All five schools in Farmington and one each in Prairie Grove and Lincoln are receiving cash awards for being named high performing schools for 2014 and most plan to use their money from the Arkansas Department of Education to purchase technology.
Their purchase lists include iPad minis, Chromebooks, MACmini computers, video cameras and improved wireless capability. Other planned purchases are reading books, a one-time staff and teacher bonus and 3D printers.
The seven schools are receiving almost $200,000 from Arkansas School Recognition and Reward Program. The program, in its second year, identifies the top 20 percent of schools in the state based on academic achievement, academic growth and high school graduation rates.
In Farmington, Folsom and Williams elementary schools both made the top 10 percent list. Lincoln Elementary School also is in the top 10 percent of high performing schools in the state. Local schools ranking in the top 11 to 20 percent are Ledbetter Intermediate and Lynch Middle School in Farmington, Farmington High School and Prairie Grove Middle School.
Schools ranking in the top 10 percent received up to $100 per student attending the school, while schools ranking in the top 11 to 20 percent received up to $50 per student.
A committee from each school made up of the principal, a parent and teacher met to decide how to spend the money, submitting a proposed budget to the Education Department by Dec. 15, 2014. The program allows the money to be spent in three areas: One-time bonuses for faculty and staff, nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or materials or to hire temporary personnel to assist, maintain and improve student performance.
Williams Elementary was awarded more than $34,000 and will use its money for technology, such as new Chromebooks and new reading books, said Kara Gardenhire, principal. She said the school had money left over and will also purchase a keyboard lab for its music room.
Gardenhire said her committee considered ideas from teachers in the building.
"It's been great," Gardenhire said. "It's fun to spend money like that. The teachers were so excited and we can't wait to use it all."
Folsom Elementary, which also was named a top 10 high performing school for 2013, will use about $29,000 for technology resources, leveled reading materials for the school's literacy program and to purchase instruments for its music program.
Lincoln Elementary received more than $30,000 and distributed most of it as a one-time bonus to its 52 certified and classified staff members and used the balance to purchase fiction and non-fiction leveled books for all grades.
Melody Sebastian, Lincoln Elementary principal, said the committee gathered input from school staff before deciding to seek a one-time bonus.
"Our teachers spend a lot of their own money on their classes and they work hard," Sebastian said.
She said the school has to compete with higher salaries at larger, neighboring school districts.
"We want to retain our highly qualified teachers," Sebastian added.
For the other schools, Prairie Grove Middle School reported that it would use its money, almost $25,000, to purchase 3D printers, Chromebooks, iPad minis and video cameras. Prairie Grove also will purchase "access points" to install in the ceiling in the cafeteria to broaden its wi-fi capability, according to Reba Holmes, principal.
"The access points will help with remediation," Holmes said, noting the school sponsors Tiger Time for 5th- and 6th-graders and those who need extra help take their Chromebooks and go to the cafeteria to work.
The iPad minis and video cameras will be available in the library and students will be able to check out the items to work on projects, Holmes said. They also will be allowed to take the equipment home.
Lynch Middle School is receiving about $24,000 and will purchase two carts with Chromebooks, four standalone Chromebooks and four Apple TV boxes.
Farmington High is receiving more than $31,000 to go toward technology to be shared throughout the school, including T1-84 calculators, a Chromebook cart, lapel microphones, iPads and two video cameras.
Ledbetter was awarded almost $17,000, money that will be used to complete the amount needed for the school to install MACmini computers in its computer lab.
General News on 03/04/2015