Hope Public School Board Approves Virtual Instruction Contract

HOPE – The Hope Public Schools Board approved a contract for “virtual instruction” services May 4 which will extend the reach of computer-based instruction through the summer school program, beginning next year.
The proposal calls for the district to contract with Edmentum, of Minneapolis, Minn., for computer-based curriculum and related services suitable for the Hope Academy of Public Service campus, the district’s credit recovery program, its behavior modification program, and the entire summer school program in middle school and beyond.
The entire contract will cost $411,900 over two years, based upon an initial payment of $113,300.
Superintendent Bobby Hart said the plan will save the district continuing costs of some teacher salaries during summer school and in some aspects of the behavior modification program.
“We can’t use it this summer; its too late in the game,” Hart said.
The contract calls for a minimum of 60 student units, with the option to expand, based upon a $200 per unit cost.
Also during the called session, the board approved new security measures for the Hope High School and Beryl Henry Elementary School campuses.
The proposals by Progressive Technologies, of Little Rock, call for two phases of work at Hope High School at a total cost of $148,947.96, and two projects at BHE at a cost of $47,456.72 and $74,990.55, respectively.
Hart said the HHS work will be paid from savings realized after the recent refinance of Series 2012 school district bonds. The BHE work will be paid from building project funds, he said.
The HHS project entails the installation of electronically controlled access entry systems throughout the HHS campus, with main access to the central building controlled from the 18th Street entrance and on the Main Street side of the HHS Annex building.
Visitors and other individuals on campus will be required to enter those buildings via two-way intercom at those entrances. All other buildings and classroom doorways will be access controlled via electronic “key fobs.”
“It’s a good safety measure,” Hart said.
Access at the BHE campus will be similar, with principal controlled access at the new entrance portico on the north side of the main building. The BHE project also calls for the installation of a closed circuit video camera system throughout the campus.
The board opted not to purchase a related classroom intercom system.
Also, the board approved personnel actions, including:
–Accepting retirement of Yerger Middle School Art Teacher Shirley Miller and district food services employee Linda Hubbard.
–Accepting certified resignations from Kaitlyn Harrison and Josh Creel at Clinton Primary School.
–Approving certified hires of Kristen Busby, athletic trainer; Mike Radebaugh, Behavior Modification Program principal; Judee Gunter, Hope High School contract services instructional facilitator; Jackie Brady, HAPS EAST program facilitator; Sgt. Arthur Mickles, Air Force JROTC instructor; Julie Stephens, HAPS math teacher; Cari Winemiller, Beryl Henry Elementary instructional facilitator; Destiny Moen, Randa Email Sommers, Samantha Brown, and Eddra Phillips, Clinton Primary School; and, Arzoo Parbatani, Hope High School science ATC.
The board was also informed of a change of status for CPS paraprofessional Amber Hampton to ABC Preschool paraprofessional without any change in salary.