about how we will gather these packets. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions: clifton.sherrer@menaschools.org

Holly Harshman Parents/Guardians: I hope everyone is doing well during this unexpected time.:) I just wanted to send out some options that we are giving parents regarding student work from home. We WILL NOT be passing out anymore paper packets for the health and safety of all. I want to stress, this work is simply to keep our students on a structured routine and not to “stress out” caregivers or students. :) Please, at any time, if you have questions or concerns reach out to myself or your child’s teacher. You can reach us all via school email or on our HHE Facebook page. In addition, you may text me at 243-4927. Please see the three options below that you can choose from to better accommodate your situation. If you have Internet access: Your child may get on their Google classroom and do AMI days 2-6 for this week. If you do not have Internet access: I will be posting weekly activities for third grade, fourth grade and fifth grade. Teachers have created a document for each grade level with daily activities that can be done from home. If you would like to access EXTRA activities daily, tune in to PBS on cable television from 9:30 AM until 11 AM Each weekday for AMI activities for grades 3, 4, and 5. We appreciate your continued support and cooperation during this time. I encourage you to continue to spend time with your children and above all, make this learning enjoyable! :-) Please give hugs and smiles to all of our kiddos that we are missing! Sincerely, Tamara Smart

Monday Pre-order Meal Pickup Times ! Old Cove Gym - 11:00-11:45 Hatfield First Baptist Church - 11:00-11:30 Old Potter Sale Barn - 11:45-12:15 Board Camp Baptist Church - 11:00-11:30 Big Fork Community Building - 11:45-12:15 Mena Union Mission - 11:00-11:15 Cherry Hill Store - 11:45-12:15 Mena Kess’ Corner - 11:00-11:30 Old Rocky Church - 12:00-12:30 Louise Durham Pickup Line 11:30-1:00 Mena High School Pickup Line 11:30-1:00 You will simply need to give the guardian name the pre-order was made under. Thank you!

The Mena School District has created safe learning zones where students can access Wi-fi and technology support. One is in the parking lot at Bearcat Stadium, Another is in the Mena High School student parking lot & a third is in the front parking lot at Louise Durham Elementary.

Commissioner Johnny Key announced today that Arkansas will be seeking the waiver to cancel the Spring State ACT Aspire Testing as well as the K-2 Assessment for this year, Here is the official statement! Due to the extraordinary circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting school closures, states have been provided flexibility regarding the assessment and accountability requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Given the widespread, extended school closures, and the interruption in school operations and on-site classroom education, Arkansas will cancel administration of state testing for the spring of 2020. This includes the Act Aspire and the K-2 assessments. Arkansas will participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s expedited waiver process and will be seeking broad flexibility from both assessment and accountability provisions.

MENA SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BOARD ROOM TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 MINUTES The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present: Susan Rowell, Clint Montgomery, Edd Puckett, Kyle Cannon and Todd Aynes. Members absent: Phillip Wilson and Robert Hines Kyle Cannon made a motion to approve the minutes as read. Susan Rowell seconded the motion and motion carried unanimously. In the Superintendent’s Report, Mr. Weston presented a Mitigation Report to the Board per guidance and direction of the Governor, DESE, and CDC. Mr. Weston presented the Arkansas School Boards Association Model Policy Service Contract renewal effective the first day of February, 2020 and terminating on the last day of January, 2022, in the amount of $2,850.00. Kyle Cannon made a motion to approve the ASBA renewal in the amount of $2,850.00. Susan Rowell seconded the motion and motion carried unanimously. Kyle Cannon read: School Choice Capacity Resolution for school choice applicants for the 2020-2021 school-year under the provisions of policy 4.5 - School Choice and applicable Arkansas Law. Kyle Cannon made a motion to approve the School Choice Capacity Resolution. Clint Montgomery seconded the motion and motion passed unanimously. Mr. Weston asked Ray Beardsley of First Security Beardsley, a Division of Crews & Associates, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to inform the board of refunding bond bids. Mr. Beardsley presented information to the Board regarding the 3 quarters bond interest. Kyle Cannon read and made the following motion: To submit an “Application for a Permit to Issue Bonds”, with related documents, for $14,830,000 in Refunding Boards to the State Department of Education and to employ First Security Beardsley as Fiscal Agent, and to authorize the Superintendent of Schools to accept or reject the best bid submitted in connection with the publics sale of the proposed bonds in consultation with the fiscal agent. Susan Rowell seconded the motion and motion carried unanimously. Kyle Cannon read and made the following motion: To submit an “Application for a Permit to Issue Bonds”, with related documents, for $5,650,000 in Refunding Bonds to the State Department of Education and to employ First Security Beardsley as Fiscal Agent, and to authorize the Superintendent of Schools to accept or reject the best bid submitted in connection with the public sale of the proposed bonds in consultation with the fiscal agent. Edd Puckett seconded the motion and motion carried unanimously. The previous two items would only occur as the market improves and an agreement is reached between the Superintendent and the fiscal agent. Kyle Cannon read and made the following motion: To employ First Security Beardsley as Financial Advisor for a period of three (3) years effecitve as of the date of adoption. Clint Montgomery seconded the motion and motion carried unanimously. Edd Puckett made a motion to approve financial reports. Kyle Cannon seconded the motion and motion carried unanimously. Mr. Weston recommended the resignation of Geraldine Krudwig - Secondary English, Mena High School. Kyle Cannon made a motion to approve Mr. Weston’s retirement recommendation. Susan Rowell seconded the motion and motion carried unanimously. With no further business, Edd Puckett moved for adjournment, Kyle Cannon seconded and meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m..

In light of everything that we are dealing with, here is some good news for some special students!! Congratulations to these young people! 2020-2021 SR High Cheerleaders Competition and Sideline Blake Castor Competition only Leilani Day Sam Efird Competition only Kyleigh Johnson Ciara Lance Allie Martin Marissa Ortiz Cassidy Ashcraft Abri Evangelista Bethany Godwin Christina Gragg Jaiden Milam Kyra Stephens Addi Dollar Cloey Massey Eisayah Day Competition only Briley Dean Competition only Hailey Emerson Competition only Abby Felix Competition only Amy Gragg Competition only Brooklyn Hilderbrand Competition only Kiylee Hughes Competition only Kaelyn Nichols Competition only Jeffrey Richmond Competition only Shantal Tecson Competition only Makayla Vega Competition only 2020-2021 JR High Cheerleaders Competition and Sideline Eisayah Day Briley Dean Hailey Emerson Abby Felix Amy Gragg Brooklyn Hilderbrand Kiylee Hughes Kaelyn Nichols Jeffrey Richmond Shantal Tecson Makayla Vega Lainee Garrett Bailey Heald Elizabeth (Izzy) Henry Kayleigh Noble Myranda Richmond Stay well and enjoy your break!

Governor Asa Hutchinson announced that all schools in Arkansas will be closed until April 17 and further action will be evaluated at the time. Continued education will continue through alternative methods. Keep checking the Mena Public School social media & website for more information as it becomes available.