Student numbers up in alternative school

Carolyn Lewis and Lena Hancock reported their findings from observations of the Conway School District's alternative school program to the district's Board of Education Tuesday.

The two, who studied a variety of statistics from the number of students placed in alternative programs to discipline plans of other school districts, recommended to the board that the elementary and secondary short-term alternative students, taught at the Conway Boys and Girls Club, be completely isolated from one another.

"We requested that the elementary and secondary students be placed in different rooms and have staggering departure times so that they never come in contact with each other," Hancock said.

Another recommendation was that elementary teachers search for different disciplinary acts other than the alternative program, citing a rise in alternative attendance from 58 for the entire 1999-2000 school year to 86 for the current school year through April 4, a 48 percent increase. One possible solution suggested was the formation of behavioral classes for problem students.

"Some of the other school districts we examined had behavioral modification classes," Hancock said, "and that's what we need to explore if the rise in alternative schooling continues."

The Board of Education will take their findings into consideration for future decisions and policies.

Technology plan

Phyllis Simon, Technology Committee representative for the Board of Education, presented plans to implement a new three-year technology plan for the district.

"The plan we've asked for includes new student and teacher standards that match national standards from the International Society for Technology in Education," said Simon.

The presented plan calls for $220,000 for hardware, software, maintenance and staff development over the next three school years. Under the current technology plan, $200,000 has been budgeted for these items.

The plan also includes proposed guidelines for student technological learning. For example, by fifth grade, students should be able to use telecommunications software under supervision.

The Board of Education has taken the plan under advisement and will vote on the plan during next month's meeting.

"The plan was very well received, and I appreciate their response," said Simon.

A new technology plan is presented to the Board of Education every three years.

Renovation bids

The board approved bids for the renovation of the cafeteria at Sallie Cone Elementary and John McConnell Stadium at Conway High School West.

Both projects will begin immediately and are scheduled to be completed before the start of the 2001-2002 school year.

Tilk Inc. was the winning bidder for the Sallie Cone renovations at $226,000. The project will remodel the school's kitchen, expand the cafeteria and add additional rooms.

B&L Builders was the winning bidder for the stadium additions at $73,422. The project will add two ticket booths, fences and beams for the entrance sign along with improvements in the women's restroom.

In other business, the board:

Announced that Conway High School West's graduation exercises will be held Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m. in the Farris Center of the University of Central Arkansas, and that Conway Adult Education Center's graduation exercises will be held May 19 at 7 p.m. in the Conway Public Schools Auditorium.