HOPE – The Hope Public Schools is intent upon “Reaching New Heights” in the 2019-2020 academic year, and the annual Report to the Public outlines the focus for achieving that goal.
HPS Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart presented the district’s Report to the Public here Monday night, noting the academic standards for the district are determined by the State of Arkansas, and the HPS adheres to those standards.
“Hope Public Schools implements the state standards by developing a scope, sequence and timeframe for teaching each standard and student expectation provided in the scope and sequence,” the district’s document states.
The HPS curriculum is updated annually and is continually reviewed by a peer team to ensure the complete integration of state standards and consistency for some 2,409 students who have enrolled in the Hope Public Schools, according to the document.
Highlights throughout the document include:
ACADEMICS
Hope High School -- Student support of needs in math and reading at Hope High School expanded through math, critical reading classes; quicker credit recovery for English Language Arts and math; expanded social skills professional development; providing teachers and parents with tools to communicate with and encourage students.
Yerger Middle School – zSpace and EAST labs developed; Noble Impact program begun; instructional facilitation developed; and, improved student attendance.
Hope Academy of Public Service – Science of Reading implemented; virtual academy installed.
Beryl Henry Elementary School – Continued progress in student achievement; provide after school Academic Boost Program; use of Benchmark Literacy, RISE program, Eureka Math, Word Generation Reciprocal Reading, Accelerated Reader/Math and Achieve3000 to help all students improve in reading fluency and numeracy.
Clinton Primary School – Growth in academic rating to “C”.
Creative Action Team School – ACT Aspire report of Value Added Growth of 80 percent compares to state average of 79.6 percent.
FACILITIES
Ongoing replacements and upgrades to roofs and parking facilities across the district were a key component in facilities maintenance, while two particular projects aided specific initiatives, including developing a ninth-grade academy cohort at Hope High School and the opening and operation of the Bobcat Clinic on the HHS campus.
FINANCE
The HPS continues to operate on a sound fiscal footing, while maintaining operating and debt services funding. Beginning balances of $2.5 million across all funds combined with $17.3 million in projected revenues to serve as the basis for $17.8 million in projected expenditures, and a projected ending balance of $1.9 million. Debt services payments of $1.2 million are included.
CULTURE, CLIMATE
New food services concepts, including Breakfast in the Classroom, snack bar options, and menu improvements have been developed on HPS campuses through the district’s partnership with Aramark.
Hope High School teacher/coach Kelly Muldrew was named Secondary Teacher of the Year and Hope Academy of Public Service social studies teacher Tony Hooker was named Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Hope Rotary Club.
New student organizations and renewal of others on the Yerger Middle School campus gave students more choices in service and extracurricular activities.
Motivational messaging at Beryl Henry Elementary encourages students and bus drivers during arrival and departure daily, along with snack packs while are provided to all staff and bus drivers each month.
The Creative Action School campus is increasing its community involvement as a school unit as part of its year three roll out plan.
The opening and operation of the Bobcat Clinic on the HHS campus has begun to show results as student/staff registrations continue to climb, and daily health services improve student attitudes.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Parental involvement plans have been developed for all campuses and on a districtwide level to increase parental and stakeholder participation in HPS activities and student development.
COMMUNICATIONS
Expanded news coverage of HPS events and initiatives has resulted in positive reinforcement of the HPS brand, along with the communication of “user friendly” information to parents through web-based platforms and continued development of web-based outreach.
Initiatives through local business and industry have begun to foster greater awareness of the opportunities for students and the business community through the HPS.
Expanded awareness of the cultures which define the HPS and its student, faculty, staff, administration and stakeholder relationships.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
The HPS employs 27 full time bus drivers, two bus mechanics and a supervisor of transportation with responsibilities in the transportation of some 1,200 students daily. Consequently, the use of technology in the routing and maintenance of buses and transportation services has expanded with the implementation of TransFinder and Synovia, both of which work with the parental technology application “Here Comes the Bus” to ensure safe and convenient daily transport of students.
TransFinder is used to route bus movement daily and manage bus routes, while Synovia provides daily inspection tracking and daily route run information. Here Comes the bus allows parents to “track” their child’s school bus and receive notifications of bus arrival near bus stops and at scheduled destinations.
Video surveillance systems have also been installed on district buses to further ensure student safety and bus driver safety.