Elementary-aged students who will attend upcoming summer school in Eureka Springs will get to do it from the comfort of their homes.

At the regular school board meeting held Monday, May 8, the Eureka Springs School Board voted to have elementary summer school virtually this year.

“We decided to run it a little bit different,” Superintendent Bryan Pruitt said of the elementary sessions. “Instead of having the kids on campus we’re going to do an online version.”

Pruitt said the students will use a program and have to log in for an assigned number of minutes per week.

“It allows kids who have summer family plans to still be able to do that and do their work,” he said. “It’s going to be a new opportunity and we’re looking forward to seeing how it works.

“It’ll go all summer long, but the students will only have to do so many minutes in a week. In the past we brought them on campus for a half day.”

The virtual summer school will only be for elementary students. Middle school and high school students will continue to have summer classes in person.

The school board also heard another update on the status of contractor bids for a new elementary and middle school cafeteria, which continues to be outside of the price range the district is willing to spend.

“We discussed the plan again, continuing to try to decide what we want to do,” Pruitt said. “We’re going to wait another week or so and might have a special board meeting. We’re trying to decide how we’re going to move on, but still haven’t made a final decision on that.

“We’re still a little short [financially]. We’re getting there, though.”

The board got an update on standardized testing standards from middle school teacher Maria Ellis, who is also a testing coordinator, Pruitt said.

“She visited with us about next year’s testing procedures and how it will be ran,” he said. “We know it’s changing and that’ll be a new thing for us. The testing will now be developed by Arkansas teachers and right now the state is selecting people to be on those committees who will be developing the new test.”

Pruitt has said he likes the idea of teachers around the state having testing input.

“I think we’re going to clarify and simplify some of the testing standards,” he said. “I like that. It’s going to get us more on the same page and everyone will be reading everything the same way.”

Also adopted were policies and procedures relative to children with disabilities covered in the Special Education Assurance and Agreements and a resolution appointing Pruitt to serve as a representative on the Ozarks Unlimited Resources Education Services Cooperative Board of Directors until June 30, 2025.

In personnel actions approved, current high school teacher Rick Mann was selected as the district’s director of operations, a new position that combines two other roles.

“Our IT director and our facilities director are both leaving,” Pruitt said. “We combined those positions into a director of operations and Rick Mann will run the IT and maintenance programs.

“He’s a well-rounded guy and will be a good fit for us in the role.”

The board also approved the hires of Brianna Walker as the new art teacher for the high school, Cody Evans as new band director and Christy Dowell as an eighth-grade math teacher.

The resignation of elementary teacher Lisa Williams was also accepted.