The Hermitage School Board met on November 13, 2023, for its regular monthly meeting and conducted a number of business items which included approval of the previous meeting’s minutes and review of the school finances.
Superintendent LaDonna Spain updated the school board on the current financial report. A motion was made to approve and accept the report. The board then moved on to reports from Spain on topics of attendance, behavior, curriculum, state assessment data, and college career graduation readiness.
Elementary and high school principals Tara Gates and Misti McGhee then spoke to the board about attendance, behavior from students, and discipline incidents. Gates stated that the 2023/2024 school year for Hermitage Elementary started with an enrollment number of 188 students and is now at 191 students. The current enrollment number for Hermitage High School is 206 students.
Devin McDiarmid, director for Southeast Arkansas Community Based Education Center (SEACBEC) presented the school board with details about SEACBEC, including information about the five programs of study that are offered. McDiarmid stated that students from Woodlawn, Hermitage, and Rison are now coming to the SEACBEC campus, and that the number of students enrolled from Hermitage has surpassed schools like Rison which has not happened in five or six years. SEACBEC also offers nine concurrent college credit courses.
The school board heard reports on the America Rescue Plan Act, the Implementation of the School Safety Grant, and transportation updates.
The following items of business were acted upon by the board:
The school board then went into an executive session.
The next meeting is set for 6 p.m., December 11, 2023, at the fire station.
