Idea Transcript
2016 Annual Report to the Public
“Education is the most POWERFUL weapon which you can use to change the WORLD.” -Nelson Mandela
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Conway Public Schools Pre-K = 280 Students 9 Elementary Schools (K-4) 4 Middle Schools (5-7) Conway Junior High School (8-9) Conway High School (10-12) 16 schools Total 2016 Enrollment (*as of 10/1/16)= 9920 5026 Male Students (50.67%) 4894 Female Students (49.33%)
District Enrollment by Grade 900
825
2014 - 2015
750
2015 - 2016 2016 - 2017
675
600
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K
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
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Conway Students
Triple Threat
Three Conway Students Score Perfect Scores on ACT
Best of the Best
AP Comparison Scores Conway High School
CHS
62.8%
Eight Conway High School seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
951
Joseph R. Coker, Zelda M. Engeler-Young, Megan R. Haase, Kate M. Lange, Eric D. Pinter, Gary (Nick) Stillwell, Jillian Tang, and Kevin Trickey are 2017 National Merit Semifinalists.
480
Limited English Proficient
1136
Special Education
90 percent of the semifinalists will attain finalist standing, with half of the finalists winning a merit scholarship.
Gifted & Talented
60.3%
Global students
Senior Matt Sweere, and Juniors Megan Haase, and Jillian Tang all scored ‘36’ on the ACT. All of them agree that preparation was key, not just right before the exam, but throughout high school.
District Demographic Profile
“I felt pretty confident coming out of it,” says Tang, who has taken 17 Advanced Placement Classes at Conway High School. “I felt like I was wellprepared for the test, so I wasn’t stressed about it.” Tang says she took the PSAT Prep Course offered at Conway High School over the summer, which helped her with test-taking techniques and vocabulary. But she says most of her preparation has been long term, taking the college-level AP classes and maximizing her time in high school. 1.49%
Superintendent Dr. Greg Murry says the district is beyond proud of these outstanding students. “Conway Public Schools continues to produce a significant number of National Merit Scholars,” says Murry. “The accomplishments of these students stand as a testament to their personal determination and the great work that all of our teachers and staff do every day in our classrooms.”
Arkansas students
28.2% 58%
African American
9.81%
Hispanic or Latino
0.22%
Native American/Alaskan Native
2.2%
9.8%
Asian
28.22%
58.01% 0.05%
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Students who made 3+
Making a perfect ‘36’ on the ACT College Admissions Test is statistically improbable. Out of the almost 2 million students who take the test every year, less than 1,000 make a perfect score. But three Conway students did just that in the 2015-16 school year.
CHS Honors 8 National Merit Scholars
These eight students now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $33 million dollars.
35%
529 Students 965 Tests
Two or More Races Caucasian
ACT Comparison Scores 21.4
Conway Public Schools District Average
20.1
Arkansas State Average
20.8
National Average
Hawaii/Pacific Islander 5
Response to Intervention
Making Connections
Changes Student Learning at All Grade Levels
“Each day I began my day with prayer that I would be a positive influence for someone and make a small difference. Each day God showed me that Javen was the one making the positive impact on me.” Instructional Facilitator Shannon Riner
Teachers throughout the Conway School District have implemented new strategies and protocols dealing with our Response to Intervention in 2015-16. Response to Intervention, or RTI, means identifying students who need a little extra help in certain areas---reading, math, literacy---and then providing it in various ways. Our teachers work with the students in small groups or one-on-one, until they meet their goals. Some of them just need to “catch up” on a few skills. Others need more intensive work. The interventions vary with the student. Some take just a few weeks. Some will take years. There’s no magic formula or special program that works on every kid. Intervention is individual. That’s what makes it work. Our teachers who do interventions are highly trained. They have spent hours in specialized instruction. They realize that learning isn’t a “one size fits all,” and they take the time to really get to know the individual student, to see what will best help him learn. It’s amazing to see what happens when both the teacher and the student discover “what works.” “Not only is the students’ academic performance increasing, their self-motivation and love for school is responding as well,” says Instructional Facilitator Jacob Sisson. “Conway is doing great things here!”
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Conway Schools’ teachers are making stronger connections with students using some new training they received this school year.
A B C
1 2 3
“Connections” is a systematic, multi-sensory, research-based approach to teaching the phonology, decoding, and reading skills of the English language. Conway Schools sent 40 participants to be trained in preparing, implementing, and conducting the various components of Connections lessons, which include decoding, encoding, word recognition, fluency, and comprehension. The lessons allow students to see, hear, smell, feel and touch as they learn, and have been extremely well received by the teachers and students.
“We were blessed to receive such great training,” says Instructional Facilitator Shannon Riner. “I feel like I have another tool in my toolbox for students who just need a different approach to learning. I am seeing real progress with my kids! Several times a week I hear “I love coming to your group!” That makes it all worth it!”
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Planting Seeds
Middle School Renaming Honors Conway Educator
Carolyn Lewis Elementary School Begins School-Wide Garden Project
The staff and students at Carolyn Lewis Elementary School watched the raised beds next to their playground with anticipation all throughout the 2015-16 school year. Their school garden provided lessons for all grade levels as it was built and planted. The garden project, funded by a Conway Public Schools’ Foundation Grant, was spearheaded by CLES Instructional Facilitator Amanda Krell. “We will start small, with just a few beds, but we have dreams of the garden getting big someday,” said Krell. “I am so thrilled that we will be able to have this garden for all the students to have a part in.” After a ribbon cutting ceremony, Krell planned a work day for the school’s students and families where ten raised beds were constructed and filled with soil, so students could begin planting. Every student got a vote for what to plant in their grade’s bed…they planted everything from carrots to peas to lettuce. After the seeds were planted, they were watered and cared for over the summer and will be ready for harvest this year. “Some of our students have never seen a real tomato…they don’t know that vegetables actually grow in the ground,” said Krell. “This is life changing for them.”
Farm-to-School Initiative In November 2015, Conway Schools was awarded a USDA Farm to School Grant. This $44,000 planning grant will enable CPSD to develop and build more gardens like the one at Carolyn Lewis Elementary School. We hope to have gardens in 12 of our schools by the end of 2016.
This past summer, the Conway Schools’ Board of Education unanimously approved a proclamation renaming Bob Courtway Middle School as “Bob and Betty Courtway Middle School.” “The Courtway family has contributed so very much to this community,” says Superintendent Dr. Greg Murry. “Adding Betty’s name to the school highlights her significant love for Conway and the students we serve.” The school district celebrated the name change with the school’s faculty and students, as well as the Courtway family. Betty Courtway taught kindergarten in Conway Public Schools for 28 years, where she touched the lives of many.
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#GoWampusCats
Another Great Year for Conway Athletics
Conference Champs
G. Volleyball
Conference Champs
G. Cross Country
Conference Champs
G. Track
Conference Champs
B. Soccer
State Runner Up
G. Golf
State Runner Up
G. Basketball
State Runner Up
Baseball
Conference Runner Up
B. Track
Conference Runner Up
G. Soccer
District Runner Up
B. Swimming
State | 3rd
B. Golf
Jeff Gifford- Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association
State | 4th
B. Track
Assistant Coach of the Year
Casey Ott- Arkansas Democrat Golfer of the Year Ashley Nance- 7A Central Coach of the Year Janet Taylor- Elijah Pitts Career Achievement Award Laura Crow- Central Conference Coach of the Year
1 nd 2 rd 3 st
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Teacher of the Year Megan Fotioo
Master’s 65% Degree
Megan Fotioo says she remembers loving school from the time she was a little girl. In 4th grade, she asked her teacher if she could stay in at recess to help in her classroom. The rest, as they say, is history. “From that day on, my love of school was confirmed,” says Fotioo. “I realized that by being a teacher, I could help students every single day in various situations.” Fotioo just finished her 6th year of teaching here in the Conway School District. She teaches Kindergarten at Carolyn Lewis Elementary School this year. “Each student, whom we entrust to Megan’s care, is met with a smile, love, and dedication,” says Theodore Jones Principal Dr. Tammy Woosley. “While she builds a sense of community in her classroom, she treats each child as an important individual.” The 2015-16 school year was extra special for Fotioo. Not only was she Conway Schools’ District Teacher of the Year, but she and her husband Alex also welcomed their daughter, Molly Claire, into the world last February. “Having Molly Claire has made me realize even more what a huge responsibility teachers have to provide love and support to our students whose parents entrust them to us each day,” says Fotioo.
Wins District Honor
67
National Board Certified Teachers
Average CPS $55,329 Teacher Salary
6th
Highest in the State
“Years from now, students may not remember the material being taught, but they will always remember a teacher who took the time to get to know them and be their biggest cheerleader. Like the old saying goes, “They don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” –Megan Fotioo, CPSD Teacher of the Year 12
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By the Numbers
Class of 2016 Graduates
Scholarship amount awarded to CHS Students National Merit Scholars
602
$10,718,211
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Graduation Rate
87.7%
Dropout Rate
2.29%
Attendance Rate
96.2%
1,772,407 $13,307
square feet of buildings cleaned daily by maintenance
Total CPSD Population 18,072
No. of Computers
149,529
No. of Books
772 418 1190
99
Total Certified Staff Total Classified Staff Total Staff
Students & Staff
No. of School Buses
3710
No. of Students Transported each day
3605
No. of Miles Driven Daily
85
46,320
Total Meals Served in our Cafeterias Breakfast = 500,145 Lunch = 1,061,490
1,561,635
Total Cartons of Milk 72% = Chocolate Milks
1,267,483
Apples Served
8,489 Pounds
Romaine Lettuce Served
3,292 Pounds
Baby Carrots Served
3,600 Pounds
Yogurt Parfaits Served
Free & Reduced Lunches 49.9%
No. of Routes
in grants received by CPSD teachers
Hours of Professional Development by our Staff
14
11,109
Number of Facebook Likes
11,231
Mobile App Downloads
9,367
February 8,313 since
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Faces of Progress
Money Matters
Debt Service Non-Instructional Expenditures 0.2%
Instruction
9.8%
7.4%
Certified Salary
Transp-Non-Salary 1.2%
Your Dollar in CPSD
Maint-Non-Salary 2.6%
Utilities 2.6%
Benefits/Matching
47.6%
15.6%
Historic Ida Burns Elementary School Gets Remodeled
11.8%
Built in 1956, the original Ida Burns Elementary School building was full of history. The tiny hallways saw thousands of students, including many business and professional leaders in Conway, achieve all the major grade school milestones throughout the years. This year, the old Ida Burns building was torn down to make room for a brand new two-story school building. Faculty and students watched as construction crews made progress on the remodel and reconstruction all year long and finally, last summer, the old building came down. In its place, the new structure has changed the look of Donaghey Avenue, creating much more room for parking and improving the traffic flow tremendously. The new building houses state-of-the art classrooms with expansive cabinets and storage space for teachers, a new cafeteria with a stage, a new front office area and nurse’s station, and a safe room. On the first day of the 2016-17 school year, administrators greeted their students in style, with a red carpet welcome to the new building. Students could hardly believe their eyes! The new building gives teachers and students much more room in which to teach and learn.
Non-Contracted Wages 1.4%
New Multi-Purpose Indoor Facility Will Be Used By All Sports Just next to the new Ida Burns Elementary School, a multipurpose indoor practice facility has been built for all of Conway’s athletic teams to use. The 70-thousand square foot facility is equipped with an indoor practice field, a weight room, locker room, training room, meeting room, and coaches’ offices. It provides lockers for all players, as well as practice space upstairs and downstairs. The multi-purpose facility will be used by all sports, helps alleviate space and weather concerns, and also allows for simultaneous practices. It also gives our athletes enough space to practice running and throwing plays.
Classified Salary
District Expenditure Per Student
$9,116 Millage Rate
38.1 Mills 16
2014-2015 District Expenditures 1
Total Expenditures
$97,849,676
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Total Instruction Expenditures
$51,569,977
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Administrative Expenditures
$6,004,983
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Extracurricular Expenditures
$3,965,659
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Capital Expenditures
$1,845,990
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Debt Service Expenditures
$5,726,466
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Passing the Test
90 80
This year, Conway students in grades 3-10 took the ACT Aspire for the first time. This new statewide assessment covered 5 areas: Reading, Writing, English, Math, and Science. Our students performed above the state averages on the computer-based test. We are proud of our teachers and students! These first-year scores also give us valuable data to build on for future years with this assessment.
7th Grade
70 60 50
Conway 7th Grade
40
State 7th Grade
30 20 10 0
English
Math
Science Reading Writing
90 80
3rd Grade
70
90
60 50
Conway 3rd Grade
40
State 3rd Grade
30 20 10 0
English
Math
Science Reading Writing
90
80
8th Grade
70 60 50
Conway 8th Grade
40
State 8th Grade
30 20 10 0
English
Math
Science Reading Writing
80
4th Grade
70 60 50
Conway 4th Grade
40
State 4th Grade
30
70
20
60
10 0
English
Math
9th Grade
Science Reading Writing
80 70
5th Grade
60 50 40
Conway 5th Grade
30
State 5th Grade
50 40
Conway 9th Grade
30
State 9th Grade
20 10 0
English
Math
Science Reading Writing
20 10 0 English
Math
Science Reading Writing
80 70
80 70
6th Grade 18
60 50 40
Conway 6th Grade
30
State 6th Grade
20 10
10th Grade
60 50 Conway 10th Grade
40
State 10th Grade
30 20 10 0
English
Math
Science Reading Writing
0 English
Math
Science Reading Writing
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Counting What Counts
District Summary In the Spring of 2016, we administered a survey to all stakeholders in the Conway Public School District. The survey asked a variety of questions dealing with school culture. Each school, as well as our district as a whole, has taken the responses and formulated a plan to improve different aspects of their school culture based on survey responses.
2016 School Culture Survey
SCHOOL CLIMATE Perceptions of the overall social and learning climate of the school.
Spring 2016 Student Survey - Panorama Student Survey (School-Level) 3-5 Spring 2016 Student Survey - Panorama Student Survey (School-Level) 6-12
67% Conway School Distsrict
43% Conway School Distsrict
65%
Spring 2016 Family Survey
What did the survey measure? STUDENT SURVEY
PERCENT FAVORABLE
Conway School Distsrict
TEACHER & STAFF SURVEYS
FAMILY MEMBER SURVEY
65%
Spring 2016 Staff Survey School Belonging
4
Family Engagement
6
Professional Learning
8
5
Feedback and coaching
Family Climate
4
Family Support
7
School Climate
9
9
School Leadership
School Engagement
5
School Climate
7
School Leadership
9
7
Staff-Family Relationships
School Rigorous Expectation
5
School Fit
7
Staff-Family Relationships
7
9
Staff-Leadership Relationships
School Safety
5
Staff-Leadership Relationships
9
9
Teaching Efficacy
Conway School Distsrict
Along with the School Culture Survey, our district leadership team and Board of Education have now developed six core values that represent who we are as Conway Public Schools.
Our Core Values
• Students first How many responses were received?
• A staff committed to excellence • Value and respect diversity • Provide innovative educational opportunities
5,373 Student Responses
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779 Teacher & Staff Responses
2,224 Family Member Responses
• Cultivate community relationships • Maintain a safe and caring environment 21
A Night to Remember Jeremy Fox says he never expected the overwhelming response they received from the first-annual DaddyDaughter Dance they planned last spring at Marguerite Vann Elementary School. Fox, the father of two daughters at Vann, started volunteering with the WatchDOGS at the beginning of the year to make a difference in his children’s lives and the lives of others as well. They partnered with the school’s administration and PTO to host the dance at the end of the year. The girls were escorted down a red carpet and treated to a special night of dinner and dancing with their dads. “I had no idea how much pure joy I would see on the faces of these men as they escorted their precious daughters around inside,” said Fox. “I know every man there was absolutely sure of who the most beautiful girl in the room was and they couldn’t take their eyes off of her.” Marguerite Vann’s Principal Bobby Walker says almost 400 people attended the Daddy-Daughter dance, making it the school’s most well attended event in recent history.
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One year after starting a Unified Special Olympics team, the Conway High School team won the AAA state title. The Conway Unified team beat the Bryant Unified team, 39-24.
Conway Unified Team Wins State Championship
The team is made up of five special education students and five general education students, with two student coaches. “I have been teaching 33 years, and this ranks in my top five moments of my teaching career,” Special Education Teacher Cheryl Daniels said. “The general education kids were just as excited as the special education kids. A lot of them have never been in a spot like this before. It was really cool to see, especially because the general education kids made sure that every special education kid scored.”
Daniels Wins Good Neighbor Award Conway High School teacher Cheryl Daniels has been awarded the “Good Neighbor Award” by the Conway Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service to her community. Daniels, a Special Education teacher for Conway Schools for 22 years, established the “Caring Cats” club at Conway High School in 2005. The club started off with about a dozen members, and a desire to serve those less fortunate in their community.
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Today, the “Caring Cats” boast almost 300 student members. Each year they take on projects like “Angel Paws,” where they ensure that no student in the Conway School District goes without presents at Christmas, and volunteer with Special Olympics. They frequently hold food and clothing drives to help the needy and perform other acts of kindness that bless the Conway community.
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NO BAD DAYS ALLOWED Gary Logan He’s been recognized for his singing and dancing...and even his BBQ...but now Woodrow Cummins’ Assistant Principal Gary Logan has received yet another honor. He’s been named the “Assistant Principal of the Year” for all Elementary Schools in the state of Arkansas. “I nominated Gary for AP of the Year because he’s the Singing and Dancing Assistant Principal!” says Lewis. “His morning routine makes our students and their parents smile and laugh. Our students love him because he is really just a kid at heart.” Logan received nationwide, even worldwide, media attention last fall for his “morning routine” of greeting students with a song as they arrive at school in the mornings; His motto of “I don’t do bad days” resonates with parents everywhere as something that makes such a big difference in the lives of their families. When asked about all the attention, Logan humbly said he doesn’t even know what to say about all this. “I really just can’t believe this,” Logan said. “Thank you all so much. Anyone could have won this.” He later told members of the Conway School Board, “I love my job! Thanks for letting me be me.”
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