2016 Annual Report to the Public - Conway School District Annual Report to the Public. 2 3 ... taking the college-level AP classes and maximiing her time in high school. ... Laura

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“Education is the most POWERFUL weapon which you can use to change the WORLD.”

-Nelson Mandela

2016 Annual Report to the Public

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Conway Public Schools

K 2nd 4th 6th 8th 10th 12th 1st 3rd 5th 7th 9th 11th

900

825

750

675

600

2014 - 20152015 - 20162016 - 2017

District Enrollment by Grade

Pre-K = 280 Students9 Elementary Schools (K-4)4 Middle Schools (5-7)Conway Junior High School (8-9)Conway High School (10-12)

16 schoolsTotal 2016 Enrollment (*as of 10/1/16)= 9920

5026 Male Students (50.67%)4894 Female Students (49.33%)

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Best of the Best

Conway Students

CHS Honors 8 National Merit Scholars

Eight Conway High School seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Joseph R. Coker, Zelda M. Engeler-Young, Megan R. Haase, Kate M. Lange, Eric D. Pinter, Gary (Nick) Stillwell, Jillian Tang, and Kevin Trickey are 2017 National Merit Semifinalists.

These eight students now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $33 million dollars.

90 percent of the semifinalists will attain finalist standing, with half of the finalists winning a merit scholarship.

Superintendent Dr. Greg Murry says the district is beyond proud of these outstanding students.

“Conway Public Schools continues to produce a significant number of National Merit Scholars,” says Murry. “The accomplishments of these students stand as a testament to their personal determination and the great work that all of our teachers and staff do every day in our classrooms.”

Triple ThreatThree Conway Students Score Perfect Scores on ACT

ACT Comparison ScoresDistrict Demographic Profile

Making a perfect ‘36’ on the ACT College Admissions Test is statistically improbable. Out of the almost 2 million students who take the test every year, less than 1,000 make a perfect score. But three Conway students did just that in the 2015-16 school year.

Senior Matt Sweere, and Juniors Megan Haase, and Jillian Tang all scored ‘36’ on the ACT.

All of them agree that preparation was key, not just right before the exam, but throughout high school.

“I felt pretty confident coming out of it,” says Tang, who has taken 17 Advanced Placement Classes at Conway High School. “I felt like I was well-prepared for the test, so I wasn’t stressed about it.”

Tang says she took the PSAT Prep Course offered at Conway High School over the summer, which helped her with test-taking techniques and vocabulary. But she says most of her preparation has been long term, taking the college-level AP classes and maximizing her time in high school.

21.4

20.1

20.8

Conway Public Schools District Average

Arkansas State Average

National Average

AP Comparison Scores Conway High School

529 Students 965 Tests

Students who

made3+

CHS

Arkansas students

Global students

62.8%

35%

60.3%

Gifted & Talented

Limited English Proficient

Special Education

951

480

1136

Asian

African American

Hispanic or Latino

Native American/Alaskan Native

Two or More Races

Caucasian

Hawaii/Pacific Islander

58%

9.8%

28.2%

1.49%

28.22%

9.81%

0.22%

2.2%

58.01%

0.05%

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“Each day I began my day with prayer that I would be a positive influence for someone and make a

small difference. Each day God showed me that Javen was the one making the positive impact on me.”

Instructional Facilitator Shannon Riner

Teachers throughout the Conway School District have implemented new strategies and protocols dealing with our Response to Intervention in 2015-16. Response to Intervention, or RTI, means identifying students who need a little extra help in certain areas---reading, math, literacy---and then providing it in various ways.

Our teachers work with the students in small groups or one-on-one, until they meet their goals. Some of them just need to “catch up” on a few skills. Others need more intensive work. The interventions vary with the student. Some take just a few weeks. Some will take years. There’s no magic formula or special program that works on every kid. Intervention is individual. That’s what makes it work.

Our teachers who do interventions are highly trained. They have spent hours in specialized instruction. They realize that learning isn’t a “one size fits all,” and they take the time to really get to know the individual student, to see what will best help him learn. It’s amazing to see what happens when both the teacher and the student discover “what works.”

“Not only is the students’ academic performance increasing, their self-motivation and love for school is responding as well,” says Instructional Facilitator Jacob Sisson. “Conway is doing great things here!”

Changes Student Learning at All Grade Levels

Response to Intervention

“We were blessed to receive such great training,” says Instructional Facilitator Shannon Riner. “I feel

like I have another tool in my toolbox for students who just need a different approach to learning. I

am seeing real progress with my kids! Several times a week I hear “I love coming to your group!”

That makes it all worth it!”

Conway Schools’ teachers are making stronger connections with students using some

new training they received this school year.

“Connections” is a systematic, multi-sensory, research-based approach to teaching the

phonology, decoding, and reading skills of the English language.

Conway Schools sent 40 participants to be trained in preparing, implementing, and

conducting the various components of Connections lessons, which include decoding,

encoding, word recognition, fluency, and comprehension.

The lessons allow students to see, hear, smell, feel and touch as they learn, and have been

extremely well received by the teachers and students.

MakingConnections

ABC

123

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Farm-to-School InitiativeIn November 2015, Conway Schools was awarded a USDA

Farm to School Grant. This $44,000 planning grant will

enable CPSD to develop and build more gardens like the

one at Carolyn Lewis Elementary School. We hope to have

gardens in 12 of our schools by the end of 2016.

The staff and students at Carolyn Lewis Elementary School watched the raised beds next to their playground with anticipation all throughout the 2015-16 school year. Their school garden provided lessons for all grade levels as it was built and planted.

The garden project, funded by a Conway Public Schools’ Foundation Grant, was spearheaded by CLES Instructional Facilitator Amanda Krell.

“We will start small, with just a few beds, but we have dreams of the garden getting big someday,” said Krell. “I am so thrilled that we will be able to have this garden for all the students to have a part in.”

After a ribbon cutting ceremony, Krell planned a work day for the school’s students and families where ten raised beds were constructed and filled with soil, so students could begin planting.

Every student got a vote for what to plant in their grade’s bed…they planted everything from carrots to peas to lettuce.

After the seeds were planted, they were watered and cared for over the summer and will be ready for harvest this year.

“Some of our students have never seen a real tomato…they don’t know that vegetables actually grow in the ground,” said Krell. “This is life changing for them.”

Carolyn Lewis Elementary School Begins School-Wide Garden Project

Planting Seeds

Middle School Renaming Honors Conway Educator

This past summer, the Conway Schools’ Board of Education unanimously approved a proclamation renaming Bob Courtway Middle School as “Bob and Betty Courtway Middle School.”

“The Courtway family has contributed so very much to this community,” says Superintendent Dr. Greg Murry. “Adding Betty’s name to the school highlights her significant love for Conway and the students we serve.”

The school district celebrated the name change with the school’s faculty and students, as well as the Courtway family.

Betty Courtway taught kindergarten in Conway Public Schools for 28 years, where she touched the lives of many.

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Another Great Year for Conway Athletics#GoWampusCats

Conference Champs

Conference Champs

Conference Champs

Conference Champs

State Runner Up

State Runner Up

State Runner Up

Conference Runner Up

Conference Runner Up

District Runner Up

State | 3rd

State | 4th

Casey Ott- Arkansas Democrat Golfer of the Year

Ashley Nance- 7A Central Coach of the Year

Janet Taylor- Elijah Pitts Career Achievement Award

Laura Crow- Central Conference Coach of the Year

Jeff Gifford- Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year

G. Volleyball

G. Cross Country

G. Track

B. Soccer

G. Golf

G. Basketball

Baseball

B. Track

G. Soccer

B. Swimming

B. Golf

B. Track

1st 2nd

3rd

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Megan Fotioo says she remembers loving school from the time she was a little girl. In 4th grade, she asked her teacher if she could stay in at recess to help in her classroom. The rest, as they say, is history.

“From that day on, my love of school was confirmed,” says Fotioo. “I realized that by being a teacher, I could help students every single day in various situations.”

Fotioo just finished her 6th year of teaching here in the Conway School District. She teaches Kindergarten at Carolyn Lewis Elementary School this year.

“Each student, whom we entrust to Megan’s care, is met with a smile, love, and dedication,” says Theodore Jones Principal Dr. Tammy Woosley. “While she builds a sense of community in her classroom, she treats each child as an important individual.”

The 2015-16 school year was extra special for Fotioo. Not only was she Conway Schools’ District Teacher of the Year, but she and her husband Alex also welcomed their daughter, Molly Claire, into the world last February.

“Having Molly Claire has made me realize even more what a huge responsibility teachers have to provide love and support to our students whose parents entrust them to us each day,” says Fotioo.

“Years from now, students may not remember the material being taught, but they will always

remember a teacher who took the time to get to know them and be their biggest cheerleader. Like the

old saying goes, “They don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

–Megan Fotioo, CPSD Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the YearMegan Fotioo

Wins District Honor

6thHighest in the State

Master’s Degree65%

National Board Certified Teachers67

Average CPS Teacher Salary$55,329

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By the Numbers

Free & Reduced Lunches

Hours of Professional Development by our Staff

Total CPSD Population

Number ofFacebook Likes

Students & Staff

Mobile AppDownloads

Total Meals Served in our Cafeterias Breakfast = 500,145 Lunch = 1,061,490

Total Cartons of Milk 72% = Chocolate Milks

Apples Served

Romaine Lettuce Served

Baby Carrots Served

Yogurt Parfaits Served

square feet of buildings cleaned daily by maintenance

in grants received by CPSD teachers

Graduates

Scholarship amount awarded to CHS Students

National Merit Scholars

Graduation Rate

Dropout Rate

Attendance Rate

46,320

1,561,635

602

1,267,483

$10,718,211

8,489

10

2.29%

99

3710

3605

85

3,292

87.7%

96.2%

sinceFebruary

3,600

8,313

11,231

9,367

49.9%

11,109No. of School Buses

No. of Students Transported each day

No. of Miles Driven Daily

No. of Routes

Class of 2016

1,772,407

$13,307

18,072

149,529

7724181190

No. of Computers

No. of Books

Total Certified Staff

Total Classified Staff

Total Staff

Pounds

Pounds

Pounds

16 17

Historic Ida Burns Elementary School Gets Remodeled

Built in 1956, the original Ida Burns Elementary School building was full of history. The tiny hallways saw thousands of students, including many business and professional leaders in Conway, achieve all the major grade school milestones throughout the years.

This year, the old Ida Burns building was torn down to make room for a brand new two-story school building. Faculty and students watched as construction crews made progress on the remodel and reconstruction all year long and finally, last summer, the old building came down. In its place, the new structure has changed the look of Donaghey Avenue, creating much more room for parking and improving the traffic flow tremendously. The new building houses state-of-the art classrooms with expansive cabinets and storage space for teachers, a new cafeteria with a stage, a new front office area and nurse’s station, and a safe room.

On the first day of the 2016-17 school year, administrators greeted their students in style, with a red carpet welcome to the new building. Students could hardly believe their eyes! The new building gives teachers and students much more room in which to teach and learn.

New Multi-Purpose Indoor Facility Will Be Used By All Sports

Just next to the new Ida Burns Elementary School, a multi-purpose indoor practice facility has been built for all of Conway’s athletic teams to use. The 70-thousand square foot facility is equipped with an indoor practice field, a weight room, locker room, training room, meeting room, and coaches’ offices. It provides lockers for all players, as well as practice space upstairs and downstairs.

The multi-purpose facility will be used by all sports, helps alleviate space and weather concerns, and also allows for simultaneous practices. It also gives our athletes enough space to practice running and throwing plays.

Faces of Progress

2014-2015 District Expenditures

Total Expenditures $97,849,676

$51,569,977

$6,004,983

$3,965,659

$1,845,990

$5,726,466

Total Instruction Expenditures

Administrative Expenditures

Extracurricular Expenditures

Capital Expenditures

Debt Service Expenditures

1

2

3

4

5

6

District Expenditure Per Student

MillageRate

Your Dollar in CPSD

$9,116

38.1Mills

Debt Service

Certified Salary

Non-Instructional Expenditures

Instruction

Transp-Non-Salary

Maint-Non-Salary

Utilities

Benefits/Matching

Non-Contracted Wages

Classified Salary

0.2%

7.4%

1.2%

2.6%

2.6%

15.6%

1.4%

11.8%

47.6%

9.8%

MoneyMatters

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Passing the Test This year, Conway students in grades 3-10 took the ACT

Aspire for the first time. This new statewide assessment covered 5 areas: Reading, Writing, English, Math, and Science. Our students performed above the state averages on the computer-based test. We are proud of our teachers and students! These first-year scores also give us valuable data to build on for future years with this assessment.

English Math Science Reading Writing

Conway 3rd GradeState 3rd Grade

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

3rd Grade


Conway 5th GradeState 5th Grade

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

5th Grade



90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

4thGrade



80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

6th Grade



90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0



90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0



70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0



80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

7th Grade

9th Grade

8thGrade

10th Grade

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Family Engagement

Family Support

School Climate

School Fit

School Safety

6

7

7

7

5

FAMILY MEMBER SURVEY

School Belonging

Family Climate

School Engagement

School Rigorous Expectation

STUDENT SURVEY

4

4

5

5

TEACHER & STAFF SURVEYS

Staff-Leadership Relationships

Staff-Family Relationships

School Climate

Professional Learning

Feedback and coaching

School Leadership

School Leadership

Staff-Family Relationships

Staff-Leadership Relationships

Teaching Efficacy

8 5

9 9

9 7

7 9

9 9

5,373Student Responses

779Teacher & Staff

Responses

2,224Family Member

Responses

How many responses were received?

In the Spring of 2016, we administered a survey to all stakeholders in the Conway Public School District. The survey asked a variety of questions dealing with school culture. Each school, as well as our district as a whole, has taken the responses and formulated a plan to improve different aspects of their school culture based on survey responses.

Along with the School Culture Survey, our district leadership team and Board of Education have now developed six core values that represent who we are as Conway Public Schools.

2016 School Culture Survey

What did the survey measure?

• Students first

• A staff committed to excellence

• Value and respect diversity

• Provide innovative educational opportunities

• Cultivate community relationships

• Maintain a safe and caring environment

PERCENT FAVORABLE

67%

43%

65%

65%

SCHOOL CLIMATEPerceptions of the overall social and learning climate of the school.

Spring 2016 Student Survey - Panorama Student Survey (School-Level) 3-5

Spring 2016 Student Survey - Panorama Student Survey (School-Level) 6-12

Spring 2016 Family Survey

Spring 2016 Staff Survey

Conway School Distsrict




District SummaryCountingWhat Counts

Our Core Values

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Jeremy Fox says he never expected the overwhelming response they received from the first-annual Daddy-Daughter Dance they planned last spring at Marguerite Vann Elementary School. Fox, the father of two daughters at Vann, started volunteering with the WatchDOGS at the beginning of the year to make a difference in his children’s lives and the lives of others as well. They partnered with the school’s administration and PTO to host the dance at the end of the year.

The girls were escorted down a red carpet and treated to a special night of dinner and dancing with their dads.

“I had no idea how much pure joy I would see on the faces of these men as they escorted their precious daughters around inside,” said Fox. “I know every man there was absolutely sure of who the most beautiful girl in the room was and they couldn’t take their eyes off of her.”

Marguerite Vann’s Principal Bobby Walker says almost 400 people attended the Daddy-Daughter dance, making it the school’s most well attended event in recent history.

One year after starting a Unified Special Olympics team, the Conway High School team won the AAA state title. The Conway Unified team beat the Bryant Unified team, 39-24.

The team is made up of five special education students and five general education students, with two student coaches.

“I have been teaching 33 years, and this ranks in my top five moments of my teaching career,” Special Education Teacher Cheryl Daniels said. “The general education kids were just as excited as the special education kids. A lot of them have never been in a spot like this before. It was really cool to see, especially because the general education kids made sure that every special education kid scored.”

Conway Unified Team

Wins State Championship

A Night to Remember

Daniels Wins Good Neighbor AwardConway High School teacher Cheryl Daniels has been

awarded the “Good Neighbor Award” by the Conway

Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service to her

community.

Daniels, a Special Education teacher for Conway

Schools for 22 years, established the “Caring Cats” club

at Conway High School in 2005. The club started off

with about a dozen members, and a desire to serve

those less fortunate in their community.

Today, the “Caring Cats” boast almost 300 student

members. Each year they take on projects like

“Angel Paws,” where they ensure that no student

in the Conway School District goes without

presents at Christmas, and volunteer with Special

Olympics. They frequently hold food and clothing

drives to help the needy and perform other acts of

kindness that bless the Conway community.

1st

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He’s been recognized for his singing and dancing...and even his BBQ...but now Woodrow Cummins’ Assistant Principal Gary Logan has received yet another honor.

He’s been named the “Assistant Principal of the Year” for all Elementary Schools in the state of Arkansas.

“I nominated Gary for AP of the Year because he’s the Singing and Dancing Assistant Principal!” says Lewis. “His morning routine makes our students and their parents smile and laugh. Our students love him because he is really just a kid at heart.”

Logan received nationwide, even worldwide, media attention last fall for his “morning routine” of greeting students with a song as they arrive at school in the mornings; His motto of “I don’t do bad days” resonates with parents everywhere as something that makes such a big difference in the lives of their families.

When asked about all the attention, Logan humbly said he doesn’t even know what to say about all this.

“I really just can’t believe this,” Logan said. “Thank you all so much. Anyone could have won this.”

He later told members of the Conway School Board, “I love my job! Thanks for letting me be me.”

NO BAD DAYSALLOWEDGary Logan

Documents

2016 Annual Report to the Public - Conway School District Annual Report to the Public. 2 3 ... taking the college-level AP classes and maximiing her time in high school. ... Laura