DougBrubaker,Ph.D.
WeekofAugust2,2019
SUMMERTECHFEST–JULY30Thedistrict'sfirstSummerTechFestwasonJuly30.StudentswereoccupiedwithSTEMactivitieswhileparentswereabletolearnaboutInternetSafety101ChromebookEssentialsandthenightendedwithashowingof“Screenagers;GrowingUpintheDigitalAge”.Itwasafunlearningexperienceforall!ThankstoLeeAndraWhite,presidentoftheFortSmithCouncilofPTA,LeslieBrodie,ScienceCoordinatorandherteamofSTEMeducatorsandEdenBuergler,TechnologyIntegrationSpecialistandherteamofTechteachersforaremarkableeveningfocusingonthetoolsthatenhancethequalityofteachingandlearningintheFortSmithPublicSchools.ThanksalsotoWhitneyYoderandCoxCommunicationforsponsoring"Screenagers:GrowingUpinaDigitalAge",toHilandDairyandFSPSChildNutritionforicecream,toCoca-Colaforsodasandwater,andtoArvestBankfordeliciouspopcorn.Allofthesepeopleandcompaniesensuredthatparentsandtheirstudentshadaccesstoafunlearningopportunity.
PARTNERSINEDUCATIONCONFERENCE–AUGUST1
Fort Smith Public Schools Weekly Week of August 2 AAAUPDATEThesecondaryprincipals,whoarealsothevotingmembers,metonThursday,July25,2019todiscusstheupcomingAAAmeetingandtheproposals.Dr.KeriRathbun,principalofNorthsideHighSchoolandMrs.LisaMiller,principalofSouthsideHighSchool,attendedthe7APrincipals’MeetingonMonday,July29,2019inLittleRock.Thefourjuniorhighprincipalsalsoattended.Inadditiontoreviewingthenineproposalstobevotedonthatafternoon,Mr.LanceTaylorfromAAAalsoaddressedtheFortSmithappeal.AccordingtoMr.Taylorandotherathleticdirectorsandprincipalsfromthe7A,theconcernistheopendatesthattheywouldhaveandfindinganon-conferenceopponent.Mr.TayloralsostatedthathehadvisitedthesuperintendentsinNorthwestArkansastodiscusstheirthoughtsontheconferencesituation. PleaseclickheretoseetheagendafromtheArkansasActivitiesAssociationmeeting. DISTRICTAWARDSChaffinandRamseyQuizBowlTeamsThissummer,bothChaffinandRamseyquizbowlteamsplacedattheNationalQuizBowltournaments.ChaffinreceivedfirstplaceinChicago,whileRamseyplacedsecondplaceinNewOrleans.LoriGriffinLoriGriffin,principalatBallmanElementary,earnedthetitleofEducationalAdministratoroftheYearfromtheFortSmithAssociationofEducationalOfficeProfessionalsKathrynEwingKathrynEwing,anEnglishteacheratBellePoint,wasnominatedandwonthetitleofTeacheroftheYearbytheArkansasAssociationofAlternativeEducators.DejahStephensDejahStephens,whoteachesatOrrElementary,earnedFortSmithTeacheroftheYear.Shewasalsooneof15teachersnamedas2020ArkansasTeacheroftheYearRegionalfinalists.NorthsideHighSchoolDramaandChoir WhenKatyFeatherston,choirdirectoratNorthsideHighSchoolrealizedthatNorthsidehadn’tdoneamusicalinatleast12years,sherecruiteddramateacherRobynFowlertocollaborateandcreatesomethingincredible.Northside’shardworkfortheirproductionof“OnceOnThisIsland”receivednationalrecognition.RobynFowlersenttheNationalYouthArtsCouncilatapingoftheplayandbasedontheirperformance,threeNorthsidestudentswerenominatedforSupportingPerformanceinaMusicalandMadeleineNewmanwonandacceptedtheaward.WailonHeuangwilaiasAgwe,AbbyHopeasAsaka,AngelKeohacksaasPapaGe,werealsonominatedforthesameawardfortheiroutstandingperformancesintheproduction.GordonManleyGordonManley,banddirectorofNorthsideHighSchoolfor32years,wasrecentlyawardedthetitleofArkansasBandmasteroftheYear!BarlingSixthGradeNationalHistoryDayFoursixthgradersfromBarlingElementary,LaylaRandels,JaxonWaite,PatsyGraham,andMadisonNixon,wonthestatedocumentaryforNationalHistoryDay.Fromthere,theywenttoNationalswheretheyplaced10thinthenationoutof101otherschools!Theirteachers,TeresaJohnsonandJenniferShurehelpedthestudentswiththedocumentaryandhelpedthemalongtheirroadtosuccess.
Fort Smith Public Schools Weekly Week of August 2 STAFFINGUPDATE–ASOF08.01
CertifiedPositions NumberofOpenings Location
JROTCInstructor/SeniorOfficer 2 NorthsideHighSchool
SpecialEducationTeacher 3 SpradlingElementaryNorthsideHighSchoolBellePoint
DirectorofAdultEducation 1 District
PE/7thGradeFootball/Track 1 DarbyJuniorHigh
K-6Teacher 6 Cook(1)Carnall(2) Pike(1)Sutton(2)
UnmannedAerialSystemsInstructor 1 NorthsideHighSchool
AssistantPrincipal 2 FairviewElementaryMorrison/TrustyElementary
ElementaryCounselor 1 EuperLaneElementary
PEElementaryTeacher 1 SunnymedeElementary
PE/Health/CrossCountry 1 KimmonsJuniorHigh
SecondaryCounselor 1 SouthsideHighSchool
TotalOpenCertifiedPositions 20
ClassifiedPositions NumberofOpenings Location
Paraprofessional–SPED/PK 5 Spradling/BonnevilleBeardElementaryBellePointKimmonsJuniorHighSouthsideHighSchool
Warehouse 1 ChildNutrition
OfficeProfessional 1 SecurityandFacilities
NightCustodian 2 PikeElementarySouthsideHighSchool
Carpenter 1 District
Fort Smith Public Schools Weekly Week of August 2
TotalOpenClassifiedPositions 10
TotalOpenPositions 30
VISION2023SecurityUpdateMembersofSafetyandSecurityareintheprocessofcompletingnecessarypaperworkintheestablishmentoftheFortSmithPublicSchoolsPoliceDepartment.TheSchoolOfficerswillnowhaveaccesstothesamesupportsystemasotheragenciessuchastheArkansasCrimeInformationCenter(ACIC).ThisisastatewidesystemthatinterfaceswiththeNationalCrimeInformationCenter.Thesesystemswillenhancestudentandstaffsafetybygivingofficerstheabilitytodeterminesexoffenderstatusorviolentcriminalhistory. SchoolOfficerswillalsohaveaccesstotheArkansasLawEnforcementTrainingAcademyandtheArkansasCriminalJusticeInstitute.TheseentitiesprovidefreetrainingtoalllawenforcementofficersintheStateofArkansas.TheSchoolPolicewillalsohaveaccesstotheInternetCrimesAgainstChildrenStateTaskForce(ICACTF).ThiswillincreaseourabilitytorespondtoSocialMediathreatstoourschoolsandpotentialthreatstoourstudents. FortSmithPublicSchoolOfficerswillbeundergoingprofessionaldevelopmentandin-servicetrainingnextweekinthefollowingareas:ViolentIntruder,CrisisResponse,BloodBornePathogens,FirearmsTrainingandSafety,Ethics,FirstAidReview,CulturalAwarenessandPreventionofRacialProfilingandSexualHarassment. ProjectUpdatesCavanaugh:Oaktrimisbeinginstalledaroundthenewofficewindowanddoorandshouldbecompletedbytomorrow.Cableworkisongoingandonschedule.Frameshavebeeninstalledfornewvestibuleandglassisbeinginstalled.Framingandsheetrockforceilinginnewvestibuleisbeinginstalled.Carpetinnewvestibulewillbeinstalledthisweek.Thisprojectwillbecompletedshortlywithonlyafewminoritemsremaining. Ramsey:Door,floorandpainthasbeencompleted.Doorcylindersarebeingadded. Fairview:Paintisbeingcompletedtoday.Framesandglassarealmostcomplete.Flooringshouldbeinstallednextweek.Thisprojectshouldbecompletewithinthefollowingweek. Spradling:Frameandglasshasbeeninstalledandthevestibuleiscompleteandbeingused.Minorwiringandhardwareshouldbecompletednextweek.Sunnymede:Flooring,paintandcabinetsarecomplete.Allwindowanddoorframesandthevestibuleframestartedtodayandshouldbecompletebytheendofnextweek.Thisprojectwillbecompletewithinaweek. Morrison:Ceilingshavebeeninstalledonhalfoftheproject.Thelastoverheadelectricalinspectioniscomplete.Ceilingsshouldbecompletebytheendoftheweek.Someceilingswillbeheldoffforthecontrolworktoproceed.GaslinesarebeingrunontherooftotheHVACunitsandshouldbecompletebytheendoftheweek. Fixtureswillbesetoutbytheendoftheweek.Paintingisongoingandonschedule.CarpetstartedtodayandVCTwillstartbyFriday.ThestorefronthasbeeninstalledattheentranceandtheglasswillbeinstalledThursday.Theotherexteriorframes,doorsandglasswillbeinstalledThursdayandFriday.TheDirkwallswillstartbeinginstallednextTuesdayandshouldbecompletebynextThursday.
Fort Smith Public Schools Weekly Week of August 2 ProgrammingMeetings WeeklyHPMUpdateMeetingInspectionofallcurrentSecurityProjectsMorrisonConstructionUpdateNHSRenovationsandAdditionsMeetingFacilitiesUpdateFacilitiesstaffarecontinuingtheLEDlightreplacementatSunnymede.Weanticipatecompletioninthenextfewweeks.AvanityisbeingconstructedatOrrbreakroomforteachersandstaff.AconcretesidewalkandpadisnowbeingconstructedatKimmonsJuniorHigh.ReplacementtileisbeingaddedtothebusinesswingatSHS.ExteriordoorlocksarebeingrepairedandreplacedonseveraldoorsatNHS.PaintingcontinuesatthecafeteriaandclassroomsatCarnallElementary.PaintingcontinuesontheexteriorofPikeElementary.TouchuppaintingcontinuesintheinteriorofSunnymedeElementary. ATTENTION:IfyouarereadingtheFSPSWeekly,emailAddieReithatareith@fortsmithschools.orgtoclaimafabulousprize!Thefirstthreetoemailwillreceiveaprize!PROFESSIONALLEARNINGCOMMUNITIES(PLC)UPDATE Theinformationbelowoutlinestheschoolsinthe2018-19PLCCohortIandthe2019-20PLCCohortII.Thenumbersrepresentthenumbersofthoseineachschool’sguidingcoalitionandthosethatparticipatedinthePLCtraining.
2018-2019 #OFATTENDEES 2019-2020SCHOOLS #OFATTENDEESCarnall 6 Barling 6Fairview 6 Beard 6Howard 6 Bonneville 6Morrison 6 Cavanaugh 6Orr 6 Cook 6Pike 6 EuperLane 6Darby 8 Sunnymede 6Kimmons 8 Sutton 6Ramsey 8 Tilles 6Northside 12 Woods 6TOTALATTENDEES 72 BellePoint 4 Chaffin 8 Southside 12 TOTALATTENDEES 90 DYSLEXIAINTERVENTIONS GanderPublishingrecentlysharedablogthatoutlinedthegreatworkthatthedistrict’steachershavedoneinimprovingstudentliteracy.TheblogalsoaddressestheoutstandingleadershipthatMs.CatheyFord,thedistrict’sIntervention/DyslexiaCoordinator,hasdoneinmeetingtheneedsofourstudents.Clickheretoreadthepost.
Fort Smith Public Schools Weekly Week of August 2 CONCURRENTCREDIT ThedistrictwillcontinuetopartnerwithUAFStoprovideconcurrentcreditopportunities.TheconcurrentcreditcoursesaretaughtbyaUAFSprofessoronsiteatbothNorthsideandSouthsideHighSchool.ConcurrentcreditcourseswillalsobeavailableonlinethroughUAFS.AconcurrentcourseinSpeechwasscheduledtobeofferedthisschoolyearthatUAFSwillnotbeabletostaff.Theyhaveagreedtoreplacethatcoursewithanonlineconcurrentoption. TheconcurrentcoursesforFall2019areEnglishCompositionI,CollegeAlgebra,USHistory(SHS),andWesternCivilization(NHS-OnlineCourse).TheconcurrentcoursesforSpring2020areEnglishCompositionII,ProbabilityandStatistics,Trigonometry(SHS),USHistory(SHS),Sociology(SHS)andPsychology(NHS).
NEWAAAWEATHERCONDITIONSTANDARDSDESIGNEDTOPROTECTSTUDENTS&STAFF MeasurementsandforecastsfromWetBulbGlobalTemperature(WBGT)devicessetthenewstandardfordecisionsmadetoprotectstudentsandstafffromheat-relatedinjury. NewArkansasActivitiesAssociation(AAA)guidelinessettheupperlimitofWBGTreadingat92.1.It'simportanttonotethatthisisnotatemperature,butasetofspecificdatapointsrecognizedcollectivelybytheNationalWeatherService(NWS)andtheNationalAthleticsTrainersAssociation(NATA)asanindicatorforconditionswhicharesafeforoutdoorpracticeorthosewhicharepotentiallyharmful.Arkansasathletictrainershavetheauthoritytomodifyand/orsuspendpracticeswhentheWBGTreadingreachesorexceeds92.1. Thisweek,forexample,theforecastforAugust7and8wassignificantlyabovethisupperlimit.BrentGriffis,SouthsideHighSchoolAthleticTrainer,andSherryRiggins,NorthsideHighSchoolAthleticTrainer,monitoredreadingsonfieldsandinactivitycentersthroughoutthedistrict. Footballteamscouldpracticeinearlymorninghours.Spiritsquadsandteamshadtheoptionofpracticingintheair-conditionedgymsandtornadoshelters.TeamscouldalsopracticeintheIndoorActivityCentersateachhighschoolbecausethesefacilitiesprovideaspaceoutofthedirectsunlight.Iffacilitiesthatdonothaveairconditioningreachthe92.1limit,GriffisandRigginshavetheauthoritytomodifypracticeintheseareasforthesafetyoftheathletesinaccordancewiththenewguidelines. AllFortSmithPublicSchoolssecondaryschoolshaveaWBGTdeviceonsitefromwhichtheycanbasetheirdecisions.
Fort Smith Public Schools Weekly Week of August 2 TOPWEEKLYPOST
Thisweek’sTopWeeklyPostonsocialmediawasa54secondvideoexplainingwhysecurevestibulesaresoimportant.Theposthasreachedalmost11,000peopleandhasbeensharedover50times.ThankyoutoJTBeasley,NorthsidesophomoreandSuperintendent’sStudentAdvisoryCouncilMemberforparticipatinginthevideo!
UPCOMINGDATES
Event Date Location TimeWelcomeBackBreakfast 08.09 ArcBestPerformingArtsCenter 7:30AM
LaunchForLearningMeeting 08.09 ArcBestPerformingArtsCenter 8:30AM
BoardofEducationWorkSession 08.12 BuildingBAuditorium 5:30PM
FortSmithCouncilofPTAMeeting 08.21 FairviewElementary 5:30PM
BoardofEducationMeeting 08.26 BuildingBAuditorium 5:30PM
BoardofEducationWorkSession 09.09 FairviewElementary 5:30PM
FortSmithPublicSchoolsWeeklyBoardReport Page8of8WeekofAugust2,2019 BoardofEducationMeeting 09.23 BuildingBAuditorium 5:30PM
FortSmithCouncilofPTALuncheonMeeting
10.02 SunnymedeElementary 12:00PM
LeadershipFortSmith 10.10 TBD TBD
BoardofEducationWorkSession 10.14 MorrisonElementary 5:30PM
FSPSBoardofEducationHostsASBAFallConference
10.17 BuildingB 5:30PM
BoardofEducationMeeting 10.28 BuildingBAuditorium 5:30PM