District’s board approves spending of CARES funds
Hardrick: Focus groups offering feedback, recommendations
The Forrest City School Board last night approved using CARES funding toward an effort to help junior and senior high school students improve their ACT scores by at least one point over the summer.
Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Hardrick asked board members to approving funding for Fetterman and Associates to bring six people – three for the high school and three for the junior high – into the district's summer school programs for ACT prep improvement.
"One of the CARES funding areas deals with learning loss," explained Hardrick. "One of the things we are focusing on at the high school and junior high is increasing our ACT scores."
Hardrick said company representatives previously visited the campus for a few days at no cost, but the district wanted to include them in the summer program.
"It will cost us $107,000 but that means they are bringing six people a day for a full day of summer school," explained Hardrick. Hardrick said the group would be working with students to increase their ACT scores during the duration of summer school.
Hardrick also told the board that plans to construct a new agricultural building are progressing.
The project has been approved by the facilities division of the Arkansas Department of Education and is expected to cost about $1.7 million, of which the district will be responsible for paying about $765,000.
Although construction has not begun on the new building, Hardrick asked board members to attend an event on the high school campus at noon on Tuesday, June 22. "We are ready for a ribbon cutting," she said.
In other business, board members approved several purchases for the district.
Hardrick told the board that CARES funding had been approved for school bus purchases for the district in the amount of $817,704.
"All of them will have air and is a part of our effort to distance kids on the busses more and improve air quality," said Hardrick.
For the ABC School, the board approved the purchase of several iPads with wi-fi for $26,329.05; Think Books laptops for $23,228.37 and replacing bedding material around playground equipment for $21,453.41.
"These items will come from the ABC School's funds," Hardrick told the board.
The board also gave Hardrick permission to pursue repairs on the roof at the ABC School.
"The lowest quote we received was for the amount of $152,000," Hardrick told the board, adding the district has been doing patch work on the roof over the last few months.
"This would be out of district’s operating funds," said Hardrick. "However, we are projected to be at a $1 million carryover, so it would come out of those funds."
She also explained that the district is doing an air quality study because CARES funding can be used for air quality improvements in buildings.
“One of the things is improving our air units, and if the roof isn't structurally able to hold the new air units, we can use CARES funding for that too," Hardrick told the board. "But it depends on the results of the study."
Hardrick said that either way, the roof of the ABC School still needs to be repaired.
The board approved the repairs with the flexibility of using CARES funds if available.
For the junior high school, the board approved the purchase of seven flat screen televisions and mounts for the cafeteria in the amount of $18,241.82 from CARES funding.
The junior high also received approval for several new projectors and wall mounts in the amount of $123,447.77.
"These are important instructional tools for our teachers," said Hardrick.
Board members renewed several contracts, one of which allows the technology department to load programming and updates onto all computers at once, called Go Guardian. The district has been using the program for three years, according to Hardrick, and the funding would be able to come out of CARES money.
"This will allow our technology department to upload all 2,400 devices at once," Hardrick explained.
Another contract renewal was for the Dwight Jones Agency, the district’s athletic and activities insurance.
"In the past, it has been for around $28,000, but this year we were able to get it for $23,575. It is my recommendation the board approve this contract for two years to lock in the lower rate," said Hardrick.
The board also renewed special education contracts with Therapy Possibilities, Crowley Ridge Therapies, Inc., and Allisun Dulli, audiologist.
"Brad (Beavers) has reviewed these to make sure there are no changes," Hardrick told the board. "All are required and needed for the special education department."
Hardrick also recommended the board approve funding for a
K-2 reading and math curriculum through Voyager Sopris for summer school at Central, which the board approved.
The board approved a lengthy list of personnel for summer programs the district is holding at each campus as well as Freedom School. A list of new hires for the 2021-22 school year also included Jerome Mitchell for math, Jacqueline Lewis as assistant principal and instructional specialist at Stewart, Lesley Green as an assistant at Stewart and Kim Sloan as a teacher for Stewart.
Also approved was a list of assurances for ESSER III funds.
Hardrick told the board the district had to present a plan for the funding and is in the process of having focus groups to get feedback and recommendations on which areas the funds should be used in.
"We know learning loss is a big one here," Hardrick said of one of the areas where the funding could be used. "And also technology. We want to assure the board we are seeking feedback before submitting our plan."
The board unanimously approved the paperwork.
The transfer of two students, 8 and 10 years old, to the Wynne School District, also received board approval.