Parents: Your input is important to us!
Please take the time to complete the survey at the link provided.
High Reliability School Survey https://bit.ly/2pqsfyn
The High Reliability Survey results will help our district formulate goals.
The survey window opened Tuesday, October 8th and will close Friday, October 25th.
Please give us your input.
Your students will also be giving the opportunity to give us their input through a student survey.
Excitement is in the air when the Scholastic Book Fair arrives! The countdown is on and the book fair will be opening next week at LDE!
Mena High School Theatre Department
performed at Louise Durham Monday morning. The skit on Encouraging was great! Thanks, LD!
Arkansas Rural Education Association is spotlighting the Mena School District! With an enrollment of 1737 students, Mena is in the DeQueen-Mena Coop area in Polk County and employs 229 people. Mena is proud to announce that Mr. Benny Weston, Superintendent of Mena School District, was recently presented with the 2020 Arkansas Superintendent of the Year Award. The district offers educational options to meet the needs of the individual learner. Their students may choose a traditional education or an alternative learning pathway offered to students through their K-12 Alternative Education classrooms, Mena High School HUB option, or K-12 Polk County Virtual Academy (PCVA). They will support the personal growth of each student by providing integrated opportunities for students to develop effective personal, social, and technology skills. Many opportunities are offered for students to extend learning beyond academics through participation in school organizations/clubs, fine arts, and athletics. The mission is to Engage Community, Inspire Students, and Prepare Graduates. Find more at www.menaschools.org or visit their Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/MenaPublicSchools/.
Today is the last day of spirit week & Mrs Vega's Preschool Class has the spirit on white out day!
Mrs. Vega's preschool class loves Throwback Thursday!
Throwback Thursday! Ms. Katie Thomas & students have it covered!
Throwback Thursday! Spirit week continues in Mrs. Maddox's class at Louise Durham Elementary!
2019 Mena High School Homecoming Parade!
https://www.facebook.com/MenaPublicSchools/videos/644325359429001/
Our Louise Durham Elementary Carnival King and Queen are ready for the homecoming parade. Go Bearcats!!!!
The start time for the Homecoming Dinner has been changed to 4:30pm. Spread the word!
National School Custodian Day!
The annual Fall Carnival was Tuesday afternoon at Louise Durham Elementary!
Aramark Client Appreciation Day! Mr Weston, Mena Superintendent, and Susan Bodey, Aramark Director pictured. Aramark prepared and provided lunch in appreciation to the Mena School District. We are proud of our partnership with Aramark. Thank you for your excellence, commitment, and positive food service climate.
The quarterly meeting of the Mena Public Schools Health and Wellness Committee will take place on Tuesday, September 24th, 3:30 pm. The meeting will be held in the Mena Middle School Library
Mrs. Bridgett, Ms. Becky and Lily from the U of A extension office, came to our classes today and discussed the importance of apples! They made apple crisp for all the kids to eat and it was yummy!!! The students were also given special plates and a magazine with apple recipes!
The Mena School Board conducted their annual Report to the Public meeting on Tuesday night. The evening began with a Facilities Meeting which included a one hour update on facilities, improvements & the five year plan. In total the district buildings include 430,000 square feet with a replacement cost of 71 million dollars. Improvements over the past year were reviewed as well as those on the horizon & additions to the five year plan.
That was followed by the annual Report the the Public Meeting. Mr. Benny Weston began on the district financial status. The end of year balance was $4,185,544.06 which is set aside for emergencies & potential shortfalls. Weston went on to state that the district currently employs 229 people & that 67% of the districts students qualify for free or reduced meals.
Paulette Sherrer spoke briefly on curriculum & testing. She shared a graph with those in attendance which show the students in the district are meeting or exceeding the national average.
Louise Durham Principal Jimma Holder says that enrollment in kindergarten has increased to 170 students & that the number of students testing proficient & exceeding have increased.
Principal Tamara Smart from Holly Harshman Elementary noted a gain in ACT Aspire scores in each grade.
Mena Middle School Principal Cliff Sherrer reported a total of 400 students over the three grades. He is excited about the upcoming student council elections as MMS has not had a student council for a number of years. Sherrer also added that many improvements have been added to the science curriculum.
526 students are currently enrolled at Mena High School & Principal David Maxwell told the board that is an increase of 32 students. In addition he reported that students performed well above the state average on the Aspire testing & that he is planning to improve those scores even more. Maxwell also ran down a long list of concurrent courses which have been added at Mena High School.
It was at this point in the meeting that a number of VIP's interrupted the meeting to award Superintendent Benny Weston with an award as the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators. (see photos & details on our social media & website)
Mrs. Bridget Buckley, MHS Assistant Principal & PCVA Director, reported an enrollment of twenty nine in the Polk County Virtual Academy & a positive response to a change in curriculum.
Finally Mrs. Paulette Sherrer announced an increase in federal funding & an increase of fifteen students to the schools gifted & talented program.
After a short break the September School Board meeting was conducted. It was a very brief meeting that included an executive session. Afterwards the board approved a one time bonus of $1,000.00 for Mr. Weston in recognition of his well-deserved accomplishment of Arkansas 2020 Superintendent of the Year. The School Board meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Administration Building.
Mr. Benny Weston has been named the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators Superintendent of the Year. Richard Abernathy presented the award at the annual report to the public on Tuesday night at the administration building. A number present & former superintendents from around the state also attended. Congratulations to the Boss Bearcat!
Congratulations to Mrs. Williams, our teacher of the month! Mrs. Williams is our librarian and helps us establish a culture of reading and a love for books!! She works very hard for our HEROES. We love Mrs. Williams and are so blessed to have her at LD.
Louise Durham had a great time this morning at our first Rise and Shine of the school year! Our Heroes loved it and it helps us all have an amazing start to our week!
