LRSD issues placed on board’s agenda
The reconstitution of the state-controlled Little Rock School District is on the Arkansas Board of Education’s meeting agenda for Thursday.
Points of discussion include the district’s December quarterly report to the Arkansas Legislature, the membership and function of the district’s state-appointed Community Advisory Board, and proposed revisions in the school board election zones for a November 2020 election.
The Education Board meeting begins 10 a.m. Thursday at the Arch Ford Education Building, 4 Capitol Mall in Little Rock. The Little Rock School District items are listed at the end of the board’s afternoon session.
The Education Board previously approved the establishment of a nine-member school board for the district, instead of the previous seven-member board that was in place when the state took control of the district in January 2015.
If plans for the nine-member board ultimately come to pass, then the Little Rock
district will be the only district in the state with a board that size. State law prescribes five- or seven-member boards but permits a nine-member board in districts with at least 20,000 students.
The Education Board is also scheduled to review quarterly reports to lawmakers from the state-controlled Pine Bluff, Dollarway, Lee County, and Earle districts.
Magnet school gets $500,000 estimate
Little Rock School District leaders who have proposed transforming Hall High School into a special-program magnet school, which would pull students from across the district, estimate the cost at about $500,000.
Superintendent Mike Poore said there is the potential to receive help from businesses and other outside organizations, or even to offset the costs. The costs also can be absorbed by the district if they are spread over multiple years, he said.
Early planning for a Hall High magnet school — which could start with just the ninth grade in 2020-21 — is focused on the STEAM subjects of science, technology, engineering, arts and math. That could include computer science
and medical careers. The district is working with the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pulaski County’s other three school districts to establish the Ford Next Generation Learning model of career academies in high schools.
$119,300 awarded as exam incentives
A total of $119,300 has been awarded to 153 students and 20 schools under the Arkansas Advanced Placement Computer Science A Incentive Program, the Arkansas Department of Education announced.
The purpose of the 2-year-old incentive program is to increase the number of qualifying scores of 3, 4, or 5 on Advanced Placement Computer Science A exams. Awards for 2018-19 tests increased from $103,550 the previous school year.
The top 10 award-winning school systems are: Haas Hall Academy, $18,700; Fort Smith School District, $17,150; Little Rock School District, $15,900; Rogers School District, $14,150; Fayetteville School District, $9,100; Bentonville School District, $8,500; Valley View School District, $7,500; Conway School District, $5,250; Russellville School
District, $4,250; and Springdale School District, $4,200.
In the current 2019-20 school year, the following student and school awards are planned:
For a qualifying score of 5 on the AP Computer Science A exam, a student will get $1,000 and the school will receive $250.
For a qualifying score of 4 on the AP Computer Science A exam, a student will receive $750 and the school will get $150.
For a qualifying score of 3 on the AP Computer Science A exam, a student will receive $250 and the school will get $50.
7 schools’ choirs et to perform in LR
Choirs from seven Little Rock School District schools will give a free public performance from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave.
Songs of the Season will be presented by the choirs from Central and Parkview high schools; Pinnacle View and Mabelvale middle schools; Chicot and Williams elementary schools; and Forest Heights STEM Academy.
The event is to benefit the district’s Artistry in the Rock scholarship program.