BOARDOFEDUCATIONREPORT DougBrubaker,Ph.D.SuperintendentofSchools

WeekofMay15,2020UPCOMINGDATESEvent Date Location TimeBoardofEducationMeeting 05.18 VirtualMeeting 5:30PMBallmanPLCCelebration 05.20 Virtual 9:00AMCalledBoardMeeting 06.01 VirtualMeeting 5:30PMNorthsideHighSchoolGraduation 07.06 NorthsideHighSchool 8:00PMSouthsideHighSchoolGraduation 07.07 SouthsideHighSchool 8:00PM

GREATSENIORSIGNDISTRIBUTIONWASASUCCESSOnTuesday,May12,despitetherainyweather,membersofFSPSBoardofEducation,administrationandteachersandprincipalsfromNorthsideandSouthsidecametogethertodeliversignstoallNorthsideandSouthsidegraduatingseniors.TheseniorswhowerenotathomeonTuesdaywereabletopickuptheirsignatcapandgownpick-up.Theseniorsandtheirfamilieswereveryexcitedtoreceivetheirsigns!WHATWILLSCHOOLLOOKLIKEINAUGUSTANDBEYOND?Wearepreparingforseveralscenarios.ThelatestfromDESEisthatdistrictsshouldprepareforuseofablendedlearningmodelatthestartoftheschoolyear,whichmeansa"blend"offace-to-faceandremoteinstruction.

FortSmithPublicSchoolsWeeklyBoardReport Page2of9WeekofMay15,2020 PLANSFORAVIRTUALSCHOOLWITHINPEAKAfterreflectingonwhatwe'rehearingaboutourinitialAMI/emergencyremoteinstructionexperiencethisspring,I'veaskedDr.UdoujtoaddaprovisiontoourdraftPEAKInnovationCenterSchoolofInnovationPlantoaddavirtualschoolprogramforgradesK-9in2020-2021andK-8inthefollowingyears.(Southside'sSchoolofInnovationplanalreadyencompasseshighschoolgrades,whichwillincludeninthgradein2021-2022.)Itispossiblethatschoolwillbe"in-person"inthefall.Ifthisistrue,I'mhearingestimatesfromdifferentsourcesthat10-20%offamilieswithschool-agechildrenwillbeseekingapurelyorpartlyonlineoptionforthefallsemester.Toremaincompetitiveinthatenvironment,FSPSneedstobuildadedicatedonlineprogramwhilealsobuildingcapacityforonlineinstructionatallofourcampuses.Weneedtopreparetomeettheneedsofourstudentsmoreeffectively.Weareworkingonthatplanasquicklyaspossible.Peerdistrictswithexistingprogramshavesharedthatatleastonededicatedleadershippositiontorunavirtualschoolisessential.IplantohavethispositionpostedwithintwoweeksandarecommendationbytheJune1calledboardmeetinginordertoprovideasmuchleadtimeaspossibletoprepareforthefall.Ibelievethatwecanroundoutthevirtualschoolteamintheinitialyearbyreallocatingsomeresponsibilitieswithinourexistingstaff.Iwillkeepyouposted.Asalways,pleasereachouttomewithanyquestions.HRANDPURCHASINGPROCESSESUPDATEEarlierthisweek,Iapprovedoneofthefirst-everelectronicrequisitionsinFortSmithPublicSchools.Thisisamilestoneforourdistrict.Inthepast,thepurchasingworkflowhasinvolvedaponderous,labor-intensive,andtime-consumingroutingofpaperformsthroughinter-campusmailformultiplesignatures.Sometimes,theroutingoftheseformshasunfoldedoverthecourseofseveralweeks.Duringthepastyear,thebusinessofficehasbeenimplementingtherecommendationsofanexternalstudyofourpurchasingprocessesthattookplacelastspring.Theelectronicworkflowsystemisdramaticallyreducingtheprocessingtimeforeachtransactionwhileprovidingthesameinternalcontrolsandaccountability.Recently,wehavehadsomegooddialogueabouttheneedtomakeourHRprocessesmoreefficient.StreamliningHRoperationsisthenextphaseofthisproject.OursuccessfulexperiencestreamliningpurchasingworkflowshasyieldedinsightsthatwillfacilitatethisworkinHRinthecomingyear.CLASSIFIEDPOLICYUPDATETheClassifiedPolicyCommitteemetonMay7,2020todiscusscontentandformattingchangestotheDistrict’sClassifiedPolicies.OnMay13,2020,theClassifiedPolicyCommitteemettoprepareadraftcopyofpoliciesandalsotodiscussaprocesstogatherfeedbackfromallclassifiedemployeesonpotentialemployees.ThemajorsubstantivechangestothepoliciesincludeachangetothenewDistrictpolicyformatandalsothecombiningofmultiplepolicysetsbasedonemployeetypesintoonepolicyset.Followingthefeedbackprocess,thecommitteewillprepareafinaldraftofthenewClassifiedPoliciestobepresentedtotheboardforapprovalatafuturemeeting.

FortSmithPublicSchoolsWeeklyBoardReport Page3of9WeekofMay15,2020 WHYDOIKEEPGETTINGFAKEEMAILMESSAGES?-PHISHING/SPOOFINGUPDATEWikipediadescribesPhishingas"thefraudulentattempttoobtainsensitiveinformationsuchasusernames,passwordsandcreditcarddetailsbydisguisingoneselfasatrustworthyentityinanelectroniccommunication.[1][2]Typicallycarriedoutbyemailspoofing[3]orinstantmessaging,[4]itoftendirectsuserstoenterpersonalinformationatafakewebsitewhichmatchesthelookandfeelofthelegitimatesite.[5]"Togettheinformationneededto"spoof,"criminalelementshereintheUSorforeigncountriesuseautomatedprogramscalled"bots"tocollectnamesoforganizationalleadersfromwebsites.Thebadguysthencreatefakeemailaddressesusingthenamesofthoseleaders.TheythenreachouttoemployeeswithintheorganizationaskingforwiretransfersorsensitiveinformationlikeSocialSecurity,creditcard,orbankaccountnumbers.Inourarea,severalschooldistrictemployeeshavefallenvictimtoscamswhereaspooferhassentanemailusingafakeaddressandactualprincipals'namestorequestthattheybuyiTunesgiftcardsandforwardthemtothespoofer'sfakeaddress.I'malsoawareofacaseinwhichabusinessinourareanearlylostalargeamountofmoneybecausetheCEO'snamewasusedina"spoofed"messagetothecompany'sCFOaskinghim/hertoinitiateawiretransfer.Thisisanarticleaboutaspoofingattackonaschooldistrictthatresultedinthelossofmillionsofdollars:Severalboardmembershaveexperiencedphishingattempts,andtherearelikelytobemoreinthefuture.Thisispartlybecauseourboardmembers'namesarenowpostedonthewebsiteinadditiontomanyofourdistrict'sotherleadershippositions.Welackthecapacitytoadequatelyinvestigateattemptedinstancesofphishing.Oureffortshavefocusedonpreventionthroughtraining.Wecontinuetotrainemployeesabouthowtorecognizethesefakemessages.Basically,whenyouclickontheaddressofaluremessage,youwillseeanunfamiliaremailaddressdisplayed.Pleasecontinuetoreportthesemessages,andourtechteamwillblockthoseaddresses.Ofcourse,otherfakeemailaddressescanbecreatedquickly.Wearethereforelikelytobespoofedagain.Whenindoubt,pleasedonotreplytoamessage.Forwardittousinstead.Also,pleaseletmeknowindividuallyifyou'dlikeyourindividualemailaddressremovedfromthedistrictwebpage.Wecanshareyouremailaddresswhencontactedinsteadofleavingitonthesite,whichmayreducethenumberoffakeemailmessagesthatyoureceive.LEARNINGMANAGEMENTSYSTEMThedistrictconductedapilotoftheSchoologyLearningManagementSystem(LMS)duringthe2019-20schoolyear.ThepilotwasconductedatNorthside,SouthsideandFairviewElementary.Asaresultofthefeedbackfromthepilot,theutilizationoftheSchoologyLMSwillbeexpandedtoincludeChaffin,Darby,KimmonsandRamseyduringthe2020-21schoolyear.Thedistrict’selementaryschoolswillbeginutilizingthisLMSduringthe2021-22schoolyear. SchoologyisaPowerSchoolproductanditwillprovideacommondigitallearningplatformtoallFortSmithstudentsby2021-21.Schoologywillgiveeverystudentaplatforminwhichteacherscanutilizetodeliverinstructioninremoteandnonremoteenvironments.TheSchoologyimplementationalignswithVision2023strategiesconcerningequity,instructionandtechnology.

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NHSANDSHSSENIORSPICKUPTHEIRCAPSANDGOWNSNorthsideandSouthsideHighSchoolseniorswereabletopickuptheircapsandgownsduringadrive-thrupick-upatRamseyJuniorHighonWednesday,May13andThursday,May14respectively.Theywerealsoabletopickuptheirseniorsignsiftheydidn’tgetoneonTuesday.

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NEWDIRECTOROFCHILDNUTRITIONNAMEDLeighChristianhasbeenselectedasthenewDirectorofStudentNutrition.ShehasservedastheactingprogramdirectorsinceApril28followingthepassingofMr.PhillipGarcia.LeighwashiredasStudentNutritionSupervisorin2017aspartofthesuccessionplanforthedepartment.LeighcametoFSPSfromChick-fil-A,wheresheservedasGeneralManageroftheFortSmithlocationandhadworkedfor15years.LeighhasanMBAfromWebsterUniversityandaBBAfromUAFS.TheFSPSChildNutritionDepartmenthasfacedcomplexchallengesinthepastfewmonths,andLeighhasdoneagreatjobleadingthisimportantteamthroughit.Shewillcontinuetobeagreatassettoourdistrictandthechildrenweserveinthisrole.

MEALCOUNTDURINGCOVID-19WecontinuetobeimpressedbytheoutstandingworkofFSPSChildNutrition.IntheweekssincetheCOVID-19schoolclosures,FSPSSupervisorofChildNutritionLeighChristianandherteamservedmorethan158,000mealsasofMay1.Thesemealsweredistributedtoanaverageof3,440childreneachday.ChildNutritionwillcontinuetoserveat19elementaryschoolsthroughMay28.BeginningonJune1,theywilltransitiontoservinggrab-and-gomealsat11elementaryschoolsthatarethetraditionalsummermealservingsites.

Inthechartaboveyoucannoteagradualbutsteadyincreaseinthenumberofchildrenparticipating.Youmayalsonoticethespikeinnumberseveryfewdaysofservice.ThespikesrepresenteachMonday’sgrab-and-goservicewherechildrenreceivebreakfastforMonday,lunchforMondayandbreakfastforTuesdaymorningpriortothedaily11a.m.to1p.m.pick-upschedule.ChildrenreceivelunchonlyonFridays.

FortSmithPublicSchoolsWeeklyBoardReport Page6of9WeekofMay15,2020 CLOSINGOUTTHE2019-2020SCHOOLYEARCharlesWarrenhasreportedthatthereis$60,000inpositivebalancesand$100,000innegativebalances.Initialworktozerothesebalanceswillincluderefundchecksforpositivebalancesandnotifyingpotentialdonorswhohaveaskedaboutmakingcontributionstocovernegativebalancesinthepast.SUMMERMEALPROGRAMFortSmithPublicSchools’2020SummerMealsProgramwillbeginMonday,June1,2020throughFriday,July31,2020,atthetraditionalelevenelementaryschoolslistedontheFSPSwebsiteonweekdays(MondaythroughFriday)from11:00AMto1:00PM(exceptJuly3).SummermealswillalsobeprovidedatSuttonElementarySchoolonweekdaysduringthesametimeframe;however,mealswillendatSuttonElementaryattheendofJune.TheUSDAfundedSummerMealsProgramprovidesareachildrenwithanopportunityforregularandhealthymealsduringthesummermonths.Mealswillbegrab-and-gostyle.TECHNOLOGYUPDATEVOIPPhoneSystemTransitionSeveralobstacleswithourcurrentphonesystemhavebeenhighlightedduetotheclosureofschoolandnew"workfromhome"initiatives.Wearegoingtobegintheprocessoftransitioningtoanewphonesystemtoaddressthefollowingneeds/benefits:-GreaterFlexibilityforInstantCallForwarding-QuickerChangestoAuto-AttendantMessages-AbilitytoAcceptOfficeCallsonMultipleDeviceswhileOffCampusCONTACTING/LOCATINGDISENGAGEDSTUDENTSDURINGTHEPANDEMIC Whileteachersandprincipalshavemaintainedongoingcontactwithmostoftheirstudentsduringthepandemic,notallstudentshaveremainedengagedwithschoolpersonnel.Lastweek,StudentServicesstaffmetwithDr.GinniMcDonaldtoidentifysecondarystudentswhoseschoolpersonnelhavebeenunabletocontact. SpecialattentionisbeinggiventoseniorstomakesuretheygraduateontimeandstudentsindangerofmakinganFonacreditclass.Teachersandprincipalshadattemptedtocontactthesestudentswithalltheavailablecontactnumbersbyphoneandatleastonehomevisit.

Socialworkersstartedworkingthelistlastweekandhavealreadymadeprogressoncontactingthesestudentsthroughmorephonecalls,homevisitswhenpossible,andmoreunconventionalmethodsusingcontactsthesocialworkershaveinthecommunitytolocatethefamiliesofthestudentsoutofcontact.Socialworkersarealsostayingincontactwithelementaryprincipalstoassistwithelementarystudentswhohavebeenoutofcontactwiththeirteacher/school.

Weplantomeetagainthisweektoupdatethelist,noteprogress,andlooktoidentifyanothergroupofstudentstoconcentrateonwhentheinitialtargetgrouphasbeencontactedorallmethodsformakingcontacthavebeenexhausted.

KINDERGARTEN,PRESCHOOLANDNEWSTUDENTREGISTRATIONBEGINSMAY18FortSmithPublicSchoolsPreschool,KindergartenandNewStudentRegistrationforthe2020-2021schoolyearwillbeginMonday,May18,2020.Parents/guardianscanvisittheFortSmithSchoolsWebsite:>Families>EnrollYourStudentfordetailedinformation,includinganFAQsdocument,foreachcategory.Parents/guardianscanalsoaccessthesame‘EnrollYourStudent’pageusingthisshortlink:bit.ly/enrollmystudent.

FortSmithPublicSchoolsWeeklyBoardReport Page7of9WeekofMay15,2020 Preschool,kindergartenandnewstudentregistrationpracticeswillcomplywithcurrentphysicaldistancingguidelinesdirectedbytheArkansasDepartmentofHealth(ADH)andtheArkansasDivisionofElementaryandSecondaryEducation(DESE). PreschoolRegistrationOverviewParentsmaypickupahard-copypreschoolregistrationpacketbeginningFriday,May8,from11AMto1PMMonday-Friday,atanyoftheelementaryschoolswheregrab-and-gomealsarebeingserved.TheenrollmentpacketMUSTbecompletedandtheparent/guardianMUSTcalltheParkerCenterat479-784-8182ext:3518toscheduleanappointment.AppointmentswillbeheldattheParkerCenter(811NorthT)beginningMay18inordertocompleteregistration(byappointmentonly).

OnlineregistrationwillbeavailablebeginningMay18.Pleasekeepinmindthatonlineregistrationispartialregistration.AnenrollmentpacketMUSTbecompletedandbroughttotheParkerCenter(811NorthT)inordertocompleteregistration(byappointmentonly).

MorePreschoolRegistrationInformationcanbefoundatbit.ly/enrollmystudent.

KindergartenRegistrationOverviewParentsareencouragedtousetheconvenientonlineregistrationprocessforKindergartenandNewStudentsbeginningMay18tolimitthenumberofpeoplewhohavetomakeatriptoaschoolbuildingforareasonotherthantodropoffregistrationdocuments.

TheKindergartenandNewStudentRegistrationonlineregistrationportalwillopenbeginningMay18andwillbeclosedfromMay29untillateJulywhenschoolsecretariesbecomeavailabletohelpanyparentorguardianwhoneedsassistance.

Familieswhodonothaveinternetservicesordevicesathomewillhavetheopportunitytouseanalternativeregistrationprocessthatisbothsafeandfair.ThesefamiliesareinvitedtopickupapaperregistrationpacketattheschoolbeginningonMay18.

Uponarrivalintheschoolparkinglot,parentsandguardianswillbeaskedtocalltheschoolofficetolettheschoolsecretaryknowoftheirarrival.Aschoolrepresentativewillbringapaperpackettoatablenearthefrontentrance.Usingappropriatephysicaldistancingpractices,theschoolrepresentativewillleavethepaperpacketfortheparenttopickup.Parentswillneedtocompletethepaperdocumentsandreturnthemtotheschoolassoonaspossible.

Usingthesamepracticenotedabove,parentsandguardianscanreturnregistrationdocumentstotheschoolparkinglotandaschoolrepresentativewillcomeoutofthebuildingtoreviewthepacket.Completedpaperpacketswillbetimeanddatestampedtomaintaintheregistrationorder.CompletedpacketsreceivedbyJuly30willretainregistrationrankorderthatisimportantifclass-sizingbecomesnecessary.

Paperpacketswillbeavailableatschoolsfrom8a.m.to3p.m.,fromMay18throughMay28.

• DuetoCOVID-19restrictions,parentsareencouragedtocomealonetopickupregistrationpacketsandtoreturncompletedregistrationpackets.

• Whenpickinguporreturningpacketstoschools,pleasepracticesocialdistancingbyremainingsixfeetapartanddonotgatheringroupsofmorethan10people.

FortSmithPublicSchoolsWeeklyBoardReport Page8of9WeekofMay15,2020 MoreKindergartenandNewStudentRegistrationInformationcanbefoundatbit.ly/enrollmystudent.

KindergartenismandatoryforallchildreninthestateofArkansaswhowillbefiveyearsofageonorbeforeAugust1,2020,unlessparentsorguardiansfileakindergartenwaiverwiththepublicschools.Childrennotattendingkindergartenwillbetestedtodetermineiftheywillbeplacedinkindergartenorfirstgradeuponenteringschool.AllpreschoolstudentswhoattendedoneoftheFortSmithPublicSchoolDistrictpreschoolprogramsmustcompletetheKindergartenRegistrationprocess.PowerSchoolisastate-providedonlineregistrationservicebeingusedbytheFortSmithSchoolDistrict.

VISION2023CAPITALIMPROVEMENTPROJECTSUPDATEExcitingworkcontinuesatbothofourhighschoolsandRamseyJuniorHigh.Stayup-to-datebyfollowing@fspsconstructiononInstagramandonourwebsite.ENROLLMENTUPDATE

CERTIFIEDPERSONNELFINGERPRINTING Allcertifiedstaffmembersarerequiredtorenewtheirlicenseseveryfiveyears.ThelicensurerenewalprocessincludesbackgroundchecksbytheArkansasStatePolice,FBI,andDHSChildMaltreatmentCentralRegistry.Inordertoprocessthebackgroundchecks,eachstaffmemberisrequiredtobefingerprinted.TheHumanResourcesDepartmentinconjunctionwiththeFSPSPoliceDepartmentwillbeconductingthefingerprintingstartingMonday,May18ththroughWednesday,May20thfrom8:30amuntil12:30pm.CertifiedPersonnelwillreceiveanemailwithinstructionsforschedulinganappointment.Thefollowingprotocolwillbeinplacetoensurestaffsafety:

• OfficersandHRstaffconductingthefingerprintingwillhavetemperaturecheckedandwillwearamaskandglovesatalltimes.

• Fingerprintingstationswillbespaced12feetapartandthelineswillhavemarkersspacedsixfeetapart.• Beforeenteringtheauditoriumtobefingerprinted,staffmemberswillhavetheirtemperaturechecked

andwillberequiredtowearamask.Ifastaffmemberdoesnothaveamask,onewillbeprovided.• Staffmemberswillonlybeallowedinthebuildingduringtheirscheduledtimeandtherewillbenomore

than10peopleallowedintheauditoriumatatime.

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• StaffmemberswhohavefeverorotherCOVID-19relatedsymptoms,willnotattendthefingerprintsession.

• StaffmemberswhohavebeenincontactwithanyonewhohasanyCOVID-19relatedsymptoms,willnotattendthefingerprintsession.

• Signagewillbepostedthroughoutthebuildingremindingeveryoneofthesocialdistancingguidelines.STAFFINGUPDATE

JobTitle #ofOpenings Location JobPostingEndsNSLDyslexiaSpecialist 1 Chaffin 5/18/20PsychExaminer 1 SpecialEd whenfilledDrillTeamCoach 1 Chaffin whenfilledCheerCoach 1 Darby whenfilled7thGradeGirlsBasketballCoach 1 Kimmons whenfilledAsstTrackCoach 1 Chaffin whenfilledAsstSoccerCoach(Girls&Boys) 1 Southside whenfilledPSAT/SATHonorsClassInstructors 7 DistrictWide whenfilledSummerReadingCampTeachers 10+ Virtual whenfilledSummerACTPrep 8 DistrictWide whenfilledSummerSpecialEducationTeacher 1 Virtual whenfilledInterpreterfortheDeaf 1 SpecialEd whenfilledTotalOpenPositions 34 TOPWEEKLYPOST

Thisweek’stoppostwasabouttheseniorsignsthatwerebeingdeliveredonTuesday.thepostreachedover7,000peopleandwassharedover25times.