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/
Attention Parents of Students who attended Mena School District:
State and Federal guidelines require that all special education due process forms and records be destroyed within six (6) years after a student leaves the special education or speech therapy program.
If your child was dismissed, graduated, dropped from the program or found to be ineligible for special education services and/ or speech therapy during the school year 2012-2013, you have the right to review and request copies of your child’s due process records before they are destroyed. Your child also has the right to review these records providing he or she is 18 years or older. If you wish to see these records, they will be available at Mena School Special Education office beginning May 25, 2020 to June 15, 2020 from 7:00 am to 4:00 p.m. Records, which are not picked up will be destroyed on June 22, 2020.
These records are NOT your child’s permanent school records, they are only special education due process forms and records. You may contact Laura Bunch Special Education Supervisor 479-394-1144
THANK YOU to all of our amazing students and parents that completed and dropped off work that you have been doing over the past several weeks!! WE are so very proud of all you have done- this includes those of you that worked digitally the entire time, but had no "paper work" to turn in to us.
LIBRARY BOOKS:
WE will leave a library book tub outside of HHE throughout the month of MAY. As you come across books while cleaning, etc....please drop them off to us here at school. The tub will be outside during office hours only. Again, WE appreciate all of your cooperation during these unprecedented times! Have a wonderful summer!
Welcome Dr. Lee Smith back to Mena. Smith has been hired as the next Assistant Superintendent at the Mena Public Schools.. GO BEARCATS!!!
The Mena School Board met on Tuesday, May 19th.
The meeting began with the Superintendents Report. Mr. Benny Weston updated the board on the multiple phases the leadership team is working on for reentry & the beginning of the 2020/2021 school year. Assistant Superintendent Paulette Sherrer added that a needs assesment is underway in anticipation of the award from federal COVID-19 CARES Act monies.
Personnel was next on the agenda.
RESIGNATIONS
Traci Gray
Malani Vega
RESCIND CONTRACT
Markie Blocker
TRANSFER
Amy Dollar - 6th grade social studies
Justin Goodnight - Mena High School Agri
Chelsea Johnson - 8th grade algebra
Susan McKeever - LDE Special Education paraprofessional
HIRE
Dr. Lee Smith - Assistant Superintendent
Cheyenne Burdess - HHE
Lisa Falls - HHE LPN
Alicia Farringer - MMS Special Education self contained
Amy Martin - MMS
Chase McCormick - MMS Agri
Colby Singleton - Secondary MHS
COACHING DUTIES
Landon Dover - head sr. girls track
Tia Fryer - assistant jr. boys basketball
Ryan Luttmer - head jr. boys basketball & head jr. boys track
Brad Lyle - assistant sr. boys basketball
Heather Goss - head jr. girls track
All were approved unanimously.
The board then renewed the contract with Aramark Food Service & also renewed the agreement with Horizon Software.
The board accepted the Freedom of Choice Applications of 9 students.
Next was an update on the district's Five Year Plan to improve the FTE (Full-time equivalent). For the 20/21 school year the FTE has improved to 91.4% & is expected to jump to 95% once final calculations are made.
Finally financial reports were approved & the meeting adjourned.
Any work/papers/books can turned Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week.
Also, there are Social Studies projects that can be picked up as well.
There are filing cabinets set up to place work in by grade level.
Meal pick up Monday
Mena Public Schools is be able to provide one more week of meals & distribution is tomorrow, Monday, May 11th...
HHE Yearbook Distribution Date Change! Now THURSDAY, MAY 14th!
3rd grade: 9:00-11:00
4th grade: 11:00-1:00
5th grade: 1:00-3:00
Yearbook distribution will be in drive-through fashion thru the car rider line loop in front of the building.
May 18th, 19th, and 20th
There will be filing cabinets set up to place work in by grade level.
Also, there will be project boards and book projects displayed from Social Studies classes. IF your name is on a board or book, you may take it home,
Want to know more about the Polk County Virtual Academy? Just click the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2PzxYOwJi4&feature=youtu.be
Mena Public Schools Would like to express our appreciation for today's donation by one of our patrons to the Feed a Bearcat Program. This donation will help those students who are behind on meal charges. If you would like to help Feed a Bearcat you can make a donation at the Administration Building located at 501 Hickory in Mena or call
479-394-1710...
ATTENTION PARENTS!!
Middle School holds a lot of new and exciting choices for your child, one of those being an elective. Your child will have to pick one of the following electives. A description is included.
Your child's homeroom teacher will be in contact this week to get your child's elective choice.
Elective Choices for 6th Grade
1.) Beginning Band- This is a beginning class for all those who are interested in playing a woodwind, brass or percussion instruments. Students in this class will learn the basic skills needed to progress to the Junior Band Level. Students will perform in one concert during the Fall Semester and one concert during the Spring Semester. Students in grades 6-8 are allowed to join this class based on proficiency and placement by the band directors. (Depending on instrument assignment there MAY be an instrument rental or purchase required.)
2.) Beginning Choir-This is a beginning class for any sixth-grade student. Students in this class will learn basic singing skills and vocal technique needed to progress to the middle school choir. Students will learn to sight-sing and read choral music. Choir members will sing unison and 2-part music in a variety of styles and genres. Students will perform at least two concerts during the school year.
3.) Skills for Learning- This is an elective course open to any 6th grader. The course is designed to allow students to work on emerging skills related to technology and academics. It allows students an opportunity to have additional interventions in courses that they may be struggling with as well as helping students develop organizational skills related to effective learning.
Dates to turn in packets at HHE will be MAY 18-20th (Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday) There will be labeled bins to turn in work by grade level near the front doors.
Any personal belongings that may have been left,(backpacks, journals, etc...) will be safe in our building over the summer! They will be available for collection when school resumes.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time!
Yearbook Distribution Date: FRIDAY, MAY 15!
Due to an error with our yearbook publication house, some personalized yearbooks are back ordered. Therefore our Yearbook distribution date will not occur until Friday, May 15th. WE want to be able to provide you with the quality you ordered, so unfortunately, we'll have to wait a bit longer. See the following distribution times below:
3rd grade: 9:00-11:00
4th grade: 11:00-1:00
5th grade: 1:00-3:00
Yearbook distribution will be in drive-through fashion thru the car rider line loop in front of the building.
The Mena School District is accepting applications for many positions at this time. Follow the link to our website for more information..
https://menaschools.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
At this time, Mena Public Schools will be able to provide 3 more weeks of meals.
We will be distributing weekly Monday meals on April 27th, May 4th, and May 11th.
To help us maintain an accurate count, please choose one of the following options:
1. If you are already on the meal pick-up list, simply continue what procedure you were following for the next three weeks.
2. If you were on the pre-list and wish to be removed, please call our Aramark Food Director at 234-1161.
3. If you would like to be added to the list to receive the next three weekly meals, please call our Aramark Food Director at 234-1161.
We appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain our commitment to meet the needs of our students.
Mena Assistant Superintendent Paulette Sherrer announces retirement after 30 years with TEAM Mena.
2019-2020 Assistant Superintendent
2015-2019 Federal Programs Coordinator/District Compliance Administrator
2014-2015 Holly Harshman Elementary Principal/District Compliance Administrator
2011-2014 Holly Harshman Elementary Principal
2009-2011 K-6 Literacy Instructional Facilitator
1999-2009 Third Grade Teacher - Holly Harshman Elementary
1990-1999 First Grade Teacher - Louise Durham Elementary
