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The Monticello School Board held their regularly called meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, at the Monticello School District’s Central Office. After the roll was called, Sandra Lanehart, Curt Preston, Keith Wells, Andrew Hilton, and Will Maxwell were found to be present. The board approved the minutes from the March 2925 meeting.
The members then heard a financial report for March. The revenue for all funds received totaled $1,553,641.53, and the total expenditures for the month were $1,616,958.76.
The board heard an academic report from MHS teacher Amanda Carpenter and members of the Career Council based in Fayetteville. Carpenter, who runs the Happy Goat store at the high school came in to talk about the STAR Program which is one of the main sources of funding for the store which makes merchandise and other products with the Billie's insignia.
STAR is an acronym for Seamless Transition in Arkansas. The program is a comprehensive and collaborative initiative to address the underemployment of disabled youth and enhance their opportunities for competitive, integrated employment. The STAR Program focuses on critical areas such as college preparation, skill development, and innovative collaboration models.
Carpenter stated that many of the junior and senior special education and 504 plan students are currently working at the Happy Goat. Carpenter’s goal is to see more of these students become employed by local businesses. Through the STAR Program, employers can hire these students to work part-time, and not be responsible for paying their salaries. All salaries are covered by the program. These businesses would be able to provide real-world, on-the-job training, at no cost. Carpenter asked that any businesses interested in partnering with these students contact the school.
Dr. Angela Maize introduced Cody Rowland, K-5 ALE Director; Crystal Grimes, K-5 ALE teacher; and Emily Berryman, K-5 ALE Paraprofessional, who recognized Jakobe Wilkerson, a third grader at MIS. Wilkerson was one of 13 students from Arkansas who were awarded the Arkansas Diamond Award in March. Of the 13 students selected, Wilkerson was the youngest. The Arkansas Diamond Award recognizes students who display diligence, perseverance, sensitivity, and resiliency. The recipients are picked by a committee of members of the state’s Alternative Education Unit.
The board voted to approve the proposed summer hours.
The board also approved providing the district’s teachers with purchase cards to buy necessary supplies rather than using the old purchase order system.
With no further business on the agenda, the board adjourned until next month’s meeting.
