BENTONVILLE -- The Bentonville School District's new superintendent will focus on upgrading technology, reducing achievement gaps and enhancing career programs during her first year on the job.
Those are among the goals listed for Debbie Jones in her contract, which the board unanimously approved last week.
Jones, chosen last month to succeed Michael Poore as superintendent, will be paid $209,500 for this fiscal year, which started July 1. Poore was earning the same salary before leaving for the superintendent's job in the state-run Little Rock School District in June.
Jones joined the district in February as deputy superintendent. She previously was the Arkansas Department of Education's assistant commissioner for learning services. She has worked for several school districts, including the Bryant and Pulaski County Special school districts.
The Bentonville contract outlines seven areas the board wants Jones to concentrate on this school year. Jones wrote in an email that she is pleased with the contract and feels the performance goals upon which she and the board agreed "will serve to focus the district's work upon valuable and worthy targets."
The first goal listed is to "enhance district culture" by leading the district in a "respectful and professional manner," according to the contract.
Jones' performance on this goal may be measured by the number of positive and negative comments received from the public, as well as positive and professional interactions with board members and staff members, according to the contract.
"Enhance technology progress" is listed second. Increasing instructional use of technology and helping students prepare for a digital world is a smart goal, Jones wrote.
"These efforts have already begun with the implementation of Google Classroom in the district this year. This establishes a safe way for students and teachers in the district to digitally collaborate and create," she wrote.
Under an instruction-related goal, Jones is expected to decrease achievement gaps in math, literacy and the graduation rate; identify schools that are underperforming, and direct resources to those schools; and publicly communicate academic performances by both the district and individual schools.
Certain students are classified under what's called the targeted achievement-gap group. The group includes students who are economically disadvantaged, who are English-language learners or who have some kind of disability.
Bentonville's graduation rate among students in that group has fallen short of the state average the past four years.
To close the gap, the district will expand its intervention efforts that focus on students who aren't achieving, Jones wrote.
Another goal listed in the contract is to improve career programs. The contract lists several suggested actions, such as increasing opportunities for students to do externships or partner with industry.
"We have a successful model of a professional studies program with Ignite; those practices should be practiced in the other career education programs," Jones wrote in her email, referring to the district's Ignite Professional Studies Center that partners with Bentonville-area businesses.
Jones will be expected to deliver a balanced budget for this school year, open Osage Creek Elementary School and Creekside Middle School next year, and execute a plan to deliver a 12th elementary school and sixth middle school, according to the contract.
In addition, Jones must maintain, update and communicate a construction and financial plan to support growth needed for the next seven to 10 years. Input will be requested from community and city leaders, Jones said.
District enrollment is up by more than 3 percent this year and has grown nearly 20 percent in the past five years.
Another goal concerns board and community relations, including directives to provide open communications with board members and "respond to public concerns in a timely and informed manner," the contract states.
Metro on 08/23/2016