Board requests counseling for more students
Staff to receive bonuses this month
Members of the Forrest City School Board will be reviewing several items to consider during their regular meeting next month.
One of the things the board will consider is allowing superintendent Dr. Tiffany Hardrick to spend more money with the P.A.T. (People Advocating Transition) Center to provide additional counseling to students facing possible expulsion.
Hardrick told board members that the district currently has a contract with the P.A.T. Center that provides some "general need" counseling sessions that teach students as a group how to be a good neighbor, provides them with anti-bullying information or drug abuse help. However, she noted that because of the board’s desire to offer counseling to students facing expulsion, that funding could reach and exceed the current amount budgeted for the service.
"It would require the board to approve additional fundings," explained Hardrick as she shared with board members copies of the provider’s current contract. "I wanted to put that information in front of you and allow you to review it. I can also answer questions."
Board member Larry Devasier asked if the district would add the conditions for students facing expulsion to receive counseling.
"Yes, because I only have permission to spend up to a certain amount," said Hardrick.
She explained that the funding would eventually run because of the additional counseling.
"Keep in mind, we can offer this, but the parents have to accept it," added Hardrick.
"How many students receive service currently?" asked board member Evetta Whitby.
Hardrick said about 350 students in kindergarten through 12th grade receive the "general needs" services but she did not know how many students are receiving individual services this year.
"I know we had 16 referrals last year right at the end of the school year," said Hardrick, who added the company provides a report on its work to the district at the end of each school year.
"Anything funded by federal funding has to supply a report at the end of the year," explained Hardrick.
Hardrick also said that after further questions from the board that she agreed children who are expelled should be included for mental health options and that there are instances where parents are requesting it.
"We have a case tonight where a parent has requested it," she noted.
Hardrick recommended the board review the current contract
(Continued from Page 1) while she gathers information on how much the district spends on a monthly basis with the service provider to present at the next meeting. "Then, you can make a choice on how much you want to grant permission on," she said.
Hardrick also reminded the board that the provider offers services to staff members as well.
Board members also received a copy of the district’s student handbook to review, with Hardrick explaining that the handbook can be found online.
"We don't print them anymore. They are online and the parent is pointed that way to sign," she said.
She asked for board members to review the handbook and email her any modifications, including page numbers, so she could get a document together for the entire board to review before the next agenda is set.
The board also heard from Amber Main, representing the personnel policy committee, saying many employees have questions as to when bonus checks would be issued.
Initially, the board agreed to pay employees the bonus before Oct. 1 if the employee poll came back in time, then stated they wanted it by the second pay period in October, if possible.
The board later voted to have the bonuses paid by the second pay period in October.
The board also approved the hiring of Jozalyn Lucas-Bean as an aide. They also accepted the resignations of Shane Tapp from Lincoln Academy, Ivy Macaranas at the high school and Shanelle Goodman from transportation and the ABC school.
The board also approved an after-school list of teachers for each of the district’s campuses.
"I am asking to hire this list of individuals if the kids show for the program," said Hardrick. "This list is based on the number of families who say they are interested in after-school."
Hardrick explained that the individuals were recommended by the principals on each campus and the district is expecting around 120 children to participate, with a ratio of 10 students to one teacher. She also said that transportation and meals will be provided and that funding is coming mostly from ESSER's mandatory learning loss budget.
"You have to set aside 20% of ESSER for learning loss," said Hardrick. "That money is not optional."
Hardrick said the students were chosen based on results and attendance but the district tried not to turn down any student who asked to participate and that the programs will be held at least three days a week.
She recommended the board approve the $60 per hour for certified staff and $30 per hour for classified staff for the after-school program, which the board, with the exception of Whitby who abstained, voted the approve.
The board also approved a contract with Store Services for the district's HVAC services, annual assurances to agree to spend federal funding as required, technology upgrades of $64,514.94, math curriculum professional development, ChromeBooks for migrant students in the amount of $20,000, and an agreement to help Perimeter-Woodridge Behavioral Center with ACT Aspire boot camps provided by Fetterman and Associates.
Hardrick explained that the behavioral center received $70,000 of Title I funding to help children from the county, directly.
The funding allows the district provide special services to children at the center in an effort to help them graduate.
The board voted unanimously to approve the agreement.
The board also voted to expel a student.
"If everything is met, the student would not have to lose a grade level," explained Hardrick, adding that the student’s parents requested counseling for their child.
Board members Roy Hamilton and Annie Norman recused from the vote and board member Whitby abstained.
Norman asked if the district was doing anything to help address an increase in drug use among students.
Dr. Terrence Brown, deputy superintendent, said the district has events planned for Red Ribbon Week, focusing on the dangers of drug abuse.
Brown also reported on service providers such as Opportunity Culture, Amplify, and the Great Rivers Education Co-Op and how to read reports from those groups.
Norman asked that a list of external providers in the district be provided to board members at the next meeting and that Brown continue to update the board on reports that show student data and statistics on the effectiveness of the providers.
Norman also asked if it is possible to get updates from Hardrick's office on events taking place in the district so the board knows about them before it is brought to their attention by the general public.
"Yes, that way we can go. Yes, Dr. Hardrick has informed us and it is being handled," agreed Hamilton.
Hardrick agreed to provide the information for the board but asked that they be patient due to her normally using her time to solve issues as they occur and her needing to find the balance of real time management so that the appropriate information could be released at the appropriate times.
She also reminded the board she cannot send group emails or texts to only board members due to that being a violation of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
The next board meeting is set for Thursday, Nov. 17.