Executive
Viewpoint
We are nearing that time in the summer where we can begin to smell the school hamburger days. The summer conference is almost here, and we have a packed 2-day schedule. Click here to view the schedule and register for the conference. Our theme this year is Resilient Leadership: Better Than Ever. We will be conducting Beginning Administrator and New Superintendent Mentor training on Monday, July 26, before the general session that begins at 10:00 am. The AAA Governing Body meeting will be on Tuesday, July 27, at 4:00 pm. Be sure to look at the agenda on the Sched App so you can plan to participate in this informative and packed conference Dr. Mike Hernandez AAEA Executive Director
The AAEA staff has been working diligently to support you this summer. We have conducted numerous training sessions across Arkansas, including legislative updates and Tier I. We enjoy getting to be with you at these training sessions because we hear about crucial issues and needs directly. For example, equalization funding has been a hot topic at these sessions as districts grapple with what to do with these funds. It is vital that there is communication with your staff to make sure that they understand how this money will be utilized, focusing on raising the average teacher salary in Arkansas as a whole. ARP ESSER is another topic that we get a great number of questions about. We have tried to relay questions to the ADE to ensure that correct information is shared. There have been many Zoom meetings for administrators to keep members up to date as things change at the federal level Health insurance has been another hot topic recently with the forecasted de cits in the state and public school employee programs. The legislature has provided an additional $35 million to the public employee fund to help reduce the de cit. Due to the Act 1004 of 2021, the duties of the State and Public-School Life and Health Insurance Board have been transferred to the State Board of Finance to further develop health and life insurance bene ts for State and Public School employees and retirees. The State Board of Finance has been reviewing recommendations and are determining rates, bene t changes and whether to seek additional funding for the program. The state is moving toward a record surplus and I think we would all appreciate the consideration of using these funds to support the school insurance program. Please make sure you stay engaged during the next few months as decisions are made that will affect school personnel. Please remember to let us know if you have a beginning administrator (BAs) in your district. BAs include assistant principals, principals, curriculum administrators, and special education supervisors. Click here to view the commissioner's memo. Once you register your new administrator, she/he will need to register to attend the summer conference and a TESS Credentialing session. Ms. Lenett Thrasher is the program lead and will email all registered new administrators additional information on the training. The new administrators should plan to attend training Monday, July 26, 8:00 am, and participate in the rest of the conference. We will have speci c BA session options denoted in the program schedule Enjoy the last few weeks of summer, and see you at the AAEA Summer Conference!
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