The Mena School Board met for their regular December meeting on Wednesday at the District Administration Building.
The meeting began with the superintendent’s report. Dr. Lee Smith began by informing the board that the charter for the Polk County Virtual Academy had been renewed for five years.
Smith then recognized Candace Thompson for her actions during a recent bomb threat. Thompson’s actions lead to the prompt arrest of the perpetrator and she received a round of applause from all those in attendance.
Smith then yielded the floor to Mena High School counselor/career coach Mr. Tim Walston. Walston informed the board about the ACT WorkKey Assesment and Polk County becoming a work ready community. ACT WorkKeys is a nationally recognized workforce solution for identifying, certifying and strengthening core workplace skills.
Next on the agenda was project updates. A bid was received on the construction of an awning from Louise Durham Elementary to the gym. The bid was $30,897. The bid was accepted and approved by the board.
The board was then updated on bus information. A bid has been received on a new trip bus. A bid of $121,000 was received. The district has applied for a Go Red Grant that will help with the purchase and the purchase is pending the results of that application.
The board quickly approved the financial report and the restructuring of the contract of Rebeccah Sprague from a “C” to a “D” bus route.
The meeting adjourned.