With New Members in Place Conway School Board Elects Officers
Conway School Board voted on new officers and a disbursing officer at its June 13 meeting, the first for new Board members Sheila Franklin and Trey Geier. Former Board member Bill Milburn attended, as well.
Routine business and awards/recognition on the agenda took up most of the meeting that lasted shortly over an hour. Only two patrons signed up to speak: Joyce Jones and regular monthly critic Hypatia Meraviglia.
New Officers
New officers are
- Andre Acklin, President (nominated by Linda Hargis / David Naylor)
- Jason Sandifer, Vice President (nominated by Trip Leach)
- Linda Hargis, Secretary / Disbursing Officer (nominated by Acklin)
The District will switch providers for its website, mobile app, and alert/notification systems to Little Rock-based Apptegy, saving about $35,000 plus administrative costs by incorporating all those systems under one provider.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Collum reported that “almost 700” students participated in recent graduation ceremonies.
High Achieving Education Awards
Carolyn Lewis Elementary School won the statewide overall high growth award from the Arkansas Department of Education that depicts “how much students improved from 2021, compared to how much they were expected to grow.” Carolyn Lewis Elementary also picked up the statewide award for high math growth.
Ruth Doyle Middle School gathered a statewide high growth award and a high growth award for central Arkansas, while Conway Jr. High was recognized for high math growth in central Arkansas.
Despite an ongoing lawsuit challenging the new law, Collum reported that “we’ve been told to proceed forward as if everything is on track” when it comes to changes — including salary ranges — mandated by the recently passed LEARNS Act.
Math Scores Up Almost 15%
After a detailed discussion about fiscal-year-end financials and building funds, Dr. Tammy Woosley gave a now-required monthly student achievement report. One example she reported was that math scores for first graders have gone up almost 15% to 179 — three points above the “norm.” Woosley said that, “in reading we hit the norm, which is 171…”
New Safety Director & Football Coach
Naylor pointed out that CSD has now hired a Director of School Safety & Security as well as a new football coach.
Patron Comments
The two individuals who signed up — Jones and Meraviglia — each spoke for the allotted three minutes. Afterward, Naylor and Collum pointed out that Meraviglia’s FOIA requests have cost the District some $28,000 of the total $40,000 spent so far to fulfill some 200 or more FOIA requests. Together with Acklin, they asked “Did we find what you’re looking for?”
At Acklin’s invitation, new Board members Geier and Franklin both made comments; read more here.
Videos edited from original video on Faulkner County’s YouTube channel.)
Visit Faulkner County Reports on YouTube for more videos and video excerpts from this and other County meetings and events.
