The Arkansas State Board of Education requires that each school district in Arkansas provide and publish, in a newspaper with general circulation in the district before November 15 of each school year, a report to the public. (Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools, State Board of Education, Revised Edition, January 10, 2000.) To meet the requirements of the Arkansas State Board of Education, a public meeting is held, and a Media Report is provided that is subsequently used for publication in a newspaper with general circulation. That Media Report is found below.
An Open Letter to the PCSSD Community from the Superintendent, Dr. Jerry Guess
Philosophy of Education
PCSSD Strategic Plan
Accreditation Standards
Facilities Planning
Preface to the Annual Plan to the Public
In recent months, the Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) has undergone significant change as a result of takeover by the State. The District was placed in fiscal distress, after a recommendation for such by the Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit, in May, 2011. On June 20, Arkansas Education Commissioner Dr. Tom Kimbrell removed the seven-member PCSSD board of education and district Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Charles Hopson. Dr. Kimbrell, acting in place of the PCSSD’s board, immediately named Mr. Bobby Lester, a longtime, successful former PCSSD superintendent, as acting superintendent while candidates for the position were considered. In July, 2011, Dr. Kimbrell announced that PCSSD’s new superintendent, working under a one-year contract, would be Dr. Jerry Guess, who had been superintendent for the past 15 years of the Camden School District. Subsequently, PCSSD, with encouragement from Dr. Kimbrell, hired Dr. Don Stewart as a consultant to provide technical assistance and oversight of the District’s budget. Dr. Stewart had been involved in district finances in the past and has a broad knowledge of school district finances. PCSSD’s chief financial officer stepped down in September. As a result, William Goff, a certified public accountant and ADE’s assistant commissioner of fiscal and administrative services, was named as the new CFO. A complete review of the District’s finances along with greater budget oversight has been a key aspect of takeover by the State. PCSSD may remain in fiscal distress and operate with Dr. Kimbrell as its board of education for up to two years.
An Open Letter to the PCSSD Community from the Superintendent, Dr. Jerry Guess
To our patrons throughout the community, I want to welcome you to the Pulaski County Special School District. We are pleased to bring you our 2010-2011 report on education plans and programs. The PCSSD continues to be committed to the vision and philosophy that students are at the center of all decisions and all work focuses on their learning.
We are pleased to report PCSSD continues to make great progress in student achievement and improved facilities. Our focus on educational excellence and on-going opportunities to advance a results-oriented learning experience for all our students remains unmatched. As schools opened for the 2011-12 school year, the District employed 1,451 certified staff and 1,345 classified staff, serving approximately 17,700 students. Student enrollment is up this year, and we believe we have rounded the corner from several years of enrollment decline. We also saw the opening of two new schools this year, Sylvan Hills Middle School and Maumelle High School.
I am honored to serve as PCSSD’s superintendent. When Education Commissioner Dr. Tom Kimbrell asked me to come to Little Rock and lead teaching and learning in the District, I had mixed emotions. Camden Fairview is my home, and I had served as superintendent there for the last 15 years.
What I have found is, while vastly different in size, the basics in both districts are the same – guaranteeing that students have clean, quality classrooms where teachers have the tools to teach in an environment that is best for student achievement. And, that’s just what we plan to accomplish. We will continue to press forward and will make your students our focus.
As you may know, the Commissioner is acting in the role of the school board as the state oversees the District. However, to the parents, patrons and students this changes very little at your school. Your teachers, coaches, counselors and principals will still be the educators you turn to, ensuring you receive the quality education you deserve. I, along with the District leadership team, am here to support them – and you this year.
I believe solid public schools are the foundation of this country’s future, and I look forward to making this public school district the best it can be. If my office can help you in any way, please feel free to call 501-234-2001. I offer my best wishes for a safe and successful 2011-2012 school year.
Sincerely,
Jerry Guess, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Philosophy of Education
The District’s philosophy of education goals and objectives was adopted by a Board in 1981 (see Board Policy Manual, Code ADA). Since that time, the District’s goals and objectives have been revised twice, with the most recent Manual Adoption occurring February 8, 2000. Past Boards have established goals to guide the administration in developing specific, systemwide objectives to provide standards for a quality educational program. These goals and objectives are ongoing, and the District is in the continual process of implementing its stated goals and objectives based on its philosophy of education.
PCSSD Strategic Plan
Shared Vision Statement: (Adopted July 9, 2008)
Pulaski County Special School District is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district which assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through the collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders (teachers, administrators, support staff, families, students, communities, and businesses).
Shared Core Belief Statement: (Adopted July 9, 2008)
When it comes to student learning in Pulaski County Special School District, we the stakeholders (teachers, administrators, support staff, families, students, communities, and businesses) believe that for all students to succeed:
- They must have a safe physical, social and emotional learning environment.
- All stakeholders of education must be actively involved.
- Curriculum, instruction and learning opportunities must be diverse, engaging and developmentally appropriate.
- Schools should be communities of learning where all teachers and staff do whatever it takes to assure all students learn.
- All decisions must be data driven.
Accreditation Standards
All schools in the PCSSD are fully accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. Every PCSSD school strives to meet standards by analysis of data to include Formative Evaluation Process for School Improvement (FEPSI) and state mandated testing (criterion-reference tests and norm-reference tests) in order to address areas of concern through the School Action Plan. All PCSSD schools plan for school improvement using the Arkansas Consolidated School Improvement Plan (ACSIP) process with guidance from the District and the Arkansas Department of Education.
Facilities Planning
PCSSD facilities average 41 years old with the oldest being built in 1952. As the schools age, the District is experiencing an accelerated rate of system failure. In addition to the stressed infrastructure, many facilities require construction projects in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This increased failure rate and the need for ADA accessibility requires a significant investment in labor and parts to maintain the facilities in a safe and efficient manner.
In 1999, the PCSSD conducted a comprehensive study of all facilities to develop a plan for facility upgrades. Several annual facilities assessments have been conducted since that time and actions are underway to execute roof and HVAC repairs as soon as possible.
To streamline operations this year, the District closed Jacksonville Elementary and moved the STAR Academy to Jacksonville High School. American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds were being used over the last couple of years for various roof, restroom and HVAC projects throughout the District. A new elementary school was opened in Chenal for the 2008-2009 school year, and this year the District opened a new high school in Maumelle and a new middle school in Sherwood. The District looks forward to future growth and construction to replace and renovate antiquated facilities.
Desegregation Plan 2000/Education Plan
On March 21, 2000, the Federal Court approved the District’s revised desegregation plan, Plan 2000. The District continues to operate under this plan. Plan 2000 includes programs and strategies that directly address Education Plan Goals. These goals focus on student achievement, attendance, reduction and disparity of student discipline, and academic remediation/enrichment. The Education Plan incorporates a total-school process, which engages each school in an annual self-study with the objective of improving student achievement and discipline. All District schools participate in this process.
Home School Counseling
The Home School Counseling Program (a part of the District’s Plan 2000) consists of 11 counselors/consultants (three home-school counselors at the secondary level and eight home-school consultants at the elementary level). Creating a better school-to-home relationship is a major goal. Counselors/consultants identify students each semester based on low grades, test scores, poor attendance and behavior. They work with these students individually at school and make visits in the home with their parents. Home school counselors/consultants are instrumental in assisting families with basic needs including food, uniforms, shelter, eyeglasses, school supplies, and transportation.
The counselors/consultants also provide parent workshops, basic skills tutoring for students and community outreach, and serve as a liaison to outside referral agencies. When students come to school ready to learn they perform better in the classroom. Similar activities and efforts are underway or planned for the 2011-2012 school year.
Professional Development
Professional Development is committed to providing ongoing, meaningful training to support teaching and learning. Professional Development provides all certified staff with 60 hours of professional development, which includes the following: six hours of instructional technology; three hours of parent involvement training for administrators and two hours for teachers, and two hours of Arkansas History for elementary teachers. Required and funded by the ADE is the Pathwise Mentoring Program where novice teachers are paired with trained mentors. This program allows the novice teachers the opportunity to receive their Standard License within the state-mandated three-year period. The emphasis of all professional development training will be to provide teachers with the necessary tools to raise student achievement.
Learning Services
The PCSSD’s Division of Learning Services seeks to provide leadership, resources, and support to the PCSSD learning community for the purpose of increasing student achievement in an ever-changing technological society. Learning Services collaborates with Instructional Technology to fulfill this mission. Learning Services also assists school personnel in implementing the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment and Accountability Program (ACTAAP), No Child Left Behind (NCLB) mandates, Common Core State Standards, and the Desegregation Plan 2000. The ACSIP model, FEPSI, and state mandated testing results are used to address improvements in the focus areas of literacy and mathematics. The data analysis is used to identify individual student and subpopulations that are underachieving. This analysis of data is also used to identify possible gaps in areas of the curriculum. Support in the form of professional development is job-embedded and ongoing with a focus on developing the curriculum to implement the Common Core State Standards, vertical teaming, data analysis, academic coaching and research-based, best-practice strategies that target at-risk and ethnic minority students. Elementary student test scores have seen consistent increases, while more work is needed at the secondary level to increase their gains.
[See also: 2011 District Test Results (with 7-year history)
Elementary Education
PCSSD now has 23 elementary schools and one Pre-K Center. Sixteen of our elementary schools also serve Pre-K students. Two of our elementary schools, Arnold Drive and Clinton, have been recognized as Title I national award winning Blue Ribbon Schools. All elementary schools have developed ACSIP plans to focus on raising student achievement. For school improvement, each elementary school analyzes data and then selects strategies to meet the needs of their unique student population. This process is ongoing throughout the school year. Landmark and Murrell Taylor Elementary implement the Arkansas Leadership School Support Model to assist with the school improvement process.
Accelerated Reader, Early Literacy Learning in Arkansas (ELLA), and Effective Literacy are at various stages of implementation in all schools. Our schools use a Standards Based math curriculum and supplement instruction with initiatives to increase higher-order thinking skills and writing in math. Additionally, teachers and math coaches are given the opportunity to train in state supported professional development to include Cognitively Guided Instruction, and Math Links. All elementary schools will continue an emphasis on writing across the curriculum. Schools employ facilitators in literacy and/or math to provide job-embedded coaching for the teachers in research-based strategies to improve learning. Elementary schools are using formative, interim and summative assessments as a tool to guide teaching and learning.
Secondary Education
There are 12 secondary schools and one alternative school in the District. All secondary schools have developed school improvement plans to monitor and improve student achievement following the Desegregation Plan 2000, and utilizing the FEPSI and ACSIP school improvement planning process. In addition, the secondary schools are reviewed and accredited by the North Central Association. The middle schools include grades six through eight, with the middle school core team consisting of language arts, math, science, and social studies for these grades. Eight secondary schools are implementing the Arkansas Leadership Academy School Support Model. The Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) Lab program, which offers students hands on project-based learning, has been expanded at the secondary level.
All secondary schools have instructional coaches who support teaching and learning in the classroom. In order to address identified areas of concern, additional coaching models have been implemented using ELLA and Effective Literacy Jim Knight Coaches Training, and Formative Assessment. Advanced Placement (AP) and Pre AP offerings continue to be expanded utilizing technology when appropriate. Students also have the opportunity to meet course requirements through alternative avenues such as The Learning Academy and Cyber Academy, which is credit recovery only. STAR Academy, which was implemented during the 2009-10 school year, is designed to help those students that are one to two grade levels behind, and is a form of restructuring for Jacksonville High School only.
National School Lunch Act
The District receives funds through the National School Lunch Act based on the number of students receiving free or reduced lunch. At present, 12 secondary schools and four elementary schools receive NSLA funds. NSLA money is used to fund math and literacy instructional specialists in the schools. Additional services are provided through alternative learning, interpreters, and professional development in identified areas including research-based intervention strategies.
Federal Programs
The Title I program ensures all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficient on state academic achievement standards and assessments. Title I funds are used to improve teaching and learning to enable children to reach this goal. Federal Title I funds for school improvement are assigned to elementary schools in the PCSSD based on the number of students receiving free or reduced lunch at each site. School communities establish a school improvement committee composed of administrators, teachers, support staff, parents and community representatives. Research-based school-wide programs are chosen and implemented at the school using Title I funds to improve instruction and student achievement. Title I money is used to fund math and literacy facilitators for Title I schools. Parent/student/teacher compacts are designed at each Title I school to support the student achievement initiatives. At present, 19 elementary schools in PCSSD receive Title I funds.
Title II A funds are used to fund personnel to provide professional development to maintain highly qualified teachers and administrators. Title III, Limited English Proficient (LEP), funds are designed for local educational agencies (LEAs) that enroll one or more LEP students and must be of sufficient size and scope to allow such entities to carry out high quality language instruction educational programs for LEP children.
Financial Overview
While the PCSSD has faced a number of financial challenges in recent years, it has never lost sight of its mission to ensure academic excellence for the 17,700 student population . The administration and staff have worked diligently with the Board of Education and the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) to monitor revenues and expenditures to ensure top-quality education is provided in the most cost-effective manner.
PCSSD is currently under legislative review by the Division of Legislative Audit as it relates to financial accountability in areas of internal control. In partnership with ADE, the District completed a financial data system conversion to the Arkansas Public School Network System (APSCN) where the District’s entire financial database is hosted by the State. APSCN provides a system of transparency and accountability for local, state and federal funds.
During 2010-2011 the District’s expenses were more than the revenue received, resulting in a reduction in the ending balance to $4,087,687. Efforts are currently underway to reduce expenditures not only to live within available revenue but to grow the ending balance to a level sufficient to allow the District to survive through the possible loss of revenue in the future. The total Federal Grants Fund Balance was $2,894,443.49, and the total Activity Fund Balance was $1,344,060.22
Instructional Technology (IT)
The role of IT is twofold: 1) provide support and customer service, and 2) enhance teaching and learning through progressive partnerships. IT is revamping the technical infrastructure to support students and staff, instruction, operations and business processes. The department ensures greater transparency and accountability and makes certain IT solutions align with the District’s mission and vision. The team promotes academic excellence, teacher and staff accomplishments, student achievement, community involvement and best business practices to prepare PCSSD students to become confident, responsible and productive citizens.
Recent accomplishments include a computer refresh of out of warranty computers for school staff, classrooms and labs; network fiber upgrades and utilization of eRate (federal funding) for telephone plans (local, long distance and cellular) and email. Currently, the department is engaged in developing a 2012-2015 technology plan, establishing 21st century infrastructure and consolidating teacher and support staff email to upgrade to Microsoft Outlook. Future IT initiatives include the development of a technology disaster recovery plan, the establishment of a computer donation process to non-profit organizations and the revision of Internet safety policies for students and staff.
IT Millage will not independently fund many of these initiatives in the next several years. However, we will strive for phased implementations and continue to apply for E-Rate to bring this technology to fruition elevating PCSSD into 21st Century technology.
Communications
The communications department is responsible for overseeing the advertising budget for the District, which includes targeted efforts to recruit and retain students through the use of traditional media in publications including Little Rock Family, Saavy Kids, Kids’ Directory and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, as well as materials targeted to incoming families, including Chamber of Commerce, economic development and real estate-related publications. The District also uses social media, with more than 6,000 facebook fans that regularly enjoy the posting of good news and events happening in the District. Meetings and other important activities are also communicated via the PCSSD twitter stream. The response to the District’s social media efforts from patrons has been overwhelmingly positive.
The department is the liaison with the local media, coordinating interviews with District leadership or providing a spokesperson related to issues of interest to the public. The department regularly disseminates press releases, media advisories and social media announcements publicizing positive news stories, oversees an annual calendar of events and coordinates inclement weather plans to the community.
In August, 2011, the department and its in-house webmaster launched a redesigned, up-to-the-minute website, which can be found at www.pcssd.org.
School Board Members Service Hours
Act 1775 of 2005 is codified in Arkansas Code Annotated 6-13-629. Serving board members are required to receive six (6) hours of training during each calendar year of their continuing service. When board members are newly elected, or return to the board after a break in service, they must receive nine (9) hours of training by December 31 of the year following their election. They are required to receive six (6) hours each calendar year thereafter. All continuing PCSSD School Board members met the required state hours of training for 2010: Sandra Sawyer (12.00 hours); Tim Clark (39.50 hours); Mildred Tatum (78.00 hours); William Vasquez (29.50 hours); and Gwen Williams (43.75 hours). Two board members, Gloria Lawrence and Tom Stuthard, were newly elected in 2010. As mentioned earlier the Board was dismissed June 20, 2011 when the state took control of the District.
For More Information
For more information or for a copy of the district’s 2010-2011 Annual Report, please contact the Pulaski County Special School District, Executive Director of Educational Accountability, 925 East Dixon Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72206, or phone 501-234-2010. (An electronic copy of this Media Report may also be obtained by downloading it from www.pcssd.org.)
Share on Facebook
Stumble this!
Tweet this!
Bookmark at Delicious
Digg this!
Print this Article
Pulaski County Special School District
925 East Dixon Rd