Principals have always conducted routine classroom assessment of teachers. New technology will make that process more efficient.
At the March 11 school board meeting, Middle School Principal Caen Dowell described a new tool, acquired through a grant. Principals now have a program to quickly evaluate a teacher based upon factors such as student engagement or adherence to curricula. Dowell said the program will standardize the evaluations “so we’re looking for the same things district-wide.”
Supt. Bryan Pruitt said most teachers have understood and accepted the technology, and teachers will be encouraged to provide other metrics for the program to evaluate.
Elementary Principal Clare Haozous reported on a tutoring program made possible by another grant. She described the quality of the tutors as “phenomenal,” and said teachers and students have both provided positive feedback for the program. Elementary students have completed their writing assessments under the Atlas testing. Kindergarten students had a “Celebration of Learning” scheduled for the day after the meeting, with a similar event planned for first graders on March 15.
High School Principal David Gilmore described “a little bit of everything going on,” including students preparing for state-wide competitions in multiple areas. “We try to find the perfect balance between academics and extracurriculars,” he said. Gilmore said high school students are also taking advantage of tutoring opportunities in literacy and math.
The board approved a salary schedule for the coming school year. The state legislature had set a $50,000 minimum teacher salary, beginning in the current school year. That left veteran teachers making the same pay as inexperienced teachers. The new schedule will reward years of experience and additional degrees. Pruitt said few other schools have taken this step, because they are “holding tight to see what develops” after the state’s subsidies for teacher salaries expire after two years.
The board routinely updates personnel policies, following the recommendations of the Arkansas School Boards Association. “They keep us up to date,” Pruitt said. He explained some minor changes, including a provision against conducting any political activity on a school-owned computer.
The board approved a calendar for the 2024-25 school year. School will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Starting in the middle of the week will give younger students a short week to acclimate before the five-day weeks begin. The calendar will be based on hours instead of days, and school will begin 10 minutes early each day, to accumulate five snow days.
If the school does not use all five days, students will end the year earlier, although teachers will still attend professional development. The other major dates in the schedule include Dec. 19, the last day before the holiday break. Students will return on Jan. 6, and the year will end May 23, unless additional snow days are added during the year. “We may need to modify some bus routes to get kids here a little earlier,” Pruitt said.
A provision of the LEARNS Act requires the board to officially rehire staff each year. The board approved the continuing contracts of teachers and administrators, and the board will formally endorse the continuing contracts of classified staff next month.