Developing professionals on campus

Providing a good environment for professional development, school officials renovated the old media center at the Intermediate School downtown. The calming black and blue room is fitted with long tables, 36 chairs, 24 lap tops, an overhead projector and screen and a podium for a place for professional development of both teachers and administrators. New paint and carpet updated the room as did carefully chosen decorations.

“We’ve already had leadership training here with Farmington,” superintendent Rick Neal said, adding that the training was by Soderquist Center Professional Development. He said state law requires 60 hours of professional development a year for teachers and that by providing a place for that to be given locally, he is saving the district money.

Neal said the district receives $75,000 a year in federal money for professional development. Before the center, he said many teachers traveled to the Northwest Arkansas Educational Co-op or other places costing the district money for travel expenses.

“We’ll have iPad training and technology training here, as well,” Neal said. “We’re looking at various incentives — maybe cash like Bentonville does — to

encourage teachers to take the training.”

The office for Bonnie Fullmer, testing and accountability director and federal grants co-ordinator, is there as well.

The room is still surrounded by a hallway and old classrooms which Neal hopes to raze soon.

“We’ll have board meetings here,” Neal said.

Next week’s School Board meeting, set for 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, will be held in the Professional Development Center, accessed through the old entrance to the Intermediate School.