ROGERS -- The School Board and Superintendent Marlin Berry met Saturday to discuss numerous topics ranging from changing attendance boundaries to the possibility of allowing advertising on school buses.
The board took no action during the four-hour retreat meeting. Berry was the only School District employee present. He said he hadn't produced an agenda for the meeting, just a list of topics to discuss.
Professional Learning Center
The Rogers School Board’s meeting Saturday took place at its new Professional Learning Center at 2100 W. Perry Road, former home of Calvary Chapel in the Ozarks, next door to Rogers High School. The board bought the 17,000-square-foot building in May for $1,475,000. It will be used for professional development and office space. For now the building is empty.
Source: Staff report
"I really wanted this to be a conversation," he told the seven board members at the start of the meeting.
He asked board members to share things they like about the district. Kristen Cobbs, board president, said she is proud of Rogers for keeping up with other districts in terms of test scores despite having a diverse population, including many English language learners.
Paige Sultemeier said Rogers students can get a well-rounded education.
"They've had opportunities to be a part of some really great programs -- band, choirs, athletics," Sultemeier said.
Berry reviewed pieces of the district's strategic plan, including recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers, increasing student achievement, using resources efficiently and appropriately, and engaging the community.
A "small piece" of engaging the community is the Excel magazine the district produces, Berry said. Three issues have been produced since last winter promoting district accomplishments, news and programs. It is mailed to 43,000 homes and is paid for by advertisers, Berry said.
The following is a sampling of other topics that came up Saturday.
Attendance boundaries
The district plans to open its 16th elementary school in August 2019. Berry said he'd like to have the new attendance boundaries incorporating that school designed by the end of May.
Staff members will do some internal work on boundaries this fall. There will be multiple meetings involving lots of people, including public meetings, Berry said.
The last time the district changed boundaries was for the 2013-14 school year, when Darr Elementary School opened.
Home-schooled students
Act 173 of this year's legislative session allows Arkansas public school districts the option of giving home-schooled students access to public school classes. Districts receive funding equivalent to one-sixth of a full-time student for each class a home-schooled student takes.
The logistics of providing space for a home-schooled student at the elementary level are complex, Berry said.
"If they just want to come for music and art, or for reading and math, how do you get kids in and out on that level," he said.
"I could see where it could work in a secondary school setting where you come in for a class period or two, or something like that," said board member Amy Horn.
As of the 2015-16 school year, the latest year for which numbers are available, 674 children living in the district were being home-schooled, according to the Arkansas Department of Education.
Community use of facilities
Berry and the board discussed reconsidering the district's facility rental fees. Sterling Wilson said Rogers' fees are higher than what other districts charge to rent spaces like an auditorium or a cafeteria.
"I'm talking significantly higher, almost to the point where you're saying we don't want anyone to use our facilities," Wilson said.
The most expensive facility to rent is the Rogers High School auditorium. Nonprofit groups pay $225 per hour and commercial groups pay $250 per hour to rent it, and fees are billed at a four-hour minimum.
"We do want our community to be able to use our facilities," Berry said.
Election timing
A new state law means annual school board election dates will change beginning in 2018. Board elections have been held for many years on the third Tuesday of September; boards now much choose either the day a preferential primary election is held early in the year, or during the day a general election normally would be held in November.
The board seemed to agree the earlier date would be better. Wilson said one of the complaints about having board elections in September is the low voter turnout. Most people showing up to a general election in November, however, wouldn't be aware of the school board races, which are typically not as politically charged as others on the ballot, he said.
"You're going to have more (voters), but it's not going to be an informed vote," Wilson said.
Bus advertising
Berry said he's been approached by a company about putting advertising on the district's buses.
Wilson said he doesn't mind the concept, as long as what's being advertised isn't controversial.
"Everything is controversial anymore," Horn said.
"OK. As long as it's not illegal," Wilson said.
Berry said he has "some reluctance" about the concept, but acknowledged the revenue could be helpful to the district.
A state law passed in 2015 allowed school districts to put ads on buses. The Booneville School District became one of the first districts to move in that direction last spring, displaying decals promoting a scholarship program. Businesses paid for the decals and in return got their logo printed on them.
NW News on 08/27/2017