Dr. Crossley “I Truly Believe Hope Will be the Best School District in Southwest Arkansas Within 2 Years”

  Dr. Crossley invited the Hope Lions to a meeting January 19th that will detail plans for the district for the next five years.  The meeting will be at 5:30pm on the 19th at Hempstead Hall.  He noted the regular monthly meeting will follow the presentation and the public is encouraged to attend the presentation.

  The future of the Hope Schools was detailed by Dr. Crossley.  He said the district wants every student that graduates to leave the Hope Public Schools with not only a high school diploma but with a skilled trades certificate, a college associates degree, or at least one year of college credit.  Dr. Crossley said students leaving school with a “value-added” diploma will be valuable  for the Hemsptead County Economic Development Corporation as they can explain to potential industrial prospects that Hope will have workforce ready students leaving Hope High each year.

    Dr. Crossley detailed efforts by the district to offer more extracurricular activities, clubs, and performing arts activities.  He talked about the district offering journalism and Yerger’s efforts to offer a “STEAM” component, i.e. science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.   Dr. Crossley detailed the performing arts component to Bery Henry Elementary and the emphasis on literacy at Clinton Primary.

   The district has established a private scholarship program and Dr. Crossley detailed his aim to increase that from $300,000 to $2 million dollars by Christmas this year.  He hopes in the near future that could rise to $5 million dollars which would produce about $200,000 annually for scholarships for Hope students.

   Dr. Crossley touched on the legislature being expected to look at raising teacher pay in the upcoming session.  Dr. Crossley noted this will probably be an increase for all school district in the state.

   Dr. Crossley answered questions from the audience before wrapping up the program.