Back to School Information Guide: 2023-2024

August 1, 2023

Dear NLRSD Students, Parents, and Caregivers,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! I would like to take this opportunity to greet our new students and families who are joining us in the North Little Rock School District. You could not have chosen a more loving, close-knit school district that is committed to the success of every student. I also want to extend a hearty hello to all of our returning students and families who are gearing up for another year with us. Thank you for being a part of the North Little Rock School District!

Our administrators, teachers, and staff have been involved in meaningful professional development sessions and have developed sound practices and procedures to improve teaching and learning, safety, and the overall experience of our students. We are united in our effort to make this district a place where our students are future ready.

This Back-to-School Information Guide provides a glimpse of what to expect this school year. This guide can be used throughout the school year, as it contains the school calendar, important phone numbers, and other significant details to know about the year New this school year, students will be released early each Wednesday whenever classes are in session a full week. Early Release Wednesdays serve as an opportunity for our teachers to plan rigorous lessons, discuss innovative teaching strategies, and review student data. Students can use the abbreviated day to catch up on assignments, seek additional academic support, or participate in extracurricular activities.

We cannot express enough how grateful we are that you made the decision to be a part of our family We strive to provide our students and families with the highest level of customer service and hospitality

Sincerely,

Gregory J. Pilewski, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

New Faces Across the District PRINCIPALS

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS

Front Cover Disclaimer

The North Little Rock School District is fortunate to have students who speak 21 languages other than English. In an effort to highlight the diversity of our student body, the Communications Office used multiple translation services to showcase the word “Welcome” on the front cover. We recognize that no computerized translation is perfect and may include occasional mistakes.

Crestwood Elementary

Glenview Elementary

North Little Rock Academy

NLRMS - 7th & 8th Grade Campus

Jamie Reed-Ross Ridge Road Elementary Seventh Street Elementary

CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Dwight Kelly Glenview Elementary School

Jessica Rayner-Holmes Seventh Street Elementary

Dr. Amber Harbin Coordinator of Science, Environmental Literacy, Outdoor Education, and Advanced Programs

Dr. Shawn Nickerson Director of School Effectiveness and Literacy Enforcement

Wesley Bilon Director of Student-Athlete Development and Academic Engagement

Gary Logan Executive Director of Student-Centered Support Services

Tiffany Randall Coordinator of Student-Centered

Lizzie Wells Career Academy Coach

Dr. Natalee McGill Special Services Coordinator, Elementary

Sharon Hackbart Special Services Coordinator, Secondary

Katina Veasley Coordinator of Special Education Curriculum

School Attendance

It is extremely important for our students to be at school and on time. In fact, research shows that students who attend school regularly achieve at higher levels than their peers who regularly miss school. Students who are regularly tardy or absent miss important instruction that they need to develop basic skills. Students in early grades, especially, miss out on fundamental reading skills, which can have a domino effect on their ability to grasp concepts in other subjects. Please be sure our students get to school on time and are ready to learn!

REGULAR SCHOOL DAY

EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAY

ONE, TWO, AND THREE HOUR DELAY

*Per Arkansas Better Chance, which oversees our Pre-K program, parents who decide to pick up their students at 1:30 p.m. will not be penalized.

Safety Procedures

The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority in the North Little Rock School District. It is our mission to protect all of our students and employees from violence, the exposure to weapons and threats, bullying and harassment, the sale or use of illegal substances on campus grounds, and other emergencies. Having safe schools ensures that the learning process is in full force, as students who are in safe schools have exceptional academic, social, and emotional outcomes.

School Safety Personnel

Each of our elementary schools, Pike View Early Childhood Center, and North Little Rock Academy have an armed, commissioned school security officer on campus. Our middle and high school campuses have armed school resource officers (SROs) from the North Little Rock Police Department, in addition to a group of unarmed security officers who provide assistance to the SROs.

The school district also has a security captain, two security sergeants, and three security technicians who provide another layer of security through supervision, training, crisis prevention planning, accountability, and camera surveillance. Schools regularly practice drills so that students and staff know what to do in the moment of a crisis.

School Safety Procedures

We welcome parents and caregivers to our campuses to see their student(s) in their learning environment, attend special events, meet with a teacher or administrator, volunteer, or have lunch with their children. However, in order for these things to happen, everyone must adhere to some safety procedures to ensure the well being of others on campus.

• Guests are required to check in the front office at each school. They will be required to provide a government-issued ID, such as a driver's license, into our visitor management system. Each visitor's information is screened against the sex offender registry and custom databases, including those with custody orders and banned visitor status. The system instantly alerts school officials if a visitor is flagged as a security risk.

• If cleared, a visitor badge is produced that includes a photo, name of the visitor, date, time, and destination on campus. Guests will only be allowed to go where the badge indicates. Badges must be worn the entire time a guest is inside of the building.

• Guests will only be allowed to enter through the front office. Staff members or students will not be able to allow entrance through another point of entry. Again, this is for the safety of everyone on campus.

We thank you for your patience as we implement these procedures for everyone’s safety.

Opengate Weapons Detection System

Each of our schools will have the Opengate Weapons Detection System at entrances. Opengate is a groundbreaking weapons detection system designed for the automatic screening of people in transit, including their backpacks and bags, to locate mass casualty metal threats, such as high caliber assault weapons and improvised explosive devices. The system is less intrusive than a metal detector, and it allows a large number of students to enter the building in a short amount of time, while ensuring the detection of a weapon.

STOPit

The district will continue the implementation of STOPit, an online reporting tool designed to stop bullying, cyber abuse, and other inappropriate behaviors. This consists of an app and an incident management system for school administrators. Users can report incidents anonymously. With STOPit, users can submit anonymous reports containing text, photos, or video. Administrators are then able to manage incidents and have the ability to communicate with the reporter, which provides the ability to address issues instantly.

North Little Rock Board of Education

Safety Services. “We want families,

The North Little Rock Board of Education meets twice a month. Board Workshops are held on the first Thursday of each month, and Regular Board Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. Special Board Meetings are planned as the need arises, and notification about those meetings will be provided within the time frame as mandated by the Arkansas Open Meetings Law.

North Little Rock Board of Education

Technology

Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. and take place at the Administrative Building, located at 2400 Willow Street. Meetings can be viewed live on our YouTube channel, NLRSD Board Meetings. Previous Board Meetings can also be seen on that channel.

-in for visitors, each school will be using the Raptor

meetings will be provided within the time frame as mandated by th Arkansas Open Meetings law.

Following each Board Meeting, highlights from the meeting are recorded in a Board Brief and sent to families, employees, and other stakeholders. Board Briefs can be found on our website on the Board of Education page.

-issued ID), comparing information against a sex -12

also view past Board Meetings on the YouTube Channel.

We kindly ask that you follow the district’s Chain of Command procedures when it comes to addressing issues. The procedures can be found on pages 8 and 9. This process allows district staff members to handle an issue before contacting a board member. Since the Superintendent is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school district, the Board of Education, if contacted by someone, will redirect the issue or concern to the appropriate school/district staff member.

staff members to handle an issue before contacting a board membe

an online reporting tool designed to us

2

ochelle Red Zone 3

5

alerie McLe Zone 6

Natalie W Zone 7

Secretary Zone 3

Ms Parliamentarian Zone 4 Zone 1

Mr. Tracy Steele Legislative Liaison Zone 2

Mrs. Natalie Wankum Vice President Zone 7

Mrs. Cindy Temple Alternate Disbursing Officer Zone 5 Disbursing Officer Zone 6

Properly Communicating Concerns and Issues

The North Little Rock School District strives to best serve all of its stakeholders with the highest level customer service and hospitality. We know that, at times, concerns may arise and stakeholders will want to bring those concerns to the district’s attention. The North Little Rock School District has developed a Chain of Command system, which serves as an effective tool to guide stakeholders when reporting incidents to school staff.

We ask that all stakeholders first communicate with the staff member that is nearest to the situation. Please see the chart below. The names of the points of contact listed below can be found in the directory listed on our website, nlrsd.org.

Progression for Addressing Concerns and Issues

Academic (Pre-K through 5th Grade)

Academic (6th through 12th Grade)

Teacher Building Administrator (Principal or Asst. Principal)

Teacher Building Administrator (Principal or Asst Principal)

Athletic Coach Building Administrator (Principal or Asst Principal)

Child Nutrition Building Administrator (Principal or Asst. Principal)

Discipline (Pre-K through 5th Grade)

Teacher or Building Administrator (Principal or Asst. Principal)

Dyslexia Services Teacher or Building Administrator (Principal or Asst. Principal)

Child Nutrition Director

Executive Director of Elementary School Performance

Executive Director of Secondary School Performance

Director of Student-Athlete Development and Academic Engagement

Executive Director of StudentCentered Support Services

Deputy Superintendent

Executive Director of Elementary School Performance

School-Based Dyslexia Interventionist

Executive Director of StudentCentered Support Services

District-Level Dyslexia Specialist

Deputy Superintendent

Deputy Superintendent

Deputy Superintendent

Deputy Superintendent

Executive Director of Special Services

Mental Health Services Counselor Building Administrator (Principal or Asst Principal)

Special Education (Pre-K through 5th Grade) Teacher Building Administrator (Principal or Asst Principal)

Special Education (6th Grade through 12th Grade)

Teacher Building Administrator (Principal or Asst. Principal)

Technology Media Specialist School-Building Technology Support

Transportation Building Administrator (Principal or Asst Principal)

Executive Director of StudentCentered Support Services

Special Services, Elementary Coordinator

Special Services, Secondary Coordinator

Information Technology Manager

Transportation Director Executive Director of StudentCentered Support Services

Virtual Academy Teacher Coordinator of Innovative Virtual Learning Programs

Executive Director of Curriculum Innovation and Design

Deputy Superintendent

Executive Director of Special Services

Executive Director of Special Services

Deputy Superintendent

Deputy Superintendent

Deputy Superintendent

When a concern or issue cannot be resolved at the first-contact level, then it should be taken to the next level in the Chain of Command. After utilizing the progression for addressing concerns, further questions may be addressed to the Superintendent of Schools.

The North Little Rock Board of Education is responsible for the operation of the North Little Rock School District. Per Board Policy, the administrative functions of the school district are delegated to the Superintendent, who shall be responsible for the effective administrative and supervision of the school district.

Please follow the Chain of Command chart that is listed above. Since the Superintendent is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school district, the Board of Education, if contacted by someone, will redirect the issue or concern to the appropriate school/district staff member. Please give staff members time to address issues and concerns before contacting board members.

Department Tidbits

Child Nutrition

The North Little Rock School District will continue to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2023-2024 school year. This means that all enrolled students in our district are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no charge to their household. Your student(s) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.

Students and families can view lunch menus by school by visiting the Child Nutrition page on our website, nlrsd.org. There is also an app available to view menus. Please download the LINQ Connect app from the App Store or Google Play.

Communications

The Communications Office is committed to providing effective communication to students, staff, families, and the community. This office takes pride in supporting students and staff by highlighting successes from across the district on the district website – nlrsd.org – and on its social media channels -- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Vimeo. Each school has a Facebook page. Give them a follow as well!

We use Thrillshare, a system through our website provider, Apptegy, to reach families by email, calls, and text. Aside from school announcements, these messages will also include the Superintendent's Weekly Update (“Top 5”), Board Briefs, Superintendent Spotlight interviews, notifications about school closings or delays, or emergency notifications.

In order to receive communication from our schools and the district, all families are encouraged to maintain accurate contact information. Please contact your child's school office to make sure the information is correct. Remember, if your information changes, we will not know unless you make us aware.

Parent & Family Engagement

Parent and family engagement is crucial in our collective effort to ensure that every student has the resources they need to reach their full potential. When parents, families, and schools work together, students thrive. When this happens, our communities benefit.

Do you have a burning desire to be a part of our schools? Do you want to work with school and district staff to put on programs for students? Do you want to help with lunch duty? Do you want to mentor some students and encourage them to make the right choices? You're in luck! We have a place for you! For more information, please visit the Office of Parent & Family Engagement on our website, nlrsd.org, or call (501) 771-8013 for more information.

Transportation

Transportation services shall be provided to eligible students to and from their assigned bus stop and school. Bus routes are available on our website, nlrsd.org. Bus stops shall be determined by the Transportation Department and assigned based on the proximity from a student’s primary residential address in eSchool. Eligible students include those living within their school’s attendance zone, but outside the two mile walk zone (secondary students), one mile walk zone (elementary students).

Bus Rider Eligibility

Only those students enrolled in an NLRSD school and living outside the walk zone are eligible to ride a bus. All students must be at least 5 years of age (K-12).

Bus Assignments

Students will only be assigned to a route and allowed to ride the bus to and from the address on file in eSchool. Elementary students must live in their school attendance zone to be eligible for transportation. In the event that there is no availability for an enrolling student at the elementary school within his/her attendance zone, transportation will be provided to a school outside the student’s attendance zone. The school assignment will be made by the Office of Student-Centered Support Services.

Change of Address

If a student moves, the parent or guardian must submit proof of address to the student’s assigned school. Proof of address should include a utility bill in the parent or guardian’s name or lease agreement or mortgage. A light, water, or gas bill is the only acceptable utility bill accepted.

Unless a transportation supervisor directs otherwise, all students should ride their assigned bus and get on and off the bus at their stop.

Mental Health

Mental health can affect a student’s energy level, concentration level, and self-esteem. These issues, if not addressed early, can have long-term consequences, including their career potential and overall health. Our district has partnered with local mental health agencies to provide on-site therapy and intervention at our campuses. Please visit nlrsd.org to see our Approved Mental Health Providers.

The Suicide and Crisis Hotline is available 24/7 and is for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The number to call is 988.

School Uniforms

There is no school uniform policy in the North Little Rock School District; however, we expect our students’ attire to be appropriate and free of distraction. The dress policy can be found in the NLRSD Parent-Student Handbook. In addition, students may use only clear or mesh book bags to transport books and supplies.

School Supplies

School leaders have compiled a list of supplies that students will need for the year. These supplies are available on our website, nlrsd.org.

Water Bottle Filling Stations

In the essence of health and safety, all water fountains have been turned off. However, all schools have water bottle filling stations. Students and staff are encouraged to bring water bottles, and they can be refilled throughout the day.

In Their Own Words

We asked these students to give their peers some advice to ensurea great school year.

Emma Kervin

5th Grade, Amboy Elementary

“Try your best to have the best year.”

Kristian Clark

5th Grade, Boone Park Elementary

“Stay true and nice to others.”

Ekroop Kaur

5th Grade, Crestwood Elementary

“Study hard and follow the rules.”

Lorenzo Bradford

5th Grade, Glenview Elementary

“Stand out and be yourself!”

Sophie Shipman

4th Grade, Indian Hills Elementary

“Have a positive attitude.”

In Their Own Words

Keegan Simpson

5th Grade, Lakewood Elementary

“Listen to your teachers and have a positive attitude.”

Madison Box

4th Grade, Meadow Park

“Be a N.E.A.T.

(Never Ever Absent or Tardy) Scholar!”

Markkeys Hickey

Freshman, North Little Rock Academy

“Learn all you can and stay focused.”

Ramon Ponce

Junior, NLR Center of Excellence

“Have fun, be safe, and be respectful.”

Abby Schaefer

Senior, NLRHS

“Focus on your academics but don’t forget to have fun. Enjoy everything that school has to offer!”

In Their Own Words

Kerrington Harris

7th Grade, NLRMS

“Do your best and keep a positive attitude.”

Brody Beebe

6th Grade, NLRMS

Winnie Calaway

Pre-K, Pike View ECC

“Always say thank you.”

Keylin Escobar

5th Grade, Ridge Road

“Pay attention in class, make good grades, and make new friends.”

“Listen to and obey your teachers.”

NLRSD Points of Contact

Athletics (501) 771-8154

Wesley Bilon bilonw@nlrsd.org

Business & Finance Brian Brown (501) 771-8015 brownb@nlrsd org

Child Nutrition Mary Lee Dennis (501) 771-8061 dennism@nlrsd org

Communications Dustin Barnes (501) 771-8048 barnesd@nlrsd org

Custodial Services Kim Martin (501) 771-8078 martink@nlrsd org

Curriculum Innovation & Design Dr Sharesa White (501) 771-8045 whitesha@nlrsd org

Deputy Superintendent Dr Torrye Hooper (501) 771-8017 hoopert@nlrsd org

Elementary School Performance Traci Lightfoot (501) 771-8022 lightfoott@nlrsd org

English Speakers of Other Languages/World Languages Kriss Marshell (501) 771-8095 marshellk@nlrsd org

Human Resources/Title IX Jacob Smith (501) 771-8009 smithja@nlrsd org

Maintenance Jay Ward (501) 771-8075 wardl@nlrsd org

Nursing Services Tonya Green (501) 240-1753 greent@nlrsd org

Parent & Family Engagement/Mentoring Crystal Barker (501) 771-8013 barkerc@nlrsd org

Safety Services Hayward Finks (501) 771-8288 finksh@nlrsd.org

Science, Environmental Literacy, Outdoor Education, and Advanced Programs

Dr. Amber Harbin (501) 779-6437 harbina@nlrsd.org

Secondary School Performance Amy Jordan (501) 771-8022 jordana@nlrsd org

Special Services Dr LeAnn Stoll (501) 771-8255 stolll@nlrsd org

Student Information Specialist Kathy Hale (501) 771-8027 halek@nlrsd org

Student-Centered Support Services Gary Logan (501) 771-8050 logang@nlrsd org

Superintendent Dr. Gregory J. Pilewski (501) 771-8006 pilewskig@nlrsd.org

Technology Hunter Nannen (501) 771-8070 nannenh@nlrsd.org

Transportation Jamie Coleman (501) 340-5150 colemanj@nlrsd.org

Virtual Learning Programs Dr. Brouke Reynolds (501) 906-3839 reynoldsb@nlrsd.org

North Little Rock School District

2400 Willow Street

North Little Rock, AR 72114

(501) 771-8000

Dr. Gregory J. Pilewski, Superintendent

Amboy Elementary School 101 Auburn Drive North Little Rock, AR 72118 (501) 771-8185

Allen Pennington, Principal

Crestwood Elementary School 1900 Crestwood Drive North Little Rock, AR 72116 (501) 771-8190

Connie Bamburg, Principal

Indian Hills Elementary School 6800 Indian Hills Drive

North Little Rock, AR 72116 (501) 835-5622

Dr Shanda Coleman, Principal

Meadow Park Elementary School 801 E Bethany Road

North Little Rock, AR 72117 (501) 955-3620

April McKinley, Principal

North Little Rock Center of Excellence 201 W. 22nd Street North Little Rock, AR 72114 (501) 975-3895

Karla Whisnant, Principal

North Little Rock Middle School

Seventh & Eighth Grade Campus 2400 Lakewood Road

North Little Rock, AR 72116 (501) 771-8200

Elise Hampton, Principal

Pike View Early Childhood Center 441 McCain Boulevard

North Little Rock, AR 72116 (501) 771-8170

Maribel Siems, Pre-K Coordinator

Boone Park Elementary School 1401 Crutcher Street North Little Rock, AR 72114 (501) 340-5160

Steve Orobona, Principal

Glenview Elementary School 901 E. 19th Street

North Little Rock, AR 72117 (501) 955-3630

Dwight Kelly, Principal

Lakewood Elementary School 1800 Fairway Avenue

North Little Rock, AR 72116 (501) 771-8270

Cortney Bost, Principal

North Little Rock Academy 5500 Lynch Drive

North Little Rock, AR 72117 (501) 955 -3600

Sandy Williams, Director

North Little Rock High School 201 W. 22nd Street North Little Rock, AR 72114 (501) 771-8100

Dr. Nadia Saint-Louis, Principal

North Little Rock Middle School Sixth Grade Campus 2300 Lakewood Road

North Little Rock, AR 72116 (501) 771-8250

Michael Clark, Principal

Ridge Road Elementary School 4601 Ridge Road North Little Rock, AR 72116 (501) 771-8155

Matthew How, Principal

Seventh Street Elementary School 1200 Bishop Lindsey Street North Little Rock, AR 72114 (501) 340-5170

Jessica Rayner-Holmes, Principal