D/MJ board talks changes

DEER — The Deer/Mt. Judea School Board held it's regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 15, at the Deer campus.
The first order of business was to approve minutes from the July meeting. The minutes were approved unanimously.
Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, student achievements and improvements will be discussed at every school board meeting. Improvement of student performance is expected, and classes having less than ten students will not be counted.
The ASPIRE testing method to track student progress will not be used any more. The ATLAS test will replace the ASPIRE method.
The board plans to have the "Student of the Month" attend a board meeting.
Six students will transfer to Jasper from Deer, and seven students are scheduled to transfer in to the district. The number of students at both Deer and Mt. Judea campuses are expected to increase.
It is customary for the district superintendent to attend meetings and represent the district at O.U.R. Co-op meetings and the board agreed that practice shall continue.

The student handbook will contain a "no hats indoors" policy, along with a policy stating cell phones must remain turned off during class time.
The district announced a partnership with Arkansas Tech University that will allow high school students to take college courses.
A rental house at the Deer location needs a lot of work. The board will decide whether or not to keep utilities on at the location.
A decision to switch to Anderson Propane for the school's propane supply was approved. Lines and parts are being replaced to remain complaint with safety standards.
Aliza Jones will attend the next meeting to discuss facilities at both campuses.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.