At the July 22, 2024, board meeting, the board was presented with the spring demographic report, career and technical education updates, and adult education achievements. They also voted on plans to pilot a phone-free environment.

First, Zonda presented a comprehensive spring demographic report. The Fort Smith region expects significant job growth, which is anticipated to drive population expansion through 2025. The housing market reflects this growth with increased construction in townhomes, multifamily units, and single-family homes. While enrollment forecasts suggest a slight initial decline over the next five years, projections indicate a rebound towards a total nearing 14,000 students, supported by favorable economic conditions.

Mr. Mahan, FSPS Deputy Superintendent, proposed piloting a phone-free environment in FSPS middle schools to improve student mental health and classroom engagement. As part of this initiative, Kimmons Middle School and Ramsey Middle School will pilot using Yondr pouches to store student devices securely during school hours. These pouches will ensure that students have access to their phones only before and after the school day, helping to minimize distractions and maximize learning opportunities, which the board approved the initiative.

Gary Udouj, Director of Career Education and District Innovation, updated the board on Career and Technical Education (CTE), highlighting steady growth in CTE completers since 2020, with a 12% increase in certifications over the previous year. Efforts are focused on increasing student completion, including introducing new CTE programs. CTE promotion starts early with 5th-grade tours at Peak and the 8th-grade iCan career expo, aiming to engage and prepare students. The top credentials earned by high school students in the 2023-2024 school year include First Aid/CPR/AED, Stop the Bleed, HIPAA certification, OSHA 10, and Career Readiness Certificates. The goal is for all CTE students to achieve industry-recognized certifications alongside opportunities for certificates of proficiency, technical certificates, and even associate degrees.

Lastly, Mr. Hominick, Director of the Adult Education Center, updated the board on significant achievements and initiatives at the Adult Education Center. Current student enrollment stands at 1,447, with an impressive 87% GED pass rate, surpassing both state (84%) and national (74%) averages. The Adult Education Center exceeded the state benchmark score of 92, achieving an impressive 98.21% in determining funding. Evaluation criteria include educational function gains, GEDs earned, and workplace/integrated education and training gains, such as the number of students earning certifications.