Forrest City unveils STEAM-focused summer school, approves staff pay rates and course-recovery plan
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Summary
Board approved a summer school program running June 9–July 7 focused on STEAM for K–8 and separate high school course recovery; the board also approved summer-staff pay rates: $40 for certified, $35 for staff with 60+ college hours, $30 for under-60, and $15 for high-school students.
The FORREST CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Board approved the district’s summer school program and a pay schedule for summer staff.
Superintendent Dr. Hargrecht described the new summer program, which will focus on STEAM and run from June 9 through July 7. Programming for grades K–8 will operate at Central Elementary and Forest City Junior High School; the high school will run a separate course-recovery program. Enrollment is open, the superintendent said, and families were urged to register.
Dr. Hargrecht said the district is emphasizing science because it comprises a growing share of state assessments. He also said about 146 seniors were on the district roster; four students currently need summer coursework to meet graduation requirements. Graduation itself is scheduled for Friday at Sam Smith Stadium, but the district said it would monitor weather and, if necessary, move the ceremony to Saturday to remain outdoors for space and acoustics reasons.
The board approved summer-staff pay rates on a motion and roll-call vote. Approved rates are $40 per hour for certified teachers, $35 per hour for staff with 60 or more college hours (considered “highly qualified”), $30 per hour for staff with fewer than 60 college hours, and $15 per hour for high school student workers. Board members recorded as voting yes included Sadie Blackwell, Larry DeVazier, Roy Hamilton, Tarzan Lee, Annie Norman, Sandra Taylor and Yvette Whitby.
Supervisors said summer school staffing typically involves 30-hour weeks and that the district had already filled teacher positions. The board also discussed that course recovery work aims to allow students who complete summer coursework to graduate and, where applicable, participate in commencement activities.