Smackover-Norphlet School District to upgrade website
EL DORADO — At its meeting Monday, the Smackover- Norphlet School Board unanimously agreed to enter a fiveyear service contract with Little Rock-based company Apptegy to build a personalized mobile application and website for the school district.
The company works with school districts in Arkansas and around the country. The district would pay half now and half next year to upgrade and save money, district Superintendent Dave Wilcox said.
“Money wise, we’re currently paying for the web hosting that we have $5,357.15 a year. Our Alert Now system annually is $4,140 a year and the blog $99 a year, so total annual cost for what we currently have is $9,596.15. What I’m wanting to do is partner with Apptegy,” Wilcox said. "It’s more user friendly on the person who’s submitting the data, but I think we’re going to reach more parents and community members with the mobile app versus going to the website.”
Using the company’s services will save the district over $8,000, Wilcox said. For $39,500, the district will get a unique app, website, community alert system and technical support — a “one-stop shop” powered by Apptegy. Previously, the district has paid several providers for these services.
Through the TexasArkansas Purchasing System, or TAPS, the district got a “good deal” on two lawn mowers from Magneto Service & Supply Company of El Dorado, Wilcox said.
“I’m pretty sure you’re not going to get them cheaper than that and this is the provider we want to use. They’re right here locally and service them,” he said.
The school board approved the district’s personnel policy committee’s recommendation to start the 2017-2018 school year on Monday, Aug. 14. Smackover Elementary School math interventionist Clarice Long said that certified staff chose “Option 1” in a 68-9 vote.
“They liked the way it looked. They liked that there was something every month. When we got together, I said ‘ Find out from your faculty and staff what they want,” Long said. “They wanted two weeks at Christmas. They wanted their week at Thanksgiving and then we wanted to get out before Memorial Day.”
The board approved four resignations, one partial resignation, six hires and two reassignments. One of the hires includes Michael as a teacher and the head football coach. Wilcox’s recommendation to hire Hampton’s Fortner Glass & Mirror to redo the glass enclosure on the high school gym.
As part of a video tour of the county, the SmackoverNorphlet School District now has an informational video on the county’s website. The video showcases the district by showing students complete STEM projects, athletes play football in the new indoor facility and Buckaroos show school pride.
School board president Joe Bates said that using the video to promote the district at Star Cinema would be inexpensive and board member Damon Goodwin suggested that a “hard copy” should be obtained as soon as possible so the advertisement could run before the state’s school choice deadline on May 1.
Smackover Elementary Principal Holly Strickland recognized three fourth grade students' outstanding growth in writing. After they read detailed essays about why fourth graders shouldn’t own cell phones, Bates presented Student of the Month awards to them. Norphlet Middle School principal awarded Teacher of the Month to social studies teacher Taylor Welchman.
The Smackover-Norphlet School Board’s next scheduled meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 27 in the district’s central office boardroom.
Brittany Williams may be contacted by email at bwilliams@eldoradonews. com. Follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook @BWilliamsEDNT for updates on Union County school news.