Week 19: New Year, New Legislative Session

Happy Snowy Friday!

Well, there was not much to Week 19 at Mena Public Schools. We did get two days into the instructional semester and a day of planning and looking at data to inform our instructional needs to meet our performance targets for the year. Thank you for all the good work done on Monday and the good start on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This week’s Wrap-Up highlights several important topics, beginning with a special thanks to our dedicated school board members for their invaluable service. We will also take a brief look at the upcoming legislative session and its potential impact on our school system. Finally, with our recent school closures, I will review our district calendar to explain how these closures affect our schedule and what it means moving forward.

School Board Appreciation Month

January is School Board Member Appreciation Month, and we want to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated school board members for their service and leadership. Our board, led by President Cling Montgomery, Vice President Phillip Wilson, Secretary Ty Plunkett, and members Kyle Cannon, Robert Hines, Susan Rowell, and Todd Aynes, works tirelessly to ensure the success of our students and the strength of our schools. Their commitment to our district and community is invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for their vision, guidance, and support. Please join us in thanking them for their hard work and dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of our students.

Potential New Laws

As the 95th Arkansas General Assembly prepares to convene, educators must stay informed about proposed legislation impacting public education. The decisions made during this session will shape the policies and priorities that influence your classrooms, students, and careers.

Your voice matters. By understanding the bills under consideration, you can advocate effectively for the needs of your students and communities. Whether through direct communication with your legislators, collaboration with professional organizations, or participation in public forums, sharing your insights as educators can guide decision-making and ensure policies align with the realities of teaching and learning.

Below is a summary of key bills related to public education introduced in this session:

House Bills

HB 1017 – Maternity Leave Program: This bill mandates that all school districts participate in the maternity leave program established under the LEARNS Act, with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education covering additional costs.

HB 1020 – Education Freedom and Disability Funding: Proposes repealing the education freedom accounts program while introducing additional funding for students with disabilities in public schools and the community school program.

HB 1022 – School Recognition Program: Amends the criteria for the school recognition program, limiting per-student funding to districts in the top 5% and 10% for academic growth only, removing the performance-based category.

HB 1024 – Collective Bargaining: Seeks to repeal the current prohibition on public employees, including school staff, from entering into collective bargaining agreements.

HB 1025 – Teacher Fair Dismissal Act: Restores the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act entirely but does not reinstate similar protections for classified employees.

HB 1028 – Library Material Review: Repeals Act 372 of 2023 in its entirety, including provisions related to the review, removal, and relocation of books in school libraries.

HB 1030 – Youth Mental Health Training: Requires school resource officers and counselors to complete Youth Mental Health First Aid training specifically.

HB 1031 – Health Curriculum: Mandates health courses for grades 7-12, covering topics such as mental health, substance abuse, diet, tobacco use, and teenage pregnancy prevention.

HB 1051 - School Start Date: Makes permanent the changes to school start dates from Act 147 of 2024, removing the specific required date ranges for starting instruction.

HB 1058 – Notification Prohibition: This creates a criminal offense for public servants who notify individuals of upcoming unannounced government inspections.

HB 1060 – Curriculum on Communism: Requires the development of materials to teach grades 7-12 about the dangers of communism and autocratic governments.

HB 1062 – Student Discipline: Requires conferences for students removed from class twice in nine weeks, alternative learning placement for violent students, and prohibits violent students from returning to the original classroom.

HB 1069 – Year-Round Standard Time: Proposes Arkansas adopt Standard Time year-round.

Senate Bills

SB 3 – Equality Assistance Center: Renames the Equity Assistance Center and limits its role to assisting with desegregation and nondiscrimination. Repeals the requirement for districts to have Teacher and Administrator Recruitment and Retention Plans.

As these bills progress through the legislative process, consider how they align with the needs of our students and communities. Your awareness and engagement can help shape the future of education in Arkansas.

Our Calendar, Closing, and Potential New Legislative Impact

Due to the recent winter storm, we were required to close school for two days. Fortunately, under current state law, schools are required to provide 1,068 hours of instruction annually, and our calendar is built with 1,111.5 hours. This means we are 6.7 days above the required minimum and do not need to make up these two missed days. However, with a little over 4 extra days of instructional time remaining, any additional closures could impact the calendar, potentially extending the school year into May or June.

Given the significant snowfall, many impassable roads, and continued low temperatures, there is a possibility that schools may remain closed into next week. Please stay tuned to your email, local radio stations, and our social media channels for the latest updates on future closures or reopenings. Your safety remains our top priority as we navigate these challenging weather conditions.

Additionally, there is a potential proposal from the state department to mandate 178 instructional days for all schools. Currently, our calendar consists of 171 days and has proven to work exceptionally well for our students and staff. We will need to monitor all calendar-related legislation closely to advocate for retaining the flexibility that allows us to use this successful method.

Closing

We are thrilled to congratulate our first through seventh-grade students who have excelled in their respective spelling bees. Your dedication and hard work have led you to this achievement, and we are confident that you will represent our school with pride at the upcoming Polk County Spelling Bee. Best of luck to each of you as you prepare for the county contest!

A warm thank you to our wrestling and basketball teams for traveling and competing over the Christmas break. Your dedication to Bearcat athletics and commitment to representing our school with pride are greatly appreciated. Thank you to the players and coaches for all the hard work you put into making our programs strong.

It was a short but good week for us at Mena Public Schools!

At Mena Public Schools our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.

Keep the #menareads posts and videos coming and have a nice weekend!