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.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has issued a mandate requiring masks to be worn in public statewide. The district will wait on guidance & may make changes to the district's Ready for Learning Plan. Click the link to watch the press conference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk3NOo84PDQ&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0MEaCvKNLQZKh41brknB9Z5jSKNMDV6LAgQGW92FA0xygr2oozU6W2q8o
The Mena Public Schools Bearcats Ready for Learning Plan!
Learning options, safety & frequently asked questions are included. Follow the link to the Mena School District website to read the entire document.
https://5il.co/icgo
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lee Smith is leading a meeting of the Health & Wellness Committee this morning. The committee consist of local health professionals, school nurses, students, administrators & teachers. Student Support, Facilities and Transportation, Human Capital, District Operations and Fiscal Governance and Community Engagement Committees will all be meeting this week to develop the Mena Public School’s “Ready For Learning Plan”. The state announced that the 20/21 school year will begin the week of August 24th.
Mena Schools Leadership are meeting this morning in the Mena High School Performing Arts Center. Many of the questions that our patrons have concerning the 20/21 school year are on the agenda. Options will be available & answers can be expected soon. Your patience is appreciated.
Preparations continue for the new school year at all Mena campuses. The first day of school is scheduled for Thursday, August 13th.
The Mena School Board met on Tuesday in the Mena Middle School Library & faced a lengthy agenda.
Follow the link for the full story.
https://www.menaschools.org/article/261150?org=mena-school-district
Mr. Benny Weston awarded Mrs. Paulete Sherrer with a plaque honoring her for her service to the Mena School District at Tuesday's school board meeting. Those attending applauded & wished her well in retirement.
Governor Asa Hutchinson & Dr. Ivy Pfeffer spoke at length today about a return to the classroom. Dr, Pfeffer is the Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Click the link to watch today's press conference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Mena School District Parent/Guardian Survey for Fall 2020 - Please complete 1 survey per household.
Please take the time to complete the following survey. Your input is valuable to us.
We have never before had to prepare for a school year like the upcoming Fall 2020 Semester.
There are still so many unanswered questions for parents, students, and school personnel.
The Mena School District is asking you to consider the following statements in each category and check all of them that apply to your situation.
Your choices for your student and shared concerns are important to us.
Your feedback will assist us to make important decisions about the upcoming 1st semester of the 2020-2021 school year.
With your input our goal is to continue to strive to best meet the needs of our students and their families while still remaining in compliance with all the state agency guidelines and restrictions.
We will offer you similar choices again in preparation for the 2nd semester of the 2020-2021 school year.
Please complete one survey per household. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your input.
*If you are participating in this survey and you know someone in our district with no internet access, please direct them to call our Administration Office at (479)394-1710 and answer these important survey questions over the phone.
https://forms.gle/mzHQpZVujrqW7tT87
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
Tell your Instagram friends to like the NEW Mena Schools account!
https://www.instagram.com/menaschools/
