81 at NLR schools accept deal to leave
Eighty-one North Little Rock School District employees -- 46 teachers, five administrators, 28 support-staff members and two classified directors -- have opted to take a financial incentive to retire or otherwise leave the school district.
The district anticipates replacing 71 of those employees, creating a savings of $9,057,384 over eight years. Ten teaching vacancies won't be filled.
The incentive plan was announced in February. It will provide $45,000 over five years to each eligible certified employee who leaves the system. The plan will provide each support-staff member with 100 percent of his 2013-14 salary capped at $20,000 over five years.
The Employees Severance Plan was developed in consultation with Michigan-based Educators Preferred Corp.
Student makes 4th
Geographic Bee trip
Christian Boekhout, an eighth-grader at Hot Springs Middle School and the four-time champion of the Arkansas National Geographic Bee, will make his fourth appearance as Arkansas' representative at the National Geographic Bee on Monday through Wednesday in Washington D.C.
Christian also represented Arkansas at the 2011, 2012 and 2013 National Geographic Bees. He qualified each year by winning the state Bee that is for fifth- through eighth-graders.
Christian is one of 54 students participating in the nationwide competition. The top 10 finalists will compete in Wednesday's final round, moderated by journalist Soledad O'Brien, and taped to air on the National Geographic Channel at 6 p.m. Thursday and later on public television stations.
Forming Sherwood
district forum topic
The Sherwood Public Education Foundation, the organization spearheading efforts to establish a Sherwood school system, is hosting an informational meeting on the topic from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday.
The session for the general public will be in the education center of Sylvan Hills Church of Christ, 117 W. Maryland Ave., North Little Rock.
The foundation recently released a feasibility study that concluded a Sherwood public school system, carved out of the Pulaski County Special School District, could be successful. The study was done by education consultant Norman Hill, who is also a retired Arkansas superintendent.
Linda Remele and Beverly Williams are the co-chairmen of the foundation. The study is available on the foundation's website: sherwoodpubliceducationfoundation.org.
Digital Learning Day
will focus on skills
Ideas for using technology for instructional purposes in Arkansas classrooms will be highlighted on Digital Learning Day, which begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
The online video event is being hosted by the state Department of Education in partnership with the Arkansas Educational Television Network, local school districts and workforce professionals.
Panel discussions and examples of best practices in the classroom will be featured.
The live event can be viewed at the website: flash.aetn.org/ideas_live.html.
The Education Department will post updates on its social media sites. Twitter followers also can get updates by using the hashtag #ARDLDay.
"Technology skills are essential to learning in today's world," Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell said last week. "This event will feature outstanding examples of how digital learning can prepare our students for success."
More information is available on the Education Department's website: arkansased.org.
Elementary leaders
earn state awards
Dondi Frisinger, principal of Walker Elementary School in the Springdale School District, has been named Principal of the Year by the Arkansas Association of Elementary School Principals.
Andi Acuff, assistant principal at Springdale's Monitor Elementary School for seven years, is the Assistant Principal of the Year.
The awards are given annually to an elementary principal and assistant principal who -- among other qualities -- demonstrate the ability to maintain an orderly, purposeful learning environment.
Walker, who earned the Master Principal designation from the Arkansas Leadership Academy, is in her 13th year as the Walker principal. She was an assistant principal for three years and a teacher for nine.
Metro on 05/18/2014