The Administrator Newsletter - March 2022

VOLUME 47 • ISSUE 8 MARCH 2022

THE

ADMINISTRATOR

TABLE OF CONTENTS MARCHING ON!

SPRING AND EL’S

Dr. Hernandez discusses what administrators can look forward to as districts transition to spring planning.

An examination of the word “spring” leads Dr. Stephanie Nehus to reflect on the challenges faced by English Learners.

Executive Viewpoint

Page 3

President’s Perspective

Page 4

Executive Viewpoint • P. 3 President’s Perspective • P. 4 Asked and Answered • P. 5 Compliance Connection • P. 6 CoSN Update • P. 6 Administrator Spotlight • P. 7

ADMINISTRATOR SPOTLIGHT: MARK LEWIS In the Spotlight this month is Mark Lewis, Principal at Jim Stone Elementary in the Conway School District.

Page 7

Benefits Corner • P. 10 A Breath of Fresh Air • P. 11 Publication Sneak Peek • P. 12 Over the Top • P. 13 Job Openings • P. 14

AAEA Staff

2022 Calendar of Events

Dr. Mike Hernandez Executive Director m.hernandez@theaaea.org

March CASBO Classes March 2-3, 2022, Benton Event Center

Mike Mertens Assistant Executive Director m.mertens@theaaea.org

Lenett Thrasher Director of Learning Services & Operations l.thrasher@theaaea.org

Robyn Keene Director of Financial Services r.keene@theaaea.org

Kelli Golden Chief Financial Officer k.golden@theaaea.org

Marty Smith Member Relations Manager m.smith@theaaea.org

Karen Dean Certification Program Manager k.dean@theaaea.org

Alyse Mattox Communications & Technology Specialist a.mattox@theaaea.org

Melanie Thrasher Business Analyst m.thrasher@theaaea.org

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AACTEA Spring Drive-In Conference March 31, 2022, Arkansas River ESC, Pine Bluff

April AASBO/SASBO Joint Conference April 5-7, 2022, Hot Springs Convention Center ASPMA CFD Classes April 14, 2022, Conway School District Professional Development Annex

May ASBA/AAEA Joint Leadership Conference May 3, 2022, Wyndham Riverfront, Little Rock AAFC Spring Conference May 4-6, 2022, Hot Springs Convention Center

June AASEA Summer Conference June 6-7, 2022, DoubleTree Little Rock

July ASPMA CFD Classes July 19, 2022, Conway School District Professional Development Annex AAEA Summer Conference July 25-26, 2022, Statehouse Convention Center and Marriott Hotel

October ASPMA Conference October 3-5, 2022, Hot Springs Convention Center

For more information, visit theaaea.org/events or see Page 9.

2021-2022 AAEA Board of Directors Dr. Karla Neathery AAEA Board Secretary/ Treasurer Superintendent, Arkadelphia

Debbie Atkinson AAEA Past President Principal, Bergman

Dr. Andrea Martin AASA Secretary Superintendent, Greenland

Mark Lewis AAESP President Principal, Conway

Stacy DeFoor AAESP Past President Principal, Conway

Scott Smith AASSP President Principal, Western Yell County

Matt Ziegler AASSP President-Elect Principal, Riverside

David Maxwell AASSP Past President Principal, Mena

Brandie Williams ArkASPA President Superintendent, Trumann

Dr. Lee Smith AACTEA President Superintendent, Mena

Susan Gilley AAFC President Executive Dir Fed Prog & Instructional Tech, Harrison

Kevin Luck AASBO President Business Manager, Vilonia

Charles Warren AASBO Past President Chief Financial Officer, Fort Smith

Carla Curtis AASEA President Director of Special Services, Fayetteville

Kim Fowler AACIA President Assistant Director/ Teacher Center Coordinator, Ozark Unlimited Resource ESC

Eric Hipp AAMLA President Principal, Bentonville

Aliza Jones ASPMA President Facilities Consortium Coordinator, Lavaca

Dr. Mike Hernandez AAEA Executive Director

Dr. Stephanie Nehus AAEA President Superintendent, Hot Springs

Brian Kirkendoll AAEA President-Elect Principal, Alma

Jon Collins AASA President Superintendent, West Memphis

Skipper Ward AASA President-Elect Superintendent, Magnolia

Carol Skiba AAESP President-Elect Principal, Cabot

Monica Springfield AAGEA President Ozark Unlimited Resource ESC

2021-2022 AAEA Corporate Sponsors Prestigious

Diamond (Continued)

Platinum (Continued)

American Fidelity Assurance Co. Coryell Roofing and Construction, Inc. Curriculum Associates Educational Benefits, Inc. Imagine Learning Lifetouch National School Studios, Inc. NIET - National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Pearson Online and Blended Learning Pro Benefits Group, Inc. ProtectEd Renaissance Learning, Inc. Scholastic Education Solution Tree, Inc.

Energy Systems Group ESS First Security Beardsley Forecast5 Analytics Middleton, Inc. PowerSchool Rave Mobile Safety Smart Data Dashboard Stephens, Inc. Strategos International, LLC Tanium Winsor Learning - Sonday Systems

Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects TRANE US, Inc.

Diamond Apptegy ClassWallet Cognia Edgenuity Edmentum

Platinum AAMSCO Architecture Plus, Inc. C.R. Crawford Construction, LLC Entegrity Energy Partners, LLC Legacy Construction Management Lexia Learning Nabholz Construction Corp.

Gold Crow Group, Inc. Cynergy Rehab Group FIS Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Kinco Constructors, LLC Phoenix Contractors, LLC Red Comet TIPS - The Interlocal Purchasing System

Silver Correll, Inc. French Architects, PA Hight-Jackson Associates, PA SEAS

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Executive Viewpoint Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director

Marching On! March is here, and let the discussion begin of what everyone is doing for Spring Break. I hope you are getting some time away from the office; ski slopes, toes in the sand, or whatever you do to relax. This year, there has been a lot to digest concerning school, world events, health, finances, etc. Hopefully, the stress and anxiety will begin to dissipate, and you can enjoy some time with family and friends. AASA has led the Live Well/Lead Well campaign and has provided tremendous resources to administrators. One of the articles I read recently was about four administrators that identified what they do as stress management in their daily routines. One had an exercise regimen, and one made a point to read daily with their feet up. Another administrator used baking to unwind while another played a musical instrument. The bottom line is that we all need to find what we can do daily to keep our mental health during this prolonged period of professional isolation and unimagined demands. I know many of you are doing things like this already. Some of you are gym warriors, living the farm life, or even sharing your acting talent with the community. Whatever it is, keep doing it and if you are not, then get something started.

The 2022 Fiscal Session is going on but should be over in the coming weeks. With the extension resolution, it can last until March 30. The EBD health insurance bills have made it through and will become law. A few things have passed through special language that affects schools as well. The legislature has seemed to stay focused on the business at hand and has not strayed too far. There are always forces pulling them in various directions, and I don't envy what they have to go through to make constituents happy back home. This session will possibly be the last whole group convening of the 93rd general assembly. There will be many committee meetings that take place until the 94th general assembly is elected, starting with the primary elections in May. It is essential that you reach out to candidates to better understand their stances on public education and other items you may be interested in discussing. We need to make sure we elect thoughtful leaders who will seek the best path forward for Arkansas and its students. We may not always agree with our local legislators, but I certainly appreciate the opportunity to share my opinion and be acknowledged. We must keep civil discourse as a part of how we interact with each other and our policymakers. The polarization of views, coupled with the speed and access of the digital age, has made it more challenging to keep our conversations civil in America today. We need to learn to play nice in the sandbox while having these crucial conversations.

We are in that time of transition and planning for next year. Many of you have been rehired for next year and are looking at your staff intents to determine which jobs you will need to post. ArkASPA just held a great conference on recruitment and retention, which was very informative. One of my favorite parts of the meeting was hearing from the students. These students were in educator preparation programs in a few different Arkansas universities. I was fortunate to moderate a panel consisting of these students and their professors to discuss the development of the next generation of teachers. These students appeared excited about the role they were training to take on in a classroom. These students have been prepared to regularly take on the many challenges teachers face. One of the questions I asked the students was to ascertain what would keep them in a district for the next 5-10 years. Without hesitation, each spoke about support from fellow teachers, relationship building with their principal, and having a sense of belonging. This student response made sense to me. We often hear that compensation is not the critical factor in retaining staff. These students voiced what we already know. Educators want to belong, have great relationships, and have a sense of purpose as they serve students.

I am delighted to have you all as administrators in Arkansas. I hope you feel a sense of belonging to our association and continue supporting your fellow administrators. Don't underestimate the power of a kind smile or spending a few minutes with a staff member visiting about life outside of the school building. Let us know how we can help you.

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President’s Perspective Dr. Stephanie Nehus, AAEA Board President

Spring & EL's Spring is on the horizon! I don’t know about everyone else, but winter is my least favorite season. Warmer weather and budding trees and plants always signify a new beginning, a fresh start, and for us in education the downhill slide to graduation and the end of the school year.

In looking up the definition of spring, I found four different meanings (Google Dictionary).

As a verb: 1. Move or jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward.

2. Originate or arise from.

As a noun: 1. The season after winter and before summer, in which vegetation begins to appear, in the northern hemisphere from March to May. [In addition, from Wikipedia, spring and “springtime” refer to the season, also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection, and regrowth.]

2. A resilient device, typically a helical metal coil, that can be pressed or pulled but returns to its former shape when released, used chiefly to exert constant tension or absorb movement.

This led me to reflect on the depths of our English language. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for our English Learners (EL’s) who come to the United States and to our schools and are immediately immersed into the English language. As noted above, this single word has four very different meanings and unless you have the appropriate context you might be utterly confused.

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs are growing by leaps and bounds across our state. I know here in my district, we continue to see an increase in our EL population. I encourage each of you to focus on the importance of being intentional about academic language as students are learning content. We, as educators, must think outside the box to ensure ALL students are presented with the opportunity to enhance their educational experiences. It is critical that we welcome newcomers and their families into our districts and communities. I charge you to review your communication practices to ensure that you are inclusive of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The state provides a free resource, TransAct Parent Notices, to interpret all communications in many different languages.

Back to spring…I am ready to jump rapidly forward to March 20 and will intentionally focus on rejuvenation and regrowth as we hopefully move post COVID and take in every student celebration as we end the school year while still honing in on planning for next year. I encourage each of you to find a new spring in your step, too!

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Asked & Answered Mike Mertens, AAEA Assistant Executive Director

I recently received a call from a central office administrator regarding the average school millage rate in the state. A fairly easy question to answer (it's 38.85), because I knew where to look for the information on the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education website. That’s not always an easy task since the DESE website has a wealth of information on a wide variety of topics related to public education. It can be time-consuming and somewhat frustrating to search through all of the pages and links on the site to find exactly what you are looking for. One page I find myself going to a lot is Publications and Reports. This is where the millage report is located as well as State Aid Notices, Annual Statistical Reports, Assessment Reports, Salary information, Tier 1 presentations, and many other reports related to school finance. The A-Z Topics section under the Tools tab on the main DESE page is an easy way to navigate all of the information on the website.

It's nice to be able to promptly help an AAEA member with their question, and the DESE website is a great tool to use in making this happen!

If you have questions for Mike, email him at m.mertens@theaaea.org.

March is “School Breakfast Month” Submitted by Reginald Ballard, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance March is “School Breakfast Month,” as proclaimed by Governor Asa Hutchinson. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance would like to encourage all child nutrition directors to view the School Breakfast Month PowerPoint. This PowerPoint includes new meal delivery ideas, best practices, and suggestions on how to increase breakfast participation. March is a great month to work on increasing your breakfast participation!

As part of our March celebration, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance will offer a GIFT CARD to all child nutrition departments of ALL school districts choosing to participate in our School Breakfast Month Challenge.

The Challenge: send an email to vnicholson@arhungeralliance.org with a brief story about one of these three topics by March 18, 2022: 1. A story from a parent stating how universal free meals have benefitted their family during the pandemic.

2. A story about a child nutrition worker who has gone above and beyond to ensure that students receive school meals during the pandemic.

3. A story about the innovative ways the district delivered meals to students during the pandemic.

We congratulate all child nutrition workers across the state for their amazing work as they continue to provide much-needed meals to students during the pandemic! Please plan to participate in the School Breakfast Month Challenge by sharing your stories so we can acknowledge and celebrate your success!

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Compliance Connection What to Do: Administering Paid and Unpaid Leave Correctly Submitted by Ginger Huff, Arkansas State Manager, American Fidelity Assurance Co. Is Your Leave Program Compliant?

Administering leaves of absence correctly is one of the biggest fiscal and operational challenges facing employers today. The recent addition of new paid leave laws across the country and the possibility of national, comprehensive paid family and medical leave has highlighted the need to make sure your leave program is compliant.

Identify Laws, Rules, and Regulations Private employers with 50 or more employees and all public sector and school employers must comply with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). But the FMLA is the floor, not the ceiling. You may be subject to additional state, local, or federal leave requirements depending on your location and the type of work you do.

Identify Contractual Obligations Employees may also have leave rights, paid or unpaid, from contracts they’ve signed. Whether it be an individual employment agreement or a collective bargaining contract, you need to know what leave they’re entitled to under the contract.

Review Your Disability Accommodation Process Even employees who have run out of leave may be entitled to additional leave under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar state disability statutes. Employers may need to determine if leave would help the employee perform the essential functions of their job—without putting an undue burden on the employer. This can be complex and difficult to determine, so work with your legal counsel.

Understand Your Military Leave Obligations The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) gives up to five cumulative years of

leave to individuals on military duty. Employers are required to provide a notice of USERRA rights, benefits, and obligations. State law may also grant certain protections to individuals on leave to perform military service.

Carefully Handle Leave for Workplace Injuries When leave is needed because of a workplace injury, state workers’ compensation statutes may also come into play.

Keep in mind that your insurance carrier is not responsible for identifying when leave might be protected or required by another rule or regulation, such as the FMLA, ADA, or similar.

Document Policies and Notify Employees Your written policies and procedures are your chance to explain how all of these different legal obligations fit together, and to give your employees a map of how to make the best use of all available options.

Answer the Important Questions • When will FMLA run concurrently with other types of paid or unpaid leave provided to your employees?

• How do employees access employer-provided leave benefits, such as short- or long- term disability?

• How do these benefits coordinate with other programs, such as state-offered temporary disability insurance?

American Fidelity will continue to monitor and communicate regulatory changes to help employers succeed in benefits management. Subscribe for updates at https://americanfidelity.com/pages/leave/.

CoSN: Support for Technology Administrators CoSN is a great resource for school technology administrators. Check this page monthly for links to articles to assist technology leaders as they navigate through digital learning transformations.

Click Here to Read About This Month’s Topics • Leadership Strategies to Assure Student Data Privacy: The Trusted Learning Environment Seal • Interoperability: Seamlessly Sharing Data, Content, and Services Within School District Systems or Applications • CoSN Critical Focus Area One Pager: Interoper-What? The Importance of Interoperability in School Systems • CoSN Interoperability Toolkit • Financing Technology Innovations - Strategies and Tools • CoSN 2022 Annual Conference • CoSN Membership 6

Administrator Spotlight:

Mark Lewis

Principal, Jim Stone Elementary, Conway Public Schools Mark Lewis, Principal at Jim Stone Elementary in the Conway School District, has spent the last 26 years serving the students of Conway Public Schools. He says "I taught third grade for three years at Ida Burns Elementary before being hired as an assistant principal for both Theodore Jones Elementary and Jim Stone Elementary. After 5 years in that role, I was selected to be the principal of Jim Stone Elementary where I’ve been for the last 16 years." Mark credits his mom with pushing him to follow her footsteps in the education world. However, while she was a big influence on his decision, he says few know the ultimate reason he became an educator: In the summer between high school and college he was asked to help coach a U16 baseball team. "The head coach told me after the season that I had the makings of an educator. The next season I was asked to head coach a new team that was an 'expansion' team. Basically, this means the other teams sent me the players they didn’t want. We went undefeated and one of my pitchers threw a no-hitter.”

According to Mark, being a principal is sometimes like being a trash compactor, explaining " You answer to people above, below and around you. We just feel squashed." Outside of the pandemic, the most challenging part of his job is unfunded mandates and not being able to help ease the stress on his staff.

As for his favorite part, he says "No contest. It’s the kids. They are the bright spot every day." He says the biggest changes he's experienced in education over his career come from a tie between data and technology, stating " Not everyone even had a computer when I started and now even the kids have some form of technology of their own. Data is the other. When I started, test results went into a file in your desk drawer and were never discussed. Now, every single decision you make is based on data."

Mark is most proud of the teachers and staff he has assembled at his school, saying nobody else compares. He states, " It is not a cliche to say we are family. It’s the truth." He also marvels at the success his district has in transporting almost 10,000 kids to and from school each day with few issues. For future goals, he says that through PLCs, his staff is focused on increasing academic achievement as well as supporting the socialemotional well-being of every Jim Stone student.

Coworkers might describe Mark as "the old war dog" because he says, "I’ve been in the principal seat longer than anyone in our district. They’d tell you I love listening to new ideas and sharing mine, but it will come with a few funny (to me) stories they don’t have time to listen to." During his time off, he says he loves his Peloton Bike, working out, golf and just being at home watching TV with his wife. "If you can’t find me at any of those places, then I’m cooking on my Blackstone or my smoker." As for his future career plans, Mark says in five years he'll still be right at Jim Stone Elementary, and that he "wouldn’t want to be working anywhere else."

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!

Q&A ?

with

“I will never be thought of as fondly as my mom, Carolyn Lewis, who was loved from the classroom, to administration, to the Conway School Board, to having an elementary school named after her. I would be honored to be remembered somewhere close to her in kindness and equality.”

What would you tell someone who was thinking about a similar career?

“I would tell someone to visit with multiple educators in the business. You’ll get a wide variety of answers both negative and positive. Be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

What is the best advice you have ever received?

“Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. Your college degrees give you the knowledge to start teaching. Wisdom comes more from mistakes than accomplishments. Don’t be afraid to make them.”

Tell us about any awards or recognition you have received.

“I am the principal of a National Blue Ribbon School (2011), and I was student of the year for the Educational Specialist Program at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) in 2015.”

What might other administrators be surprised to know about you?

“That I’m actually capable of being completely serious for extended periods of time”

What is the most daring thing you’ve done?

“Supporting my son when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was just three years old. He did some form of chemotherapy every day for 38 months. When he had his last treatment party at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the nurse practitioner took me aside and said, ‘We never had a doubt if Adam was going to make it. We were all concerned if Adam’s dad was going to make it.’”

What is one of the things on your “Bucket List?”

“To be a contestant on The Price is Right.”

If you weren’t in your current position, what would you be doing?

“I would hopefully be a meteorologist. I’m a huge weather geek.”

What do you see as the biggest benefit of AAEA membership?

“The people from all over the state come together as one to provide learning opportunities and networking. It is a truly powerful piece in influencing legislation, because there are few (if any) educators making the ultimate decisions for our profession.”

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2022 CASBO Certification Classes March 2-3, 2022 Benton, AR & Virtual

UPC OMING EVENTS

The Arkansas Association of School Business Officials (AASBO) has scheduled six CASBO certification classes for March 2-3, hosted at the Benton Events Center in Benton and via live-stream. Register here!

2022 AACTEA Spring Hybrid Conference March 31, 2022 Little Rock, AR & Virtual This year's conference theme is "Educating for Careers'' and will be offered virtually and on-site at the Arkansas River ESC in Pine Bluff on March 31. This is the year's must-attend event for Arkansas career and technical administrators. Register here!

2022 SASBO & AASBO Joint Conference April 5-7, 2022 Hot Springs, AR Arkansas Association of School Business Officials is excited to partner with the Southeastern Association of School Business Officials to host this year's annual conference in Hot Springs, AR, April 5-7. Register here!

2022 ASPMA CFD Classes April 14, 2022 Conway, AR & Virtual The Arkansas School Plant Management Association (ASPMA) has scheduled two (2) required and one (1) Certified Facility Director (CFD) classes for April 14, 2022, at the Special Services Annex in Conway, located by 1902 Harrison Street. Classes will also be livestreamed. Register here!

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2022 AAFC Spring Conference May 4-6, 2022 Hot Springs, AR The Arkansas Association of Federal Coordinators (AAFC) Spring Conference will be held May 4-6, 2022 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. There will be educational break-out sessions, group collaboration, DESE updates, and much more. Register here!

Benefits Corner Pandemic Highlighted Value of Voluntary Benefits Submitted by Shane Pennington, Regional Sales Executive, Educational Benefits, Inc. The COVID-19 pandemic drove more employers to offer voluntary benefits, and now employee-pay-all benefits are expected to play a greater role after the pandemic.

"To meet employee expectations and attract and retain talent, employers are offering voluntary benefits, and broadening their voluntary offerings, to enable employees to create a package that works for their needs," said Kim Buckey, vice president of client services at DirectPath, a benefits education, enrollment and health care transparency firm.

"We're seeing increased interest in critical illness, hospital indemnity, long-term disability and life insurance buy-up, and even long-term care coverage, as a result of the pandemic, as well as financial planning, legal services, emergency loan programs and the like," she noted.

According to findings from consultancy Willis Towers Watson, 94 percent of large employers believe that voluntary benefits will be more important to their total rewards strategy going forward, compared with 36 percent of employers who deemed them to be important in 2018.

Fastest-Growing Benefits "The pandemic has given rise to an increase in benefits that protect employees against big hospital bills and loss of income and provide personal protection," said Lydia Jilek, senior director, voluntary benefits solutions at Willis Towers Watson.

The following are the voluntary offerings that employers currently offer or are planning to offer over the next two years: • Financial planning/counseling through an existing vendor (93 percent).

• Tuition reimbursement programs (88 percent) • Telephonic financial planning/counseling (77 percent) • Onsite fitness center (54 percent) • Backup child care (48 percent) • Elder care (44 percent) "Employers are supplementing existing core benefits with more personalized benefits to provide additional ways to support their employees' overall well-being and enhance the perceived value of their benefits offerings," Jilek said.

Getting Creative "The pandemic has provided an opportunity for employers to re-examine their overall benefits package and employee value propositions in new and creative ways," Jessica B. Grande, a consultant with Cowden Associates in Pittsburgh, wrote. To ensure that employees appreciate these benefits, "they need to be aware they are available and also understand [them]," she noted. "Employers will see the most engagement and enrollment in these programs when promoted through a robust communications campaign tailored to the specific employee population."

According to Julie Stich, vice president of content at the nonprofit International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, "As with any type of benefit offering, it's crucial to think strategically" about voluntary benefits. Questions employers should ask, she advised, include: • Will this new benefit fit your organization's culture?

• Will it be useful in attracting and retaining a diverse talent pool?

• Will it be utilized and valued? Will it support workers' well-being?

Added Stich, "As with all benefits, there's no one size fits all."

Earlier this year, Laura Martin, director of worksite marketing at OneDigital, an employee benefits and health insurance broker, blogged that "Being able to pick and choose benefits that are important to them has always been the attraction of voluntary benefits for employees. Because of the pandemic, many voluntary benefits will stand out as options for these times." For instance, "expect more interest in critical-illness insurance.”

Voluntary benefits, she added, "will become an even more personal choice for employees as they continue to navigate the effect the pandemic has had on their financial situation.

Being able to pick and choose products that will meet their individual needs is going to be a lifeline for many who are still recovering." Noted Buckey, "More American workers are more aware of what might happen, and as such will be looking at what they might need to protect themselves and their families from the "what ifs"—not just immediate concerns."

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A Breath of Fresh Air A Guide to Lowering Test Scores Submitted by Ashley Creviston, Protect Education Suppose for one moment that you are living on a planet where everything is the opposite of what we experience here on earth. On this other planet, your elected representatives, instead of wanting you to raise test scores, are demanding that you lower them. Here are some winning tactics: 1. Make it too hot (or too cold), too humid (or too dry), too noisy (don’t forget to avoid day lighting).

2. Fill the air with fumes from idling buses, too much CO2, mold or other allergens, chemicals and pesticides that can affect occupants’ nervous systems.

3. To make sure that indoor air pollutants concentrate in each classroom, install a poorly operating ventilation system that can’t provide enough outside air exchange and is difficult to maintain. If you have no ventilation system at all, then nail most of the windows shut.

4. In case their allergies and asthma, sinusitis and coughs aren’t sufficiently distracting, put allergic students and teachers on medications that make them either drowsy or agitated.

5. Allow mold, allergens and other pollutants to accumulate long enough for some teachers and students to get sick and have to miss school or feel they need to take extra days off while recuperating from other illnesses. (This accomplishes two purposes, since it also reduces your ADA funding.)

6. To prevent conditions from improving, cut your maintenance budget, and don’t forget to cut your

custodial budget and then arrange the classrooms in a way that makes it difficult for the few remaining custodians to clean. Then fail to educate school occupants about the way that many of their own activities might contribute to indoor air problems.

7. Prevent good communication between district-level staff, principals and school occupants so work orders don’t get processed, or instead the occupants believe that the district is unresponsive even when the work’s been done.

8. Develop a poor relationship with parents and the community so they think you’re wasting money and won’t give you any more. Allow this poor relationship to fester so that when a problem arises, your staff are so busy trying to calm down parents, teachers and news reporters that you can’t get any real work done.

9. Close the school because of health concerns, guaranteeing that everyone falls behind in their studies.

10.Finally, do not take the very simple steps that could correct many of the problems above.

Would such strategies reduce test scores? Well, that’s the way to bet, anyway. [The EPA's website] outlines studies that support what should be obvious.

Excerpt from A Guide to Lowering Test Scores by Shelly Rosenblum and Barbara Spark, Leadership magazine vol.

32, no. 1, Sept. 2002

Scholarships Available!

AAEA and our Constituent Groups are proud every year to offer a number of scholarships to students in Arkansas. Applications are available online at theaaea.org/page/scholarships.

AACIA GRADUATING SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP AACIA GRADUATE PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP AAGEA SCHOLARSHIP AASBO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AAFC SCHOLARSHIP AASSP SCHOLARSHIP AAMLA SCHOLARSHIP AASEA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AASEA LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP AACTEA SCHOLARSHIP ASPMA SCHOLARSHIP C.B. GARRISON SCHOLARSHIP DR. KELLAR F. NOGGLE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP GARY L. KEES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 11

Publication Sneak Peek: Our Two Cents This segment features content from other AAEA publications. Our Two Cents (formerly the AAEA Publication) is a monthly publication available to districts on a subscription basis. The following excerpt comes from the February 2022 issue.

Did You Know?

USDA Increases Funding For School Meals U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an adjustment in school meal reimbursements to help schools continue to serve children healthy and nutritious meals. This change will put more funding into school meal programs this year. Click here for more information.

SAM.gov - Transition from DUNS Number to Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) The Federal Government will transition from the use of the DUNS Number to the new Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) as the primary means of entity identification for the Federal awards government-wide, beginning April 4, 2022. If your organization is currently registered in SAM.gov with either an active or inactive registration, you have already been assigned a UEI. Your UEI is viewable on your entity’s registration record in SAM.gov. If you have any questions or concerns contact Bianca.Porter@ade.arkansas.gov or Mahoganey.Franklin@ade.arkansas.gov.

Legislative Happenings The Fiscal Session started February 14, 2022. Several bills will be considered during the session regarding the State Employee and Public School Employee Health Insurance Plan - HB1097, HB1098, HB1099, HB1100, SB85, SB86, SB87, SB88. To see what is happening, visit the Arkansas State Legislature website.

Dept of Finance & Administration Revenue Report - January 2022 Bolstered by better-than-expected individual income and sales and use tax collections, Arkansas' general revenue in January increased by $60 million over the same month a year ago to $782 million and beat the latest forecast by $174.4 million. Last month's increase in general revenue collection represented an 8.3% increase over collections in January 2021 and beat the level projected in the state's Dec. 16 forecast by 28.7%. In addition, the $782 million is a record for the month, beating the previous high of $722 million in January 2021.

During the first seven months of FY22, total general revenue increased by $258.6 million, (5.9%), over the same period in fiscal 2021 and beat the Dec. 16 forecast by $231.2 million (5.2%). DF&A has previously noted that comparisons with year-ago collections are distorted by the shift of the individual income tax payment deadline in 2020 from April 15 to July 15 as a one-time change for pandemic relief efforts. This resulted in two-income tax filing dates in fiscal 2021.

During last year's regular session, the General Assembly enacted a general revenue budget for FY22 totaling $5.84 billion, including a $17.1 million allocation to a restricted reserve fund. The forecast projects a $264.4 million surplus for FY22. Click here for the full report.

Attorney General Opinions While Attorney General Opinion 2022-005 is not specifically related to education, it addresses the release of employee-related records as the result of a FOIA request. The AG opined that personal information such as salary and compensation, hire date, position titles, and employee names are subject to inspection and copying under FOIA. Additionally, the custodian correctly decided that certain sensitive personnel information was not releasable. The opinion also includes a discussion of “clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” Click here for AG Opinion 2022-005.

2020/21 Annual Statistical Report DESE recently released the 2021-22 Annual Statistical Report. This annual comprehensive report includes information for each school district on ADM, millage rates, debt, revenue, expenditures, etc.

Interested in more from Our Two Cents? Contact our office at 501-372-1691.

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Over the Top Sound Roofs for Safe Schools Submitted by Janelle Nightingale, Communications Manager, Coryell Roofing & Construction Having a sound roofing system is part of securing a safe and welcoming environment for teachers, staff, and students. Two of the most important ways to maintain a sturdy roofing system are to have a yearly inspection by certified roof specialists and one after each severe weather event.

Kelly Coryell of Coryell Roofing states that "Identifying minor maintenance issues and leaks before they become catastrophic problems is crucial" - and this is not always easy. For example, the slope, surface, and type of roof deck can hide the source of a leak. Yet, certified roof specialists are trained to use thermography to see beneath the layers of roofing materials and detect trapped moisture under the top layers. In addition, experienced roof specialists have a skilled eye to spot ponding water that indicates poor drainage or inefficient slope and look for deteriorated seals and unsealed seams that allow water to seep in and become trapped. Furthermore, they can expertly identify hail damage that has ruptured the mat and impacted the shingle's ability to wick away moisture.

specialist after a severe weather event. CEO of Coryell Roofing, Chris Coryell, states that "there's a potential for danger any time a major storm passes through your area."

One danger from undetected damage to your school's roofing system can be undetected water damage, which can lead to the growth of fungi and molds inside your school. The spores from these organisms can contaminate the air and lead to eye, throat, and nasal irritation and difficulty breathing for teachers, staff, and students.

Just as educators are trained and experienced in educating the unique students in their care, certified roofing specialists are trained and experienced to help preserve and maintain various roofing system types.

Consider scheduling a complimentary inspection by a certified roofing specialist and help your roof do its part of securing a safe and welcoming environment for those it covers!

In addition to a yearly inspection, a facility decisionmaker should consider contacting a certified roofing

Get ready for the 2022 AAEA Summer Conference!

The 2022 AAEA Summer Conference, Love Public Education: Changing the Narrative, will be held on July 25-26, 2022 at the Statehouse Convention Center and Marriott Hotel in Little Rock, AR. The event will feature keynote speakers, over 100 breakout sessions from inspiring educational leaders, an exhibit hall, and hospitality events. Join administrators from across the state to learn, network, and celebrate your love for public education! Registration will open soon!

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Job Site Subscription Service The AAEA Job Board is a calendar-year subscription that assists districts with the ever-increasing challenge of recruiting quality staff. It is a significant resource for educators, both in-state and outof-state, seeking employment in Arkansas schools.

Over 165 school districts are participating in the program, which has been extremely helpful to schools and educators over the years. The site is used year-round and is accessed extensively during the second semester. It is not unusual to see over 400 jobs posted on the Job Board at one time. With an account, school districts may post unlimited job vacancies throughout the year.

To subscribe (by district) or to post job openings, contact Marty Smith, Member Relations Manager, at m.smith@theaaea.org or at 501-372-1691.

Openings District Name

Position

Spring Hill School District

High School Principal (7-12)

Lafayette County School District

High School Principal

Arkansas Arts Academy

K-12 Administrative Pool

Shirley School District

Superintendent of Schools

Cutter Morning Star School District

Elementary School Principal

Mountain Home Public Schools

Principal (2) HS Assistant Principal & Alternative Education Director

Mena School District Mountain Pine School District

Technology Director

White County Central School District

Superintendent of Schools

Green Forest School District

Academic Support/Dean of Students

Pine Bluff School District

Assistant Superintendent

Rogers Public Schools

Middle School Principal

Rogers Public Schools

Director of Special Education

Springdale School District

Director of Nursing

Eureka Springs School District

Middle School Principal

Western Yell County School District

Superintendent of Schools

Rogers Public Schools

Assistant Principal (Elementary) Continued on Next Page 14

Job Site Subscription Service District Name

Position

Arch Ford Education Service Center

Virtual Arkansas Director of Technology

Pulaski County Special School District

Coordinator of Maintenance Support

Friendship Aspire Academy

Dean of Students / Assistant Principal

Friendship Aspire Academy

Assistant Principal (2)

Horatio School District

K-6 Elementary Principal

Newport Public Schools

Superintendent

Spring Hill School District

Elementary Principal (K-6)

Siloam Springs School District

Principal – High School

Siloam Springs School District

Principal – Northside Elementary

Rogers Public Schools

Assistant Principal

Pea Ridge School District

Director of Athletics and Activities

Blytheville Public Schools

Middle School - Principal Elementary Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) Assistant Principal

Springdale School District Nashville School District

Assistant Superintendent

Jonesboro Public Schools

Elementary Assistant Principal (2)

Dumas School District

Alternative Learning Environment Director (ALE)

Helena-West Helena School District

Director of Special Education

Fort Smith Public Schools

Special Education Director K-12

Harrison School District

Elementary Assistant Principal

Harrison School District

Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Crossett School District

Superintendent

Rogers Public Schools

Principal (Elementary)

Rogers Public Schools

Assistant Principal

Green Forest School District

Middle School Principal

Jasper School District

Assistant Superintendent

Visit Our Job Site For More 15

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