Holly Harshman Elementary School

The 2020-2021 Holly Harshman Elementary Parent/Family Engagement Plan is now available on our website... Click the link to view https://www.menaschools.org/o/holly-harshman-elem…/documents

The 2020-21 Mena School District Parent/Family Engagement Plan is now available on our website... Click the link https://www.menaschools.org/o/mena-school-district/documents

The Mena School District Comprehensive Counseling Plan is now available on our website. Click the link https://www.menaschools.org/o/mena-school-district/documents

ONLINE REGISTRATION INFO FOR NEW & RETURNING STUDENTS!!! If you reeved a letter concerning registration with the website, schoolwebiste.com, the link is incorrect. Please follow the link below to complete registration. Links for registration: Returning Students: https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=24782&culture=en New Students: https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=24780&culture=en

Mena High School Band Director Charles Morgan released the Summer Band Schedule earlier today. If you want to know more about the Mena Band check out their website at https://menabands.weebly.com/

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced a $10,000,000 commitment from the Emergency Education Relief Fund for 20,000 Wi-Fi units for students across the state. Click the link to watch the press conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch…

Mena teachers are participating in online training this morning with Edmentum in preparation for the 20/21 school year... https://www.edmentum.com/

Be sure to make a shortcut to the Mena Public Schools Weather Page. You find current conditions, a ten day forecast, weather cam & more... https://www.weatherbug.com/weather-forecast/now/mena-ar-71953?location=mena-ar-71953

Just click on the links!!! https://www.apple.com/ios/app-store/ https://play.google.com/store/apps?hl=en_US

The updated Mena Public School Calendar for the 2020/2021 school year !!! https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/814966/Calendar_2020-2021__1_.jpg

Crews continue to work across all the district campuses in preparation for the 20/21 school year.

Mena teachers, including 3rd grade teacher Sara Parsons, continue to contact parents to ask them which Ready for Learning choice they will make for their children this year. If you have not been contacted you will get a call soon.

Members of the Ready for Learning Academic Team are meeting in the MHS Library for training on the new Go Kits. Those attending will in turn train others in the district. Go Kits are a new tool that will give teachers an advantage in the traditional & blended learning environment

Mena teachers have been contacting parents to ask them which Bearcats Ready for Learning choice they will make this year. We have collected responses for 621 students and 80% of parents are choosing traditional learning. Calls are still being made and you will get a call soon.

MPS will provide many hand sanitizing stations in classrooms and hallways. The district has purchased state-of-the-art antimicrobial electrostatic systems.

Mena tech team members Lorrie Henry & Chuck Cox are inspecting & doing inventory on the new Go Bundles that recently arrived.. These feature the latest technology that will allow teachers to apply online & traditional teaching formats..

The Mena School Board gathered for their regular July meeting on Tuesday evening at Mena Middle School. The meeting began with the Superintendent’s Report. Mr Benny Weston informed the board that they may be seeing some large purchases in the financial report & that the district will be reimbursed with CARES Act Funding on those purchases at a later date. Weston then asked the board for input on whether or not exchange students should be accepted in 20/21. This is normally an administrative decision. After a brief discussion all board members agreed that the district would accept exchange students as usual. A quick mention was made of the state & local bus training which was held at the MHS Performing Arts Center on Tuesday. Also a part of the Superintendent’s Report was the Bearcats Ready for Learning Plan which was presented by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lee Smith. That led to discussion on the use of mask by students in the coming school year. The board agreed that the district will adhere to the Governors order & adjust as guidance is given. In new business Mena Middle School Principal Mr. Clif Sherrer presented the adjusted School Calendar for 20/21. It was approved unanimously & the new calendar will be posted on social media & the Mena Schools Website soon. Mena Mayor Seth Smith has requested a partnership with the district on a project to extend the overlay on Geyer Drive next to Holly Harshman Elementary. The board gave Weston permission to negotiate an agreement with the City of Mena. A bid was accepted & approved from Polk County Farm Bureau in the amount of $22,698 on insurance for all the district buses & vehicles. The board approved the annual $200 petty cash allotment for each campus in the district & the annual Statement of Assurances passed with no discussion. District Maintenance Supervisor Danny Minton gave an update on numerous projects. He also approached the board with two bids to paint the red portions of MHS. The low bid of $22,000 by a Mena company was approved. Minton also stated that sneeze guards for each office & some other locations have been ordered & a needs assessment is underway for classrooms. A total of 20 bottle filling stations have been ordered & 20 hand sanitizing stations have been built. The financial reports were approved, the amended adjusted salary schedule proposed at the June meeting was approved & the board voted to allow principals to make changes to student policies as guidance from the state is delivered. Finally in personnel matters the resignation of Josh Bradford was accepted & the hiring of Tyler Huntington as MMS Band Director was approved. Sam Varner was also put on contract as a bus driver…

URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL PARENTS

Mena Public Schools will provide many hand sanitizing stations in classrooms and hallways. Signage in bathrooms will emphasize the importance of hand washing and instruct students on proper procedures. The district has purchased state-of-the-art antimicrobial electrostatic systems to disinfect classrooms, hallways, commons areas, and buses. These systems will be used on a routine basis and in the event of outbreaks. Furthermore, general cleaning agents will be used along with further disinfection training of administrative, teaching, clerical, and custodial staff.

WE will supply MOST supplies for students this year in our school supply kits & ask that you provide the following items *Backpack *Disinfectant wipes or Lysol *Hand sanitizer *Kleenex *24 pack of bottled water Kits provided for students that choose traditional OR blended.