OMSD board delivers report to the public

WESTERN GROVE — The Ozark Mountain School District Board of Education convened in the Western Grove School Cafeteria at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24, to deliver the school district's annual Report to the Public. It was followed by the regular monthly board meeting that included a training session with the district's financial adviser Dan Lovelady with First Security.
The annual report is required by state law to be given by all public school districts. Normally they are presented early in the school year.
The report delves into the school's funding resources including federal funds used for salaries for staff delivering federal programs, professional development, library and technology needs and Carl Perkins Career and Technical Education programs. These federal funds include: Title 1, $341,739.27; Title IIA, $44,809.63; Title IV, $25,204; Title V, $19,608 and Carl Perkins, $17,076.
Also outlined are monies received from state categorical funds for alternative learning environment, enhanced student achievement. ALE funds this heart total $20,935 for teachers.ESA funds total $409,956 used towards salaries, materials, supplies and supplemental instruction programs.
The report assures patrons that the school districts schools, all six building, meet state accreditation standards.
Enrollment as of present totals 493 students: Bruno-Pyatt Elementary, 29; St. Joe elementary, 88; Western Grove Elementary, 149; Ozark Mountain High School, 215 and Digital students, 12.
School district rules and policies are found in the Parent and Family Engagement Policy handbook that is online.
The report notes professional development provides curriculum alignment both for teachers K-6 and also for teachers instructing the same grade across the school district.
The school district analyzes data for monitoring progress and school improvement. Curriculum directors work with administration and teachers and leadership teams meet regularly. Classroom walk throughs help to see where additional support is needed.
The school district staff works towards Arkansas Qualified Teacher certification., Currently 93% of the staff has this certification. Four certified staff members are working towards this certification that requires: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree and
demonstrated content knowledge in the Core Academic subject area being taught; a Special Education license for a Special Education class and a teaching license when teaching in an Alternative Learning Environment (ALE); except where licensure is officially waived.
At this time an Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) School Performance Report is not available due to last year's final test scores still have not been released by the state. It is noted that 32 students took the ACT examination last year and four students scored between 25 and 30. Above Average Score Range: 25-36.
Additional programs offered through the district include gifted and talented progress with 41 students participating.
It was noted 50 students are in dyslexia services.
District goals were outlines including:

Building project for a new K-12 building has been approved by the state, funding decisions Weill be released in May 2025.
New greenhouse grant has been received ed and the project work has begun.
Academic goal is to decrease the number of students in need of support in reading and math by 5% each year for the next two years.
The school district is meeting child nutrition regulations and conducts health and wellness assessments.
School board members are meeting the professional development hours.
Concerning discipline, 118 referrals were made last year involving: 87 in school suspensions, 24 out of school suspensions and three corporal punishment cases.
The report concludes with some other facts of interest:
The building fund now has $4,500,000 in savings,
The district's Certificate of Deposit investments have made $185,000 to date with $60,000 more anticipated next January.
Students have more club offerings including fishing, esports, archery, as well as several new classes after the high school consolidation.
And finally, safety is a major concern with the district having a Commissioned School Security Team of 15 members spread across the district.
The school district received a school safety grant with more money anticipated to be received to expand beyond priority needs by adding more security cameras and keyless entry devices.
Lovelady's visit included a review of school finances and how schools rely on their local millages to meet and pay off debt.
He noted 11.5 debt service mills will be coming off Ozark Mountain School District's books in the 2027-2028 school year. The board of education will need to ask voters ahead of time to extend that millage for 30 years to maintain and operate the district at its current level.
The board may also wish to develop a strategy to seek a millage increase if it wants to proceed with its plans for a new K-12 school building. That decision is dependent upon the amount of partnership funding will be received from the state.