Due to the recent passing of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, the Monticello School Board met at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 25 to discuss the salary changes as well as security updates and more.
The LEARNS Act, signed into law by Governor Sanders, includes a segment which gives all teachers making below $50,000 annually a salary of $50,000 as well as giving all teachers making $48,000 or higher a $2,000 raise. This pay change does not consider work experience or higher college education. Monticello considered these pay changes because this will require budget changes that may affect benefits at the school.
It was also announced at the meeting that a grant was approved by the state for Monticello School District to update school security.
The application for the grant discussed plans to update things such as the camera system, alarms for the doors, and a visitor management system. The visitor management system plans to give a quick background check for anyone entering the schools as well as scan for weapon detection.
Also included in plans for the grant were hedges to surround the playgrounds. The purpose of these hedges are to obstruct the view of the playgrounds. The grant also is going to pay for training for school staff on what to do in case of an emergency situation at the school. The training is to be done by US-based, Strategos.
The meeting went on to cover summer hours for teachers and Monticello's representative for the state's school co-op board. School staff is scheduled to work longer days with shorter lunch breaks working Monday through Thursday from June 5 to July 28.
The meeting ended with Sandra Lanehart being made the Monticello Schools representative for the Arkansas school's co-op board.
