If your student wants to be a Bearcat you should know that the enrollment window for the second semester is now open. Forms can be picked up from the district you are currently attending. When you have completed those forms bring them to the Mena Public School Administration Building located at 501 Hickory in Mena. Forms should be filled out & turned in before noon on Tuesday, December 17th. If approved by the school board the student will begin classes on Monday, January 6th 2020. For more information call 479-394-1710.
GO BEARCATS!
The Little Cats @ Louise Durham received a special package from the North Pole today!
Recent freezing temperatures have exposed a need for coats in our student population & Mena Public Schools would like to thank Christine & Rodney Bird with Handcrafted Garden Bridges for their generous donation. The coats will be distributed to children in need. Pictured are Rodney, Christine & Mena Superintendent Benny Weston.
https://www.redwoodbridges.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Handcrafted-garden-bridges-486508584834143/
NOVEMBER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING!
The Mena School Board met for the regular November meeting on Tuesday evening.
The board began by approving the minutes from the September & October meeting.
They quickly moved to passing a disclosure statement for board member Kyle Cannon who is also an employee of the Union Bank of Mena.
A proposal was made to change the district employees vision plan. Mena Insurance currently holds the contract through Superior Vision. The new plan offered by Mena Insurance would be through Blue Cross & Blue Shield at a lower cost to employees & an increase in benefits. The change was passed by the board & will go into effect February 1, 2020.
Next was the approval of the financial reports for September & October.
Resignations were accepted by the board including Carol Sproles, Michaela VanPelt, David Goodner, & Howard Elliot.
The board approved an addendum to the contract of Cheryl Goodner, additional hours to Keri Duer, and a transfer of duties for Alicia Moody.
Superintendent Benny Weston presented a plan to restructure current Mena School District custodial employees & outsource the needed evening janitorial shifts. The board approved accepting a bid from SG360 for only the evening janotorial shifts at Louise Durham Elementary & Holly Harshman Elementary.
Happening December 6th!
Thanksgiving break is next week!
We celebrated the exQUisite wedding of Q and U in
Mrs. Thomas's 1st grade class.
Mena Public Schools will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday November 25th-29th. The Thanksgiving meal will be served this week!
Wednesday, November 20th at LDE and MMS
Thursday, November 21st at HHE and MHS
The Mena High School Theatre Department will present their public performances of "The Yellow Boat" this Saturday & Sunday at the Performing Arts Center.... We will see you there!
Louise Durham Students put the "I" in KIND!! #worldkindnessday2019
November Newsletter!
The day that the Thanksgiving meal will be served to students has been changed from what was shown on the menu released earlier this month.. Please share this post & spread the word...
November 20th is LD and MMS
November 21st is HHE and MHS
A little Hocus Pocus with preschool teachers Mrs. Vega, Mrs. Hemphill and Mrs. Lee...
Louise Durham Elementary November Menu!
Fall Party in Mrs. Bentley's class @ Louise Durham !
LUNCH MENU CHANGE FOR TODAY & MONDAY!
Today's lunch will be meatloaf or Cheeseburger.
Monday's lunch will be a burrito with cheese or chicken tenders.
Bearcat Football welcomed LDE students to school Friday!
Let’s hear it for the guys who took time out of their day to teach Louise Durham students about bus safety this morning!
The Mena School Board held their October meeting Tuesday evening at the district administration building. The lack of a quorum prevented the board from voting on items on the agenda & those were postponed until the November meeting.
Mr. Benny Weston began the meeting with the superintendent's report. He mentioned that several district leaders, including himself, recently had a meeting with the state regarding minimum wage & new teacher pay requirements. The district now has specific guidelines to follow & Weston felt positive the district is in good shape regarding those changes.
Weston also stated that the district has met with two phone companies & has a third scheduled to discuss a new phone system on each campus.
Investigation also continues into the viability of a solar energy system & two solar companies have weighed in so far.
The bulk of the meeting was taken up by the ESSA Report which was recently released by the Arkansas Department of Education. The Principal from each campus gave a report on their score & where they thought improvements could be made.
Mr. Danny Minton gave an update on projects. The district recently completed an environmental safety & also the 3 year asbestos inspection. The district passed both & met state regulations. The floors at Jim Rackley & the Union Bank Center are scheduled to be resurfaced before the end of October. Construction on a visitors side press box at Bearcat Stadium should begin in two weeks. Menton gave an update on repair to a damaged section of the floor in the high school safe room & a quote of $7995.00 has been received on the addition of more handrails at the Union Bank Center.
Finally the board was told of the resignation of Carol Sproles from the MMS Staff.
Parent Teacher Conference will be on Thursday, October 17th at Louise Durham Elementary. The time will be 3:30-8:30pm with a supper break for staff from 5:30-6:10pm. See you there!!!
