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South Conway County School District

Annual Report to the Public

October 8, 2007

Mission Statement

The South Conway County School District exists for the purpose of educating students to become productive members of society.

We believe it is the responsibility of the school to promote learning as a lifelong process and to challenge students to grow intellectually, physically, and socially.

We accept the responsibility to provide an environment of security and equity to assure students the opportunity to learn.

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 Morrilton Primary School - Accredited

Annual Report to the Public

October 8, 2007

Spring test scores at Morrilton Primary indicate that we are above state, national, and AYP guidelines.

*          K  72.6% proficient in Literacy and 73.5% proficient in Math

*          1^st Grade 70.4 proficient in Literacy and 72.4% proficient in Math.

Test scores are steadily rising each year.  This is due to the hard work of staff members, collaboration of staff K-6, and an over-all dedication to the academic improvement of all students at MPS.

Learners are engaged in learning skills that will enable them to move from one level of learning to the next.   Interventions are provided for those who need extra time and instruction.

Our after school program started today and will assist students who need further instruction either in the area of Math or Literacy or both.

Technology instruction especially in AR continues to be a strength and is encouraged by all staff members. 

Our media specialist works diligently to see that students are in the correct reading zone and collaborates daily with classroom teachers and special teachers in this area.  We feel that if students can read well, all other skills are much easier to learn.  Also, we wish to develop a love for reading and learning in all areas of the curriculum.

A strong home-school relationship is priority to us at MPS.  Parents provide us with any extra help we need in the areas we ask them to assist.  Use of the Parent Center is certainly encouraged and our parents continue to use the center for resources to help them assist their children.

School Counts begins with us, and all staff members remind students daily that school really counts, and it doesn’t matter where you start, but it does matter where you end up.  We want to be a part of this.

We strive each year to be great, but we want to be the GREATEST!  We can only do this with support from you, the board, our administration, parents, community, and the loyal dedication of the staff of MPS.

Contact Information:

Charlotte Heidenreich, Principal

West Side Kindergarten

1008 West Childress Street

Morrilton, AR  72110

(501) 354-9426

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Morrilton Elementary School - Accredited - Cited

Annual Report to the Public

October 8, 2007

The focus at Morrilton Elementary School is student achievement. To reach this goal, the staff has worked extensively to reword our mission statement to say:

Morrilton Elementary School’s mission, in partnership with the community, is to ensure that all students are motivated and achieve proficiency with the aid of technology in math, literacy, and all content areas while instilling a lifelong desire for learning.

Test scores were really good this year, and we expect a continuation of excellence in this area.  All teachers at MES have a focus on math and literacy instruction.

We further pledge to meet this goal by looking at classroom instruction and developing ways to engage students in their learning.  We believe that when students are active participants in the learning process, they will learn more and thus retain this knowledge. Teachers are incorporating techniques they learned at some summer workshops and through our professional development activities.

We also have a focus on using technology in the classroom. Primarily we do this with the Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math programs. These programs help teachers individualize instruction, especially in math, and allow students to work at their own pace, with encouragement from teachers to stay on track and excel!  AM truly lets teachers differentiate instruction for individual students.  Several students last year completed their grade level and had to move on to the next. As of Thursday students have mastered 3505 AM objectives.  Accelerated Reader is another program that we use to ensure that students are reading and comprehending at their grade levels. As of Friday, students have tested over and passed quizzes for 6533 books!  We have checked out more than that from our wonderful library, but some students just read for fun or knowledge and do not test on the books.

Parental INVOLVEMENT is another issue that can never be addressed too much. We welcome positive parental volunteerism. The Watch DOGS program---Dads of Good Students, truly makes a difference with our students. We will have our Dads and MES Kids’ Pizza Night Tuesday, October 9 at 6:00 p.m. We welcome dads, granddads, and guardians to come, give moms a night off and hear our program and sign up!

Contact Information:

Sharon Wilson, Principal

Morrilton Elementary

1203 North St. Joseph Street

Morrilton, AR  72110

(501)354-9443

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Morrilton Intermediate School – Accredited

Annual Report to the Public

October 8, 2007

For the 2006-2007 school year, Morrilton Intermediate School was accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education.  For the 2007-2008 school year, all core subject teachers at MIS are licensed and are highly qualified in the area in which they teach.

            With the support of our students, parents, and community, the mission of Morrilton Intermediate School is to provide all students with the opportunity to learn in an environment that is safe, nurturing, wellness-oriented, and technology-enriched, in order to ensure proficiency in all content areas.  Our progress toward the goal of proficiency in all areas with all students is reflected in the following data:

ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS

Overall Percentage of MIS Students Who Were Proficient or Above on the Benchmark Exam

Morrilton Intermediate School met standards for Adequate Yearly Progress and growth in math and literacy for all applicable subgroups in 2007.   MIS proposes to improve achievement by taking the following actions during the 2007-2008 school year:

ü      Students will be given more time to learn by receiving literacy instruction for three periods and math instruction for two periods per day.

ü      The curriculum will be aligned with Student Learning Expectations on the Arkansas Frameworks.

ü      Instruction will be aligned with Student Learning Expectations through the use of quarterly pacing guides.

ü      Quarterly formative assessments will determine student progress toward proficiency with the Student Learning Expectations and will be followed by re-teaching and remediation in deficient areas.

ü      After-school tutoring will be offered to students who need additional instruction and assistance.

ü      Highly qualified teachers will use the correlates of effective schools, high-yield teaching strategies, and brain-based learning research and strategies to enhance the quality of instruction provided to our students.

Through these proposed actions, MIS will strive to improve achievement and increase proficiency for all subgroups in our student population.

Contact Information:

Velda Thompson, Principal

Morrilton Intermediate School

1907 Poor Farm Road

Morrilton, AR  72110

(501) 354-9476

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Morrilton Junior High School - Accredited

Annual Report to the Public

October 8, 2007

The driving force of education at the Morrilton Junior High School is our mission-- to ensure that all students are proficient in the core subjects, with an emphasis on literacy and math, in a safe, nurturing, and technologically enhanced environment.

For the 2006-2007 school year, Morrilton Junior High School was a fully accredited public school for grade seven and eight.  MJHS strives toward the goal of meeting AYP.  Currently, MJHS has been identified as a school in School Improvement – Year 3.  However, this matter is currently under appeal as the data indicates that we have actually met standards through the growth model and should be identified in School Improvement – Year 2 (Meets Standards).  MJHS hopes to meet standards again in this academic year and be removed from this status.

MJHS continues to focus on the success of all of our students.  Special attention is given to improvement in the identified subpopulations of students with disabilities and African-Americans.  In order to continue the progress toward meeting AYP, the following proposals for the 2007-2008 school year have been implemented at the Morrilton Junior High School for all students and subgroup populations:

1. Morrilton Junior High School’s school day is scheduled for eight 45-minute periods.
2. Students not proficient in math and literacy are placed in a PLATO lab in order to receive additional help in a technologically enhanced environment.
3. Every student at Morrilton Junior High School is scheduled for two (2) math classes to ensure student mastery of mathematic skills and concepts.  
4. Students identified as on the verge or proficient are assigned to a pull-out program for small group instruction in math and reading.
5. Formative, common assessments are given every 4½ weeks in the areas of math and literacy, science and social studies to diagnose the areas that need to be addressed to ensure student learning. 
6. Formative, common assessments, using FOCUS testing developed at the Arch Ford Educational Service Cooperative, are given each 9 weeks in the areas of math and literacy to continue diagnosis of student learning areas that have not been mastered.
7. Teachers have been training in “Literacy Lab” to provide continued reading and writing instruction.
8. The “Seven Correlates of Effective Schools” continues to be the underlying model of systemic change.

Contact Information:

Bruce Bryant, Principal

Morrilton Junior High School

1400 Poor Farm Road

Morrilton, AR  72110

(501) 354-9437

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Morrilton High School - Accredited - Cited

Annual Report to the Public

October 8, 2007

We are yet striving to increase student achievement at Morrilton High School

• MHS met AYP on EOC Algebra, Geometry, and 11^th grade literacy for combined populations.  Unfortunately, we are on alert status for math because of our subgroups and we are currently awaiting the results of an appeal regarding subgroups for Literacy.  If the appeals process is successful, we will be completely off of school improvement for Literacy.
• With regard to accreditation, all teachers at MHS are highly qualified and are striving to offer students the best education possible that will allow them to be proficient on state exams and go further after graduation.
• MHS is striving to continue to meet AYP by offering more time for learning through our Algebra I lab, English Lab, and Plato lab.
• Additionally, we offer tutoring before and after school to students who need more support to be academically successful.
• Each one, Reach one is a new initiative that we are piloting to offer guidance and structure to each student who is failing a course.  All willing adults are mentoring selected students in hopes to ultimately give them the needed attention to be successful.
• In our efforts to build student leadership, the first activity period was a success.  Over 55% of our students enrolled in school sponsored activities.  Additionally, that period was used to allow students who have excessive absences and those who are failing (core classes) to go to those classes to make up work.
• Additionally, Paula Carter and Mario Miller have partnered together to ensure that all 11^th grade English students enrolled in resource are successful on the 11^th grade literacy exam.  This is the beginning of inclusion at MHS.
• We are thankful to all of the grandparents who came out to have lunch with their grandchildren.  You all are invited anytime to Morrilton High School.
• Also, we are appreciative to all of the parents who are working with Mrs. Delene Stover to build our parental involvement program at MHS.  Even at this age, our students need their parents and we appreciate the efforts that our volunteers are giving to make a difference.

Contact Information:

Tamekia Brown, Principal

Morrilton High School

701 East Harding

Morrilton, AR  72110

 
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River Valley Technical Center - Approved

Annual Report to the Public

October 8, 2007

The goal of River Valley Technical Center is to provide students from three area schools with the opportunity for training in career and technical areas while earning high school credit. Several of these areas will articulate with two of our area colleges- ASU-Beebe and UACCM-Morrilton. We offer programs of study in Petroleum Technology, Architectural/Engineering Drafting and Design, Construction Technology, Medical Professions, Multimedia/Desktop Publishing, Auto Collision Repair and Auto Service Technology.

            Competency testing at RVTC demonstrates the mastery of skills that are being taught in the various program areas. Not all programs administer competency testing each year. This year competency tests will be given to students in the following programs:  Carpentry,  Drafting and  Design, Architectural CADD, Engineering CADD, Anatomy, Medical Procedures, Desktop Publishing I and II and Multimedia Applications.

            RVTC had twenty four completers at the end of the 2006-07 school year. A completer is a student who: 

1. Completed three units of credit in grades 9-12 in a career /technical program.
2. Completed the required core courses in a program of study
3. Graduated from high school

Petroleum Technology:  This program is offered through UACCM. Students take classes in Petroleum studies that will lead to either a certificate or an A.S. degree in Petroleum Technology. There is a great demand for these graduates and this demand should continue for several years.

            Medical Professions: Jenifer Mitchell is the instructor for this program. She has experience as a medical lab technician and carries that experience with her into the classroom. She is actively involving her students in the community and in HOSA-Health Occupations Students of America. These students will attend the fall conference scheduled in October at the Ferndale 4-H Center. Her students also write a monthly newsletter highlighting their activities.

            Multimedia/Desktop Publishing: Mary Beck continues to teach students the skills needed for this program. She and her students are actively involved in the school and community projects. Mrs. Beck and her students are planning on attending the fall Leadership Conference with the FBLA in October.

            Auto Collision Repair: Nick Flowers is the instructor for this area. Nick Flowers has had several years of experience working for the auto body industry. The auto body class takes on projects from the community when the need arises. Students gain valuable hands on experience from these projects in regard to operating an auto body shop. His students are active participants in the Skills USA Conferences every year. A new collision frame machine was added to this program last year.

            Auto Service Technology: Brian Holliman teaches the courses for this class. His students are taught skills needed for the automotive service area. Courses include brakes, engine performance, electrical systems and steering/suspension.

His students also get hands on experience working on vehicles brought in by the students and the community. Students in his classes also take part in the Skills USA organization.

            Construction Technology: James Wilson is the new instructor for this program. Mr. Wilson was a former EAST teacher and has a good background in the Buildings and Trades area. A new state curriculum is being utilized this year in Building Technology and in the near future national certification will be required for this program equivalent to the ASE certification required for the automotive industry. Students in building Technology will take on various projects in the community as time will allow.

            Drafting and Design: Paula Lynch continues to work with students to develop plans and drawings with computer assisted software. Students start out doing basic designs and eventually can design complicated patterns and architectural/engineering plans for projects. Her students are very active in Skills USA and she has had several state winners in these areas as well.

Contact Information:

Mark Sanders, Director RVTC

1905 Poor Farm Road

Morrilton, AR  72110

(501) 354-9475

  
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Federal Programs - Approved

Annual Report to the Public

October 8, 2007

It is the mission of the South Conway County School District to ensure that all students become proficient in the core curriculum with an emphasis on math and literacy.  To achieve this mission, the South Conway County School District’s focus must always remain on our students’ learning needs.

Title I is the largest entitlement with a near seven hundred thousand dollar budget.  The district committed roughly $396,000 towards salaries and benefits for math and literacy coaches to serve Title I schools as master teachers providing model lessons, disaggregating data, and providing individual instruction to educationally disadvantaged children.

To increase student time on task, each elementary school has developed an after school program for educationally disadvantaged children. Title I also provides an after school tutoring program at Southern Christian Home, an outreach tutoring program  and provides services to Sacred Heart providing students extra opportunities for success.

Frequent monitoring of student progress will be a priority during the 2007-2008 school year. The district has committed to use the FOCUS Assessment provided by the Arch Ford Coop as a formative assessment of student learning.  It is an assessment developed by local educators and based on the Arkansas Curriculum Standards for literacy, math and science that students are required to learn. This, along with other locally developed formative assessments will allow teachers to assess for learning and change instruction to meet the learning needs of each student.

The mission of the South Conway County School District drives the professional development activities for our staff.  A significant investment is being made in training our staff in the latest research-based instructional strategies.  These high yield instructional strategies are proven to have a significant impact on student learning. To date, the South Conway County School District has expended $48,310 on staff development to meet the learning needs of our district. The effectiveness of this professional development focus can be seen in the student achievement scores on the 2007 Iowa Test of Basic Skills and Benchmark Assessments.

These are exciting times to be associated with the South Conway County School District.  Great instructional staff, support staff, building level leadership, district-level leadership, students, community involvement and a commitment to excellence are some of the reasons that the South Conway County School District is becoming recognized as one of the best school districts in the state of Arkansas.

Contact Information:

Shawn Halbrook, Director of Learning Services

Federal Programs/Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

1101 North St. Joseph

Morrilton, AR  72110

(501) 354-9451

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