Lincoln Schools Report Annual School Successes

LINCOLN — Lincoln Consolidated School District used its first Community Alliance meeting of the year to share the school’s Annual

Report to the

Public. The report also was given that night at the monthly

School Board meeting.

About 38 people attended the luncheon meeting to get an update on school news, progress and future plans.

Superintendent Mary Ann Spears welcomed guests. School or district representatives then gave an annual report for their school buildings or their departments.

Lincoln Elementary School

Goals: meet the needs of students based on their specific literacy and math needs; show growth in reading by implementing phonetic connections with explicit instructions; show growth in math through consistent instruction for each area of the math curriculum.

Scores on the ACT Aspire test given in spring 2017 show that 67.5 percent of elementary students are meeting or exceeding readiness levels for English Language Arts, compared to 73.1 percent for the state. In math, 52.6 percent are meeting readiness levels, compared to 58.5 percent in the state. In reading, 40.3 percent of the students are meeting readiness levels, compared to 37 percent in the state.

For science, 40.8 percent scored met readiness levels, compared to 38.2 percent in the state. In writing, 30.3 percent of elementary students met readiness levels, compared to 19 percent in the state.

About 75 percent of the student population at the elementary school qualifies for the free and reduced lunch program.

Jana Claybrook, district executive master teacher, said teachers will conduct interim assessments throughout the year to see how students are doing and determine their needs.

Lincoln Middle School

For spring 2017 tests, 50.67 percent of middle school students met or exceeded readiness levels for English Language Arts, compared to 55 percent statewide, and 55.9 percent of students met or exceeded readiness levels for math, compared to 54.38 percent statewide.

The school goal is to continue to increase students’ English Language Arts scores through numerous intervention strategies. At the same time, these strategies are designed to also increase the student’s math comprehension.

Lincoln Middle School has 72 percent of students, out of 383 students, who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program.

Stan Karber, assistant principal, said the school will place a high emphasis on writing this year and these same strategies should improve scores in all areas.

“Teachers are constantly pulling out kids to make sure they get what they need for their personal education,”

Karber said.

One new program is that students can choose electives at the end of the day, such as yoga, running, cooking.

“These will help (not have) us develop relationships with our kids to find out what they need to help them,” Karber said.

Lincoln High School

School goals are to help high school students increase their critical thinking skills and problem solving skills by analyzing a variety of text in math and English Language arts. In addition, all students will have a plan for post-secondary endeavors, whether it is a four-year college, a job, technical training or community college.

Reports show that almost 91 percent of 2017 seniors graduated from high school, compared to state’s graduation rate of 87 percent.

For test scores, 55.43 percent of students met or exceeded readiness on English Language Arts, compared to 52.56 percent statewide. In math, 31.01 percent met or exceeded readiness, compared to 47.12 percent state wide.

Out of 498 students at the high school, 67 percent qualify for the free and reduced lunch program.

Lincoln High Principal Courtney Jones said students in every grade level exceeded the state level for English Language Arts.

For 2017-18, the high school is concentrating on growth in math scores. Math has been a struggle for students, Jones said, noting the 10th grade improved its math scores last year and that’s where the high school wants to go.

The high school is in its second year with a flexible model that gives students a community service block. This used to be called recess, Jones said. Students have 30 minutes to do what they want, whether it is to go outside and be with friends, use time with virtual reality or in community service

“It is student driven and the kids tell us they love it,” Jones said.

High school students are attending classes through a variety of forums, including regular class, online, virtual school, the community college, University of Arkansas and Northwest Technical Institute.

“We have lots of students attending classes everywhere,” Jones said.

Lincoln Athletic Program

Athletic Director Deon Birkes reported that 66 percent of students at the high school are participating in athletics, whether it is traditional sports or other activities.

“Kids involved don’t get in trouble,” Birkes said.

He shared about the new turf field at the football stadium and the new fieldhouse.

Birkes also talked about Alpha Week, a new program used this past summer to help students build character and learn the importance of helping each other through athletic challenges.

“We want to build a culture here that is more than just winning,” Birkes said. “Kids can excel but not win. They can finish the race and help each other get to the finish line.”

He believes the program is making a difference because more students are showing up at games to support each other.

“Yes, I want the wins and championships but I want to develop a culture that is something they’ll remember,” Birkes said.

Facilities/ Transportation

Improvements at the school district include improved lighting, major drainage improvement project on the high school campus, finishing the fieldhouse and new turf on the football field, new stage lights and curtains at the auditorium and remodeling bathrooms at the elementary school.

For transportation, Lincoln covers 164 square miles with 12 routes. It transports an average of 700 students a day and has 32 drivers, which includes teachers and coaches who also drive to events and activities.

As an example, on Oct. 10, there was 42 hours of driving over 1,267 miles and 334 bus stops.

The district has not had any accidents the past two years and only minor accidents the past five years.

District Information

Spears said the district has about 1,170 students and needs student growth to help with funding from the state.

District goals are to have a student-focused education; a safe, nurturing and positive environment; highly trained staff; collaborative relationships among teachers, students, parents, administrators, school board and community; fiscal stability.

The district covers 146 square miles and has a 42.7 millage rate for property taxes. The assessed value of property in the district is about $75 million.

“We have an amazing team,” Spears told those at the Community Alliance meeting. “They do good things and really great stuff for our kids.”

Spears

Karber

Jones