ADE Briefs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Arkansas’s top two youth volunteers of the year, Joseph McCollum, 15, of McGehee and Andria Hunter, 14, of Arkadelphia, were honored in the nation’s capital May 6 for their outstanding volunteer service during the presentation of The 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning at the 17th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

Joseph and Alexandria were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Arkansas in February. In addition to their cash rewards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week’s recognition events.

Joseph McCollum, 15, of McGehee, Ark., a member of the Desha County 4-H and a junior at McGehee High School, played a pivotal role in expanding a Boys and Girls Club meal program that feeds children from poor families in his county. One Monday morning when Joseph was in the fourth grade, he witnessed two young girls gorge themselves on so many honey buns and cartons of milk that they became ill, because they had gone all weekend without food. “This image has always stayed with me,” said Joseph. He began volunteering with a local Boys and Girls Club 50 hours a week every summer “to make sure kids who need meals receive them,” he said.

Recently, Joseph read that only 10 percent of children who qualify for free meals actually receive them, and started thinking about kids who lived too far away to access the Boys and Girls Club’s meal program. “I had many sleepless nights thinking about how many other children were like the girls I witnessed,” he said. Finally, he told the club that he would recruit and train volunteers if it would open new meal sites and help secure a funding source. The club agreed, and with Joseph’s help, the meal program expanded to four more communities in Desha County, serving an additional 25,000 lunches last summer. Joseph not only spent an average of four hours a day packaging and serving meals, but also traveled more than 50 miles a day to deliver up to 250 meals to distant locations. “The best part of the program was the excitement in the kids when I showed up,” he said.

Alexandria Hunter, 14, of Arkadelphia, Ark., a member of the Clark County 4-H and an eighth-grader at Goza Middle School, packages party supplies into “birthday bags” and distributes them to food pantries and a women and children’s shelter so that families with little or no money can still celebrate birthdays. “During these times of financial distress, for many families, having a birthday party is just not in their budgets,” said Alexandria. “I wanted to help families celebrate together.”

Alexandria decided that she would fill her birthday bags with enough supplies for six partygoers, including plates, napkins, candles, drink mix, cake mix, frosting, candy and other treats. She then took $35 in prize money that she had won in a photography contest and went shopping. She enlisted the help of her 4-H club in assembling her first five bags, and then spoke to community groups and her church about her project. As a result, she has received numerous donations of money and supplies, and so far has donated enough bags to ensure that the birthdays of 35 individuals do not pass uncelebrated. “It is amazing how easily even a young person can make a difference,” said Alexandria. “No matter how small my project is, the effect it can have on just one person can be huge.”

“Through their selfless acts of service, these award recipients have greatly improved the lives of others,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “We hope their stories and their dedication inspire other young people to do the same.”

More than 26,000 young people participated in the 2012 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout Councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Netword. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February, and flown to Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 17 years ago by Prudential Financial to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. Since then, the program has honored more than 100,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.

For information on all of this year’s Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.

NASSP is the leading organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and all school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The association provides research-based professional development and resources, networking and advocacy to build the capacity of middle level and high school leaders to continually improve student performance. Reflecting its longstanding commitment to student leadership development as well, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org.

LITTLE ROCK  —  Four innovative school leaders were recognized Monday before the Arkansas State Board of Education as “master principals” after successfully completing rigorous professional development and performance evaluations.

They are Lori Griffin of Elgin B. Milton Primary School in Ozark; Cathy Riggins who serves Vilonia’s Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Graders; Tanya Sharp of Elm Tree Elementary in Bentonville; and Brenda Tash of Center Valley Elementary in Russellville.

The four principals graduated from the Arkansas Leadership Academy’s Master Principal Program, which is based in the University of Arkansas’ College of Education and Health Professions.

“These educators exemplify what excellent school leadership is all about,” Arkansas Education Commissioner Dr. Tom Kimbrell said. “The training offered by the academy greatly helps principals provide the best education possible for their students.”

The Master Principal program was authorized by Act 44 of the special legislative session on education in 2003-2004. Master principals receive a $9,000 a year bonus for five years. Debbie Davis, director of the Leadership Academy, said since that legislation there have been 21 educators designated as master principals.

Pictured from left to right are: Griffin, Riggins, Kimbrell, Sharp and Tash.

The board named Jim Cooper of Mountain Home as its chairman for fiscal 2013. He’ll replace Ben Mays whose term ends next month.

The State Board recognized Dr. Mary Ann Duncan, head of the Charter School Office, for her hard work at the ADE. Dr. Duncan is leaving the ADE to work in education in Texas.

The board voted to approve fiscal distress for the Alpena district. There was no dissent. Alpena did not appeal.

Bismarck was next on the agenda for fiscal distress. There was no appeal by the district. The board approved it.

Drew Central was also up for fiscal distress. Drew Central didn’t appeal. The board approved the fiscal distress status.

The Beebe district is requesting a five-year renewal for the Badger Academy charter school.

Alice Mahony moved that the school be renewed for one year with further information to be given later. It was seconded by Sam Ledbetter.

Jim Cooper said school officials should have more time to implement their plans.

Dr. Kimbrell said the SBE has broad authority to revoke the charter regardless of the length of time the charter is renewed.

Mahony’s motion failed with Mahony and Ledbetter voting yes.

Toyce Newton moved that it renewed for five years as recommended by the Department.

The motion passed with Mahony casting the lone no vote.

Also, the NLR district requested to surrender its charter for Ridge Road Middle School.

Superintendent Ken Kirspel told the board that the plan is part of a general reorganization of the district. “Our proposal is to move from 21 campuses to 13,” he said.

The SBE passed it without dissent.

The KIPP School in Blytheville is requesting to amend its charter. It would like to move its facility 1.7 miles. There will be an increase from 8 to 24 classes. It also wants to add 4th grade.

Richard Atwill, superintendent of the Blytheville district, said KIPP has already built the school even though at this point it is a request. Additionally, he said KIPP is already advertising for the 4th grade. He said several kids have left KIPP and returned to the Blytheville district and that most of them were behind in learning.

Scott Shirey, executive director of KIPP, said the Blytheville school hasn’t been around that long so it takes a while for kids to know the rigor required at KIPP before they enroll.

Board member Brenda Gullett said it’s “not good”  to build before getting approval. Shirey apologized and said “we should have waited.”

ADE staff attorney Mark White said new rules specifically say that a change of location must go before the board. He said previously the rules weren’t specific on that point.

Board member Ledbetter moved to approve KIPP’s request. Mahony cast the lone no vote.

A report by the Division of Legislative Audit on athletic expenditures in a selection of school districts was presented for fiscal 2010. A summary:

 Total athletic expenditures reported to ADE before review adjustments for the 45 school districts tested were $20.5 million.

 Total athletic expenditures after review adjustments were $20.8 million. Athletic expenditures were underreported a total $920,414 at 18 districts and over reported $628,029 at 21 other districts resulting in a total net adjustment of $292,385 (1.4%).

 Expenditures for 15 of 45 districts reviewed were adjusted in excess of 10% as a result of our review. The total amount of

Expenditures for 15 of 45 districts reviewed were adjusted in excess of 10% as a result of our review. Adjustments for these districts ranged from $9,443 at the Sloan- Hendrix School District to $292,591 at the Mountain Home School District and a range of 11.7% at the Midland School District to 178.6% at the Armorel School District.

Dr. Kimbrell said the plan is to provide the PARCC assessments on secure servers which would eliminate the need for increased broadband for all districts. However, he said broadband is needed for other things. He said cooperatives are doing what they can helping districts with this.

During reports by board members, Vicki Saviers said she was extremely impressed by her visit to the New Tech school in Cross County.

“It’s really exciting to see what’s going on in the rural part of our state with a lot of leadership and a lot of vision,” Saviers said.

During his report, Education Commissioner Dr. Tom Kimbrell, gave an update on the state’s flexibility request under ESEA. He said the state has submitted an amended request for a waiver from NCLB but the USDOE still has requirements.

“It’s almost like ‘we want you out of this box but there is a box we want to put you in,’” Kimbrell said.

He said Arkansas is working hard to state its case with the USDOE. He said the USDOE is “really struggling” with the state’s teacher evaluation system but the department is working hard on this issue.  He said there is another issue regarding Title I dollars and requirement for spending it in state law.

Kimbrell said he wants the request to be approved within a couple of weeks, possibly this week. Whenever the approval comes, he said, the state will work hard to implement it.

He said districts on the low end of performance — “priority schools” — should know that the ADE will take a more active role in their business.

Saviers said the state needs to take a stronger role in failing districts regarding academics.

Board member Sam Ledbetter said the board needs to re-work the rule regarding the definition of ‘academic distress.’ He said that would take care of it.

Ledbetter said the board should adopt a rule on an emergency basis and if the Legislature holds it up then so be it. “We have to change the rule and exert influence on these districts to address these schools that are not acceptable,” he said.

Kimbrell suggested an emergency rule and a permanent rule come before the State Board in June.

“We’ve got to do the right thing, and we have not been doing the right thing by these schools,” Saviers said.

Ledbetter said he expects the Legislature will accept it.

Kimbrell said here are potentially 52 such schools out there and that opposition from legislators who represents those schools will be likely. “We don’t have the capacity to become a state school district,” he said, adding that the department will have to “think outside the box” to come up with a way to manage those schools.