The Drew Central School Board met on March 16, 2023. Drew Central Schools Superintendent, Kimbraly Barnes, gave a brief update on the recently passed LEARNS Act and how it will potentially affect the Drew Central School District.
Barnes stated that several superintendents had recently met with Arkansas Secretary of Education, Jacob Oliva, and that five or six committees have been formed. These committees are open for people across the state to sign up and participate. The purpose of these committees is to write the rules and regulations on how the LEARNS Act will be carried out. Some areas of the act will go into effect July 1, while others will become effective over the next two to three years including the Scholarship System which will give families options where they can send their students to school. Secretary Oliva did stress that the best option would remain public schools.
Barnes also discussed the impact that the LEARNS Act will have on teacher salaries, and stated that schools across south Arkansas were working together to try and keep their salaries competitive. She said Drew Central will re-evaluate after the upcoming school year and see what changes they may need to make to remain competitive. Barnes also discussed a Teacher Incentive package that is being planned, but there are no details yet as this will be worked out by one of the recently formed committees. Superintendent Barnes admitted that there are a lot of unknowns regarding the impact of the LEARNS Act, but she says Drew Central is “ready to dig in”.
The School Board approved to purchase the Lexia Core 5 Reading two year subscription for $29,475.00. This will be purchased using funds from the SOAR Grant and will be at no cost to the district.
The School Board was then presented with two motions that needed board approval.
The first motion was to purchase additional cameras and remote systems for $50,257.82, which would be funded by the School Safety Grant. This motion was passed unanimously.
The second motion was to approve the purchase of electronic access controls for high frequency use exterior doors. These controls would also be purchased using the School Safety Grant for $76,277.55. These purchases are pending, as the state approves the grant.
Superintendent Barnes also discussed the elementary building project. This would add two additional classrooms, which are much needed with the number of students currently enrolled in Drew Central Schools.
