RECEIVED SEP 1 3 iwl Enclosure 4 ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNUAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN VERIFICATION FORM 1991-1992 School Building: (Name, Address, Zip) Pulaski County McDermott Elementary School 1200 Reservoir Road Little Rock, AR 72207 Telephone: (501) 228-3072 60-01-020 LEA Number School District: (Name, Address, Zip) Little Rock School District 810 West Markham Little Rock, AR 72201 Tel ephone: (501 ) 324-2000 October 1 datT , 1991 Please submit one copy of the Annual School Improvement Plan for each school in the district by October 15, 1991. Michael Oliver Pri nci pal Dr. Ruth Steele Superi ntendent Si gnature^f rincipa Signature 0 I Super!ntendent School Building Task Force Please send to: Michael Oliver Helen Thomas Associate Director Instructional Services Arkansas Department of Educ. 4 Capitol Mall Mary Enderlin Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Bobble Singleton Ronda Dorsett *Any district with standard violations during the 1990-91 school year must submit this document by October 10, 1991. Six-Year Plan Report Form, Revised 8/89LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT EPS CODE
ADA ) MISSION STATEMENT of the LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT of the Little Rock School District is to provide an educational ..............................................................., To The mission G. --- ------ --------- . proqram that enables each child to achieve his/her highest potential. that end, the Little Rock School District will provide: (1) a program of basic education for all students
(2) programs that address the special needs of students (emotional, physical, and mental)
and (3) enrichment music, and,athletics. Through an organized proopportunities such as art, Huju., qram of studies, each student will experience academic success and will learn and appreciate responsibility and productive citizenship. Adopted 1-26-84District Goals 1. 2. To increase educational achievement for all students with specific emphasis on closing disparities in achievement. To establish climates of educational excellence in all schools through: a) b) c) d) providing equitable educational opportunities for all students in a desegregated learning environment enabling all students to develop a lifelong capacity and love for learning leading all students to be productive contributors in the school, the community and the workplace providing a disciplined, structured learning environment for all students 3. To enhance human relations skills for principals, teachers, and central office administrators.LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT McDermott Elementary School 1200 Reservoir Road Phone 225-6568 Little Rock, Arkansas 72207 MISSION STRTEMENT The purpose of McDermott Elementary is to promote the development of the total child
academically through a balanced multicultural curriculum.
socially through leadership opportunities, extra-curricular activities
and physically through physical education program. The school recognizes the responsibility it shares with the home in the development of ethical and moral education program. values. The staff at McDermott is both highly qualified and dedicated to meeting the learning and emotional needs of individual students. The faculty seeks to guide students overall development through personalized attention, dynamic educational opportunities, and group and individual work. We believe that learning must be viewed as a lifelong endeavor. The ultimate goal of the school is to guide students toward becoming intellectually curious, mature, responsible people who are equipped to shape the future of society. PAGE 1 SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL Qing Goal: i ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION annual school improvement plan LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT McDermott eTiFmentary school DATE JUNE 14, 1991 To increase overall student achievement in language arts, math, reading, science, and social studies ited District Goal: 1 To increase educational achievement for all students with specific emphasis on closing disparities in achievement Strategies/Activities 1. Identify weak cognitive areas of the 1991 AMPT and MAT-6 Person Responsible Completion Date/ Time Lines Related Staff Development Activities T Method of Evaluation 1. Certified staff 1. June, 1991 August, 1991 1. Disaggregated data on file by teacher, grade level, and school with the teachers, specially and principal 2. Inservice teachers in weak areas (ACADUIIC GRANT) 2. Principal 2. On-going, 91-92 2.*GESA *The At-risk student *Self-esteem *Pre-referral Intervention Strategic
*Recipes for Writing 2. Roster of participants on file with principal s * Writing Frames and Webbing *Creative Ideas for Writing *Creative Writing in the Content Areas *The Student Journal *Social Studies PotpourriPAGE 2 ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION annual school IMPROVEMENT PLAN SCHOOL DISTRICT little rock school district DATE JUNE 14, 1991 SCHOOL MCDERMOTT Er.FMENTARV SCHOOL. !a
ng Goal
l (continued) To increase overall student achievement in language arts, math, reading, science, and social studies Sled District Goal
tq increase educational for all students with specific emphasis on closing disparities in achievement Strategies/Activities S.Implonent inservice training in classrocms via: . PAL . REACH . COMPUTER LAB . ETC. . PEER TUTORING . field TRIPS Person Responsible 3. Staff Completion Date/ Time Lines 3. On-going, 91-92 Related Staff Development Activities Method of Evaluation 3. Monitor for usage through formal,informa and walk through observations Purchase additional instructional supplies and equipment through Academic Grant 5. Check for improved scores 4. Principal Staff 4. October 31, 1991 4. Additional supplies purdhased 5. Principal and Staff 5. June. 1992 5. Analyze for increase iiPAGE 3 ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION annual SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN SCHOOL DISTRICT LITTLE POCK SCHOOL DISTRICT DATE JUNE 14, 1991 SCHOOL MCDERMOTT ET.I-MENTARY SCHOOL 'o
ng Goal
2a To provide students with well-rounded educational opportunities sled District Goal: 2 to establish climates of educational excellence through providing educational opportunities for all students in a desegregated learning environment Strategies/Activities 1. Increase use of writing in the content areas (ACADEMIC GRANT) Person Responsible 1. Principal Staff Completion Date/ Time Lines 1. On-going, 91-92 I. Related Staff Development Activities Recipes for Writing *Writing Frames *Creative Ideas for Writing *Creative Writing in the Content Areas *The Student Journal Method 01 Evaluation * 2.Identify and assign at- risk reading and math students to the conputer lab three times a week 2. Classroom teachers Lab Specialist Counselor 2, September 13, 1991 2. Inservice teachers on priority at-risk students 2, At-risk students on file with teachers and principalPAGE 4 ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION annual SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN SCHOOL DISTRICT LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT DATE JUNE 14, 1991 SCHOOL MCDERMOTT ET.EMENTARY SCHOOL. !a
ng Goal
2b TO provide an educational program which is both intellectually stimulating and interesting to all students ated District Goal
2 to establish climates of educational excellence in all schools through enabling all students to develop a lifelong capacity and love for learning T StrategiesZActivities 1. Implanent the following: . Book. It . Science Fair . Book Fair 2. Expand peer tutoring program-Buddy Club Person Responsible 1. Principal & Staff 2. Counselor Completion Date/ Time Lines 1. On-going, 91-92 2. On-going, 91-92 Related Stall Development Activities Method ot Evaluation 1. All events advertised and conducted 2. List of tutors and identified students on file with principalPAGE 5 SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION annual school improvement plan LITTLE POCK SCHOOL DISTRICT MCDERMOTT KT.EMENTARY SCHOOL. DATE JUNE 14, 1991 10.ng Goal, establish climates of education excellence through creation of educational opportunities that will lead all students to be productive contributors in the school, the ccranunity, and the workplace 2ted District Goal
2 Same as above Strategies/Activities 1. Create leadership opportunities for all students via: *Student Council *Office Monitors *Bus Monitors *Fire Marshalls *McGreeters *Buddy Club *Just Say No Club *Yearbook Staff 2. Inservice staff on ADD and Pre-referral Intervention Strategies Person Responsible 1. Principal & Staff 2. Principal Completion Date/ Time Lines 1. On-going, 1991-92 2. First semester Related Staff Development Activities 1. Method of Evaluation Roster of students on file 2. Attention Deficit Disorder 2. Pre-referral Intervention Strategies 2. Roster of participant, on file IPAGE 6 SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL !a:ng Goal: 2d ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNUAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT MCDERMOTT Er,EMENTARY SCHOOL DATE JUNE 14, 1991 To ensure 100% parental awareness of McDermott and LRSD discipline policies and procedures Sled District Goal: 2D Providing a disciplined, structured learning environment for all students Strategies/Activities 1. Revise current Behavior Management Plan 2. Teach Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook and local school plan to all students 3. Secure parental receipt of LRSD Student Handbook, local school plan, & classrocm rules 4. Develop and post school Person Responsible 1. Assistant Principal Staff 2. Classroctn teacher 3. Classroom teachers Assistant Principal 4. Classrocm teachers and classrocm rules with positive and negative consequences Specialists Assistant Principal Completion Date/ Time Lines 1. August, 1991 2. September 13, 1991 3.October 1, 1991 4. Septonber 13, 1991 1. Related Staff Development Activities Inservice staff on new plan Method of Evaluation 1. Revised 1991-92 Behavior Management Plan in Teacher Hand- - book------------------------------- 2. Pre/Post Test on file with Asst. Principal
Acknowledgement of Instruction on file wi Assistant Principal 3. Parental receipt on file in PRC z 4. School and classrocm rules will be display in each class and hallway throughout the buildingPAGE 7 SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL !a:ng Goal: ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION annual school IMPROVEMENT PLAN LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT MCDERMOTT ET.EMENTARY SCHOOL DATE JUNE 14, 1991 2D To ensure 100% parental awareness of McDermott and LRSD discipline policies and procedures 2!ed District Goal
2D Providing a disciplined, structured learning environment for all students Strategies/Activities 5. Charting of disciplinary 6. infractions and sanction by classroan and grade level to determine effectiveness of plans Purchase four(4) Maxon walkie talkies for Person Responsible 5. Assistant Principal Staff 6. Principal increased conmunication and security of building . (Acadonic Grant) $1500 Completion Date/ Time Lines 5. On-going, 91-92 6. September 2, 1991 Related Staff Development Activities 5. Faculty inservice on charting procedures 6. Inservice aides. Head Custodian, and Assistant Principal in use of equipment rZethod of Evaluation 5. Chart on file with Assistant Principal 6. Walkie talkies purchas bu 9/2/91PAGE 8 SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL 'a:ng Goal
3 ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNUAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT MCDERMOTT Er.IMENTARY SCHOOL DATE JUNE 14, 1991 Students and staff will develop a more respectful attitude toward each other regardless of race or gender aled District Goal
3 enhance human relation skills for principals, teachers and central office administrators StrategiesZActivities 1. Identify human relation strengths and needs 2. Schedule staff develop>- ment activities (Academic Grant) 3. Conduct inservice 4. Ccrrprehensive Outcomes Evaluation and Self Stud^ Person Responsible 1. Staff 2. Principal 3. Principal Staff Development 4. Entire Staff Completion Date/ Time Lines 1. June & August, 1991 2. July 1, 1991 3. On-going, 91-92 4. On-going, 91-92 Related Staff Development Activities 2.*Gender/Ethnic Student Achievement *The At-Risk Student *Self-esteem 3, See #2 4. Comprehensive Outcomes Evaluation Inservice by Principal, Tkssistant Principal , & Counselor Method of Evaluation 1. Human Relations Survey Results Biracial Monitoring Results 2. Roster of participants on file with principal 3. Staff Development Request sutmitted 4. COE Self study ccnpletreceived U'^y 1 8 1991 McDermott Elementary School 1200 Reservoir Road Little Rock, AR 72207 1991-1992 School Safety Plan important aspect of McDermott's students is of the School safety and security is an The physical safety of our staff and school community, that have been implemented school climate. utmost importance to the are discriptions of various procedures for purposes of safety and security: Following Visitors All visitors must check in at the office and receive a pass before entering the instrucional areas. The pass is returned to the office as the parent leaves the building. Entrances All entrances to the building are the main entrance by the flagpole. locked' at all times except Safety Drills Fire drills, reverse fire drills, bullet drills, earthquake and tornado drills are conducted throughout the year student safety in the event of an actual emergency. reverse so as to ensure Building Safety conducted by the principal and Monthlv safety inspections are _ . mhe playground is inspected eacn morning for hazardous the head custodian. by the principal and the supervision aides conditions of equipment. Attached are rules and staff responsibility of the staff for emergency situations.TEACHER 1 . Eve ry 2. 3. 4 . 5. ASSIGNED, RO_LES ..AND .STAFF RESPONSIBILITY teacher will become familiar with the various alarm ignals and react immediately, calmly, their classes (see next page). and appropriately with If evacuation is necessary. make sure that the process is as orderly and prompt as possible. Also make sure all windows and doors are closed and that- the children are appropriate relocated to the designated area to the nature of the emergency. Every teacher will have gradebook at all times during an emergency. and class rosters with them The rosters will include an alphabetical listing of all students enrolled in his/her classroom for the current school year, parents names, home addresses. and telephone numbers. their parents If a hazard(s) to the safety of students and adults is identified, or if students or adults are in danger in any way, the first priority of teachers will be to take whatever action prudent or necessary for the safety of the students. second .pr_io..ri.ty will be to notify the main office The as soon as Communication possibilities -include the two-way possible. intercom system
walkie-talkie radio (in the possession of the head custodian/building engineer, principal. principals, office)
a cafeteria, assistant campus supervisors, cafeteria supervisor, and main telephone station in the building (located in the ths 1ibrary/msdia center, the teacher workroom, and the guidance offices)
runner to the office if or if all else fails, safe to do so. leachers will not leave any circumstances. The PE teacher (trained send a student students unattended by an adult under in CPR and First Aid) will go to any part of the campus where students are reported to be injured-- if, and only if, he/she is not attending to students. His/her major responsibility will be to apply first aid to the injured. A well-stocked portable first-aid kit will be kept by the PE teacher at all times. Another kit will be maintained in the health room by the school nurse as specified by the assistant principal. NURSES The school nurse will go to the health room at the outset of emergency. His/her priority will be to apply first aid and an to attend to injured students at that location. Additional responsibilities will include the following:A . Maintain a log including the names of identified injured B . C. D. E. s tudsnts, and the nature of their injuries. Mark on the injured childs skin (forehead or exposed limb) the name and nature of injury if ascertainable with a permanent ink marker. Report to the office the name transported to the hospital. and nature of injury of any child Maintain immediate all students. Remove access to an updated alphabetical list of injured students to the library/media center if health room space becomes inadequate. ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF 1 ipal will supervise all emergency procedures during the initial stages of the emergency. As soon as the nature of the emergency is identified, he/she will make sure: The prin the emergency. identified, 2. A. B . C. D . E . F. that the appropriate alarm is sounded, that procedures to ensure the safety of th being exercised, that proper authorities and agencies are students are notified, that internal communication channels are established within the building, that planned role assignments are that external communications are reinforced, and established. The principal will also assume the responsibility for insuring personnel be fully trained in the contents of He/she will also update the plan periodically. will also assume the responsibility that all this emergency plan. will initially respond to The designated assistant principal building where the emergency is occurring to procedures are being followed to protect the He/she will establish internal the area of the ensure that all safety of the students. communication with all p rties via walkie-talkie radio and report the status of th will include th following: erne rgency. Other responsibilities A. making sure that the walkie-talkie radios are in working fully charged, and in the hands of those assigned to that the walkie-talkie radio order, use them,4. B . C. D. maintaining the first aid kits located in the health room and in the possession of the PE teacher, maintaining and updating the contents of the emergency communication kit in the main office (see Appendix B), assisting the principal in planning and implementing periodic drills for training purposes. The school operating secretary will maintain responsibility for and the central control panel to manage all internal and external communications in the event of an emergency. His/her responsibility at the outset of an emergency would be to ascertain ths nature of the emergency and sound the appropriate alarm. The second responsibility would be to report to the appropriate community agency (fire, police, EMS, and emergency preparedness by calling 911) and to report the emergency to the district office, include: Additional responsibilities A. B, C. D. set up the emergency kit for immediate use during the initial stages of the emergency. maintain an updated alphabetical list of all students and periodically distribute it teachers, assist to the emergency kit and to all the assistant principal in ordering and maintaining the contents of the emergency communications kit. work with the principal in distributing this plan to all personnel in the school and to appropriate external agencies (district office. fire department. police department, EMS, Emergency Services). and the city, county. or state office of The attendance clerk will maintain responsibility for establishing communications with the district office at the outset of an emergency. the emergency immediately by telephone, responsibilities will include: He/she will communicate the nature of Additional A. assist the school secretary in managing internal and external communications. information (e.g. and logging all necessary the names of all children injured. the B . C. nature of the injury. transported to the hospital). and the names of those being assist the school secretary in maintaining and updating alphabetical lists of all students. daily update student information in the computer data base (telephone numbers. home address, etc.).5. The Registrar ascertain the primary initial responsibility will be to - that are monitor steps nature of the emergency, with the emergency of the building and_to inform the office area, being taken to deal traffic at the entrance -- personnel as they arrive. moni to r - . . and assist emergency/district Additional responsibilities v. will include: A. log the arrival of emergency/district personnel who are assisting with ths emergency, B. keep visitors or outsiders from entering the building, C. assist parents as they arrive locating their children, the emergency in D. pin badges after the initial stages of preferably with pictures of all district and school staff who will be involved in managing the Make sure those persons i--- emergency. badges at the emergency site. wear their assigned CUSTODIAL STAFF 1. At the outset of an alarm sounds, the custodians will report totheir assignmen emergency when an respective permanent Responsibilities ts within the buildings. will include the following: A. survey the interior teachers are evacuated, to make sure that all children and if appropriate to the emergency, B . make sure that all windows and doors a re shut. C. report to the main office any broken water or gas lines, or damage to the building, the location and nature of any a fire in progress. D. if fire is identified, attempt to extinguish with fire E . F . extinguisher, begin a search for i n d i c a t ed.._. t o..d Q .s o. i n te rcom..sys tsm, a bomb or explosive device if bi<..the.main............... record to the office immediately if a fire alarm switch the building has been activated and the locauo . the office a fire within The head custodian will maintain a fully charged walkie talkie radio at all times. . 1 lliaiUbUXM V. ---------------J , , If an emergency situation is identifie on the grounds. within the building or immediately and wait main office for further he/she will notify the instructions.THE CAFETERIA STAFF 1 . Any emergency related to the kitchen operation of the cafeteria should be reported to the main office immediately. 2. When an alarm sounds, all cafeteria personnel mu t evacuate the kitchen area immediately. All windows and doors should be and all stoves and ovens should be shut off. Pe rsonnel should evacuate the area immediately behind the cafeteria. shu t, 3. If students are present in the cafeteria, cafeteria personnel should assist the teachers in getting the students evacuated through the rear exit door. If 4. the emergency involves the evacuation of teachers and students from the school, cafeteria personnel should assist teachers in the control of students, if warranted. 5. The Cafeteria Manager will report directly to the principal for instructions and task assignments and, in the event that food and/or shelter are needed, will be responsible for making the necessary preparations and arrangements. ASSIGNED ROLES FOR OTHER STAFF MEMBERS The Of fics... .Aides nd Clerks will assume responsibility for the operation of the computer system, the management of student date. and the operation and management of the schools telephone system. The Tsacher_s will have the di rect responsibi1i ty for the supervision and management of the students. Teachers who do not have classes or students assigned directly to them at the time of the emergency will immediately report to the principal for further i nstructions.TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1992 LR school to celebrate 25th year Reception planned today at Me Dermott BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Dcmocral-Gazelle Ediicalion Waler McDermott Elementary School al 1200 Reservoir Road will celebrate 25 Years of Excellence with a reception at 7 p.m. today al the school. The reception will feature the four principals who have served during the school's 25 years, as well as former PT A presidents, Ijitlle Rock Superintendent Mae Bernd and school board President O.G. Jacovelli. Michael E. Oliver, principal of the school since 1988-89, said parents of current students, as well a.s former students, parents and staff, are invited to attend. McDermott has .')09 pupils this year in grades kindergarten through six and a staff of about 50 certified and non-leaching employees, Oliver said. lie said the school has one of the most experienced faculties in the Lillie Rock district, with an average of 14 years of experience per teacher at the end of ( I last year. McDermott was completed in . IHfiT at a cost of $.'>53,40r> for the r land, building and furnishings, jrioyd Parsons was superintendent at the lime and Don Arick Wa.s the schools first principal. Arick was succeeded by Marie Abrahms, who in turn was replaced by Dr. Edwin .Jackson. * ___ a I ...1. 1^1. Ia#%fic>o L1V.VVI MJ i-ei. .................... The school, which housed about 320 pupihs the first Year was one of 28 schools selected for the liX)8 Exhibition of .School Architecture al the annual con ference of the American Association of School Administrators in February 1968. See SCHOOL. Page 3B I School Continued from Page 2B According to newspaper re1 I 1 ports from 1967, McDermott was , * . . 1-_ T illion MP- UUl VO 11 VIII XMW . ,----------, ., ,. .f named for the late Lillian Mc- Dermott, who served on the LiL He Rock School Board from 1922 to 1946. She was said to be Ine ' first woman on the Little Rock School Board and served a.s ! board president tliree times t > j____ _ 'Tl, M < During her tenure, The New I nei leuuic, . -y-- Xnrk Times reported that McDer- York reporlert inai ivicuci- , I,lotl was the first woman to sign a construction bond issue lol $1 , million. The money was used to , build Central High School, then , called Lillie Rock High. 1THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1993 McDermott Elementary students laise money for heart research Students at McDermnff mentary School raised $1 131 J f'" cardiovascul, their Jump Rope for Heart 'aised $1,131 in on Nov. J 2th event on iNov. 1211, and 13th The rnon.es raised during the Ameri- o I viic vctiuiovascuiar svs- twlente, (some for Heart will help heart in the state. e research According to Jump Rope Hammond, 130 of paled in the Iwo day event. The hole student body supported the St T (ho schools T Toacher Association. When coor- partic- for the first time) to learn how to jump rope. The event was fun, not stressful Hammonds continued to say that VMM r
"-Walnut Valley Christian Schools demonstration team that provided a pre- mnH (hat got McDermott students motivated and an opportunity to participate. ea- The American Heart Associaasked why the school participated Hammonds said, Ju
- tion is the only health - - iy neaith agency to reduce disability and death from disease and stroke. heart , IArkansas Democrat (gazette WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10.1993 Educator loses suit against LRSD Black assistant principal alleged bias after not being promoted A federal jury decided Tuesday that Helen J. Thomas, a black assistant principal at McDermott Elementary School, was not passed over for promotion by the Little Rock School District because of her race. , Thomas had asked for monetary damages from the district and a promotion to the next vacant elementary school principals post. Thomas said she had served as principal of Brady Elementary School in 1987-88 after completing 17 years as a teacher in Little Rock and other districts. Her contract wasnt renewed after that year, but she was later assigned to McDermott after settlement negotiations. A federal jury that heard evidence in her case ruled Tuesday in the court of U.S. District Judge Henry Woods that race was not a motivating factor in the decision not to promote her. Thomas had alleged she was discriminated against twice when she was denied promotions to principal at Western Hills and Rightsell elementary schools. Andrew Turner, an attorney for the Little Rock district, said the district denied Thomas allegations of racial bias. The Little Rock district employs more black educators than any school district in this area, he said.fArkansas Democrat THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, I994 ' Boy, 15, could stand trial as adult in knifing BY MICHELLE HILLIER Democrat-Gazette Benton Bureau GLENWOOD An eighth- grader accused of stabbing a classmate Wednesday may be first juveniles the among charged as an adult under new laws adopted at last months special legislative session. Pike County Sheriff David Baker said. Police said the 15-year-old boy is accused of stabbing a seventh-grader in a crowded hallway after lunch. The younger boy was sitting in front of his locker when he was stabbed in his right side with a steak knife. Arkansas State Police Sgt. Jack Ursery said. The victim, whom officials refused to identify, was in guarded condition in the intensive care unit Wednesday evening at St, Joseph's Regional Health Center in Hot Springs. Baker said an emergency hearing is scheduled for today before Juvenile Court Judge W.H, Arnold to decide what charge or charges will be filed, I helped lobby for the new laws, but I had no idea Id be using them this quick, Baker said, Gov. Jim Guy Tucker called the special session, which ended Aug. 24, to focus on the rise in violent crimes committed by juveniles. But. Baker noted, I've been sheriff for 15 years, and this is the first time Ive had to go into a school for a violent act, Baker said he did not think either boy had been in criminal trouble before, but witnesses said that this was brewing for a couple of days, The suspect told police he was retaliating for an obscene gesture the seventh-grader had made at him earlier, Ursery said. Several factors will determine whether the suspect will be one of the first juveniles charged as an adult under the new laws, said Bob McMahan, assistant coordinator for the state Prosecutor Coordinator Office. The most important is whether the victim survives, he said. If he dies, prosecutors could charge the suspect as an adult with murder under old laws, McMahan said. But if the victim survives, McMahan said, the new legislation would allow prosecutors to charge the suspect with attempted capital or first-degree murder or first-degree battery. Such laws did not exist for juveniles before the special session. But even with the new legislation, prosecutors still could try the suspect as a juvenile. McMahan said.P Arkansas Democrat ^^C^azctiLe _THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1994 LR directors hold off on youths day curfew until two city elections BY KEVIN FREKING Democrai-Gazene City Hall Reporter The Little Rock Board of Di- mre tmll __* rectors will wait to consider for youths until on truancy are elections a challenges. While nighttime curfews for youths are becoming are held. acro AriX common Corn and the nation, Carpenter said daytime curfews are rare and have yet to viewed in court. re- board tentatively decided Wednesday to----- ' Jo Evelyn Elston, the R kc u 'y" Klston. the Little viucu weunesoav to reconsider mmn Districts director of the curfew and hold puEelr ?ecPtors Wed doings trict <- The curfew proposed bv Citv vefr nr joh this "uid baT ings in late November. by rpptnr Viokn.i . V . who oversees truancy t .on district you hs 17 and dnr fm 5,"
?y 'os. has Citys streets from 9 a.m to 2-30 tellint h? for "ot P..m. on school days. Penalty pro or mnC students had 10 visions would be the same as^fnr w une.xcused absences, violation of the citys nighttimo f ^^*^1 he believes the sta- curfew: a citation on the & of- fS^"^ daytime cur- fense and fines up to $500 for nap t/ enty on subsequent offenses ' said*hp J? Mason" Jr. Keck proposed a Sept 20 nnh wanted time for the city lir. ha,niP.\_ oept. aio pub- board and school board to discuss the curfew. Other directors a "e time to reIic heying on the curfew. But 1^* colleagues pushed J.7vSS S 7"'! Thanksgiving. Watt and other city officials want to use the the statisfics to why truants arent in school and what activities they mre XP,^"h!^'P^hng in outside of vtoe school. City Attorney Tom Car- can use those findings to improve a curfew ordinances chances of meeL Keck and City Director Jeff arnnnH Y"^.rP- who spoke for the curfew coming elections also figured m the delay. hoard is expected to de- Oc^t^ ^oy to hold an election uct. 11 asking voters to restructure a bond issue that would pro- . J an additional $30 million for street, parks and public safety projects. On Nov. 8, seven of the board s 11 seats are up for elec- 1 -fI Arkansas Democrat THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1994 Trial over funding law is pushed back one week BY DANNY SHAMEER DemocraKSazene Educaaon Water A legal challenge to the states school funding law will prepare so to trial one week later than scheduled, planned but could be recessed for an unknown period, a judge session that ended Aug. 24. Hed said the special session didnt give him enough time to for trial as originally said Wednesday. If recessed for an extended period, lawmakers may overhaul the law before the court has a During a conference call with attorneys Wednesday, Pulaski County Chancery Judge Annabelle Clinton Imber decided that the school-funding chance to rule. The timing of the trial and trial will begin Sept. 26. The change in Imber s e trial auu crowded docket leaves a week of particular to try the case, which she and the attorneys predict will take longer to complete. When that a decision are interest to the state because a task force is studying changes in , jii the states formula for funding week is complete^ me.tna^wiu schools. The task force plans to make recommendations to Gov. Jim Guy Tucker by November Those recommendations could old Jiase form the basis for potential leg- islation during a later special likely be recessed until she can continue hearing the case. Imber has said repeatedly she is trying to get the 2-year- moving through the session. court system. Tucker said through his spokesman Wednesday that be- 1992 lawsuit by cause of the the subject s im- At issue is a 1992 lawsuit by cause oi me me the Lake View School District, portance and impact on stu- tem in Helena. Lake View sued hopes the judicial orancn the state over the school-fund- would find a way to make room iS sySem% constitutionality. on the courts schedule for Tha two Ipsislators who rep- trial to have a start and a fin The two legislators who represent Lake View state Sen. Bill Lewellen of Marianna and state Rep. Jimmie Wilson of Lexa would not be available to represent the district during ish. Tucker said if Imber can do that, then the task force would have the benefit of trial testimony and the judges ruling. The task forces co-chairman. Sen. George Hopkins of a legislative session. Malvern?
aid Wednesday he Lewellen is entitled to a post- anticipates that task force ponement because hed been in- bers P^ceed with thei volved in a special legi.slative work as planned. , II Arkansas Deinoctaf^(li)a2cU.c THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 1, 1994 Counselors will help students make it back after lightning attack BY SUSAN ROTH Democrat-Gazette Health Wnter School counselors and nurseach school for more individual care if necessary. If there are individual needs, we'll certainly today will help students and contact parents." staff at McDermott and Efird said children will want stall at ivicueimu incidents. They should have the facts to prevent speculation that could be scarier than the truth, she es and Franklin Elementary Schools to cope with concerns about a Wednesday lightning accident and drowning. -TSey may tell .b^ S'* them KhcbUS Tba StT
he release, par, will cause anxiety in their of how they deal with it. , peers, ssid 3 socisl worker 3t XrrthVX^^^ b'Ei, mSS - may be shaken by the drowning age, Cyol death of an 8-year-old Franklin to... pupil who was swept into fast dren s wptpr in a citv drainsfio ditch af- department. teT^Wednesdays thunderstorm. Parents can expect younger We are pulling counselors children to be nervous and and nurses From other schools clingy or regress into immature and nurses irom^ behavior, Maxwell said. Older children, meanwhile, may act more aggressive, angry and ir- Parents and teachers should watch for changes in behavior. "There will be a mixture of feelings and reactions based on tant director of Arkansas Chil- Hospitals social work Parents can expect younger and putting ------- two said Gwen Efird, coordi- SSSSo.!?ers"S S'be , su. schools may also accept offers of S^from professionals at ble force. local social service agencies. _ children to talk courage 5''oltV''c"SSs''needT. Tblhe'i7-t.eltngs. but they but counselors will start by shouldnt pr^sYe^"^^^^^ meeting with children and discuss the "cidento, mxweii teachers in the classes that in- smd. and offer them extra attention. If the symptoms of anxiety for more than two elude youngsters who were in- jured or killed. We will be there for the children, Efird said, encouraging continue parents to send their children to school despite their fear and anxiety. Any children needing extra support will have it. We will have a special location in months, parents and teachers should seek counseling for the children. Maxwell said. Staff reporter Chris Reznotas contributed to this story.I Arkansas Democrat T^Cjjazctle THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 1.1994 Spray used to shoo dog fells teacher Democrat-Gazette Staff A teacher collapsed from the effects of pepper spray used to expel a dog from McDermott Elementary School on Wednesday. Nine McDermott students were injured Wednesday afternoon by a lightning strike during recess. As paramedics treated several of the students about 2 p.m., a large gray dog wandered through an open door and walked down a hallway. A police officer sprayed the dog with pepper spray to chase it back outside. But the spray also overcame teacher Emogene James, who collapsed outside the schools east entrance. James was treated at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock V OVERCOME BY FUMES Emogene James, a teacher at McDermott Elementary School, lies in computer lab and released. instructor Toni Whites arms while a paramedic checks spokesman said. a hospital V.' '> & J Arkansas Oemocrat-Gazette/Steve Keesee her heart rate Wednesday. James was overcome by pepper spray that a Little Rock police officer used on a dog at the school. [ A Democrat (IJiazelle THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1994 ' 1 saved, sister dies in raging ditch Arkansas Derrxxxal-Gazette/StevG Keesee WATCHING THE WATER Little Rock firefighter Dan Harris stands atop a bridge over a drainage ditch along 28th Street near Madison Street in Little Rock, searching for one of two children swept away by runoff from Wednesday's heavy rains. Drowning Continued from Page 1A minutes later. Little Rock firefighters pulled Versies unconscious body from the ditch and two men helped a terrified Cecillia out of the ditch. Firefighter Daniel Hirrill said he was stationed at a bridge over the ditch at 28th and Madison streets when he saw Versie being swept along face down in water flowing through i the ditch. I heard some guys on the other side of the bridge say here she comes, and I jumped in, Hirrill said. Hirrill said he caught the girl and carried her to the side of the ditch. Versie was taken to University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead about 4:05 p.m., police said. Cecillia was swept along the ditch to a spot behind the Curran Conway Field where she 1. Children swept away by stream tn z 22NDST. g 24TH ST. co z PRINCETON OR. ui o s I Currtn Conway Field 28THST. 2. Child rescued here 3. Child drowns here 13 s I Ui STEVE SCALLION / Arkansas Oemocral-Oazene grabbed onto a tree limb and began calling for help. Scott Brownell, 19, and Jake Hagar, 21, members of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock baseball team, said they were taking batting practice at just some kids playing in the ditch, Hagar said. Brownell and Hagar said they couldnt see the girl from the field and ran down to the ditch where they saw Cecillia clinging to a tree suspended over the creek. We told her to calm down and told her we would get her out, Hagar said. Scott waded across and put her up on his shoulder and gave her a ride, Hagar said. The water was still pretty high, about waist high. The two men carried the girl up to the field clubhouse where they called 911. She was real disoriented but she looked all right, Brownell said. Paramedics and rescue personnel treated Cecillia in the the fields covered batting cage c-l-u-b-h- ous,e before taking her to when they heard tt.h..e, girl Children s H. osp.i tal,. w..here oili-screaming for help. cials listed her in stable condi- At first we thought it was tion Wednesday night. BY JIM KORDSMEIER Democral-Gazette Police Reporter A Little Rock girl drowned Wednesday when swift waters from an afternoon thunderstorm swept her and her sister down a drainage ditch in Central Little Rock. Versie Mitchell, 9, and Cecillia GrilTin, 10, both of 1 Madison St., were walking home from Franklin Elementary School about 2:30 p.m. with three friends when they stopped to play in a drainage ditch at 153 Monroe St. a few blocks south of the Highland Park housing project, police said. Sheena Horton, 9, told po-lice Versie and Cecillia jumped into the ditch after their backpacks felt into the
water. Cecillia later told rescuers they were washed away when a wall of water came from behind them as they went to retrieve the packs. Sheena and two other children not identified by police ran to call for help. About 10 blocks and 30 See DROWNING, Page 13A I Ligl^ning hurts 9 on playground at LR school: Kids just dropped I Arkansas Democrat t^(pazelle THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1994 Arkansas Democrat JT(Gazette BY OLIVIER UYTTEBROUCK AND JIM BROOKS Democrat-Gazette Staff Writers A bolt of lightning injured nine students Wednesday as it shattered a tree on their school playground during recess. The same small, violent storm that produced the lightning also caused flash flooding that killed one of two sisters swept along a drainage ditch north of Asher Avenue. Lightning Continued from Page 1A None are in life-threatening condition." said Dr. Henry Williams, superintendent of the Little Rock School District. "Lightning struck without warning. It struck the tree not the youngsters." All the children appear to be doing verv well. said Dr. Steve Schexnayder. an emer- Counselors, nurses to help students cope with concerns about lightning accident, drowning 12A gency room physician who Related articles 13A We heard thunder, and the tree blew up. said Matthew Munday, a trembling fourthgrader who witnessed the event from a nearby classroom. It blew up the whole tree, and the kids just dropped. Nine McDermott Elementary School pupils were taken by ambulance to Arkansas Childrens Hospital. Police released the names of the nine about 2:30 p.m. after their parents were notified. Christopher Nichols, 7, was treated some of the children. "Many of the children have no detectable injuries. " Schex-nayder said. j Bill Munday was one of I dozens of parents who took their children home early after learning of the accident. Matthew wa.s sitting in a corner classroom in full view of the ac cident. The child's hands trembled. and his knees knocked. A total of 186 people in-eluding 181 students, four teacher aides and a custodian listed in serious condition Wednesday night. Gerold Walker. 11, Nicole Behrendt, 7, and .lames Berault. 7. were listed in fair condition Wednesday afternoon. Five other students were treated at the hospital and released: Brad Byers, 10 Angela Adams, 10 Christopher Lewis, 7 Christopher Dobbin, 10 Tasha Woodard, 11. See LIGHTNING, Page 12A were on the playground of McDermott Elementary at 1200 Reservoir Road about 1:15 p.m. when lightning struck the tall oak tree in the southeast corner of the playground. Little Rock police spokesman Lt. Charles Holladay said. Toni White, a computer laboratory specialist and certified nurse's assistant, helped paramedics with the injured stu dents. .She said she heard the thunderbolt and immediately moved her students away from the computers. Every child literally jumped." White said. It was one big. powerful bolt." The force of the strike reverberated through the floor, a fourth-grade teacher said . Arkansas Oemocfat-Gazeite/Sleve Keesee school. Gilmer said. Children were transported to the hospital one by one as stretchers and ambulances arrived, he said. Emergency workers at first thought only three children were injured, he said. Two children wandered into the health room complaining of head and neck pains as paramedics worked on other children, he said. Caroline Roberts, mother of one of the injured children. .Angela Adams, said her daughter seemed more frightened than injured. Angela complained of a sore chest and said she was frightened. Roberts said as she stood beside an ambulance. Wagner said a crisis intervention team will be sent to the school today to help children and staff deal with the emotional effects of the lightning strike. Schexnayder said that, as ambulances streamed into the emergency room bays. 15-20 physicians swung into action to treat the injuries. Lightning has killed seven Arkansans and injured 52 in the last five years, according to sta-tistics provided by the Weather Service Forecast Office in North Little Rock. In September 1991. lightning killed two Southwest Little Rock brothers and injured a playmate. Quinton Yarberry. 7. and his brother Keith. 5. died after lightning struck a transformer at Chicot and Hillsboro roads about 75 yards from , , .. where the children were play- HIT BY THUNDERBOLT Lightning shattered this tree Wednesday on the M>ac-rD>e__r_m__o_utt fE-tl_e__m.emn/4 talrayii i iprilnazyi grrtoinuAn d/, hiilnHjurornin gu unhinn e\u cnhrail dnrelanu iwnfhl o were playing Accord.in.g .t o an A rikansas Power and Light Co. news release. 1994 has brought more lightning strikes than 1993. In June. 400.959 lightning nearby. teachers are instructed that they should take their students inside. School district spokesman Ingrid Rodriguez, who was in the library at the time. Every-body was crying. It sounded exactly like an explosion, ssaaiidd Kristin Jeanette Wagner said_it was not Walden, whose classroom at the southeast corner of the school is nearest the struck tree. The lightning bolt split the raining at the time of the lightning strike. She said teachers told her there were ominous clouds in the distance. tree, which is on a hill about 100 Teachers and children said feet from the schools southeast the school was a scene of chaos corner. Branches and wood after the lightning bolt crashed Little Rock firefighter flashes were recorded in Ar- Charles Gilmer said he saw kansas by a new satellite net-burns on one of the nine chil- work subscribed to by the util-dren. but he did not know the ity. In June of 1993. 187,899 girls name. flashes were recorded in Ar- Three of the children weren't kansas by the National Lightspeaking, Gilmer said. ninj Detection Network. The rest would answer splinters scattered as far as 20 outside the building, feet around the base of the tree. They were not taking shelter under the tree." Williams said. "During lightning and thunder. It was mass panic," said a teacher, who declined to give her name. 1 was crying. said 8-year-old The network uses two satel-questions but would take lites and 132 ground sensors dis-awhile, kind of collecting their tributed evenly across the country to detect lightning strikes thoughts, he said. Paramedics set up a tempo- and record their positions. rary infirmary in the health Stajf reporter Chris Reinolds room on the east side of the contributed to this story. 2B FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1995 Parents sue school aides, seek damages Lightning last year hurt nine ehildren BY LINDA SATTER Democral-GazeMe Courthouse Reporter The parents of two children who were injured by lightning last year while playing on the McDermott Elementary School playground have fded a negligence lawsuit against school ofTi- cials. The suit alleges the girl and boy were not only negligently instructed to remain outside on the playground, but were also forbidden to enter the school building while a thunderstorm had been approaching the general area. Nine students were injured when a bolt of lightning blew apart a tree on the playground during recess. Among the students were Christopher Nichols and Nicole Behrendt, both 7 years old then. Their parents Handy and Darla Nichols, and Bruce and Karen Behrendt Filed the suit through Little Rock attorney Lewis E. Ritchey. The childrens injuries werent described, except as serious and warranting future medical bills. Principal Michael Oliver and teacher Nancy Downing were named as defendants in the suit, which was Filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court. Both were unaware of the Filing when contacted Thursday evening at their homes, and both declined to comment. Five unnamed teachers and aides, the Little Rock School District, the school board and the districts insurer. United National Insurance Co. also are defendants. The suit seeks compensation for medical expenses and suffering, as well as punitive damages. Attorneys for the school district couldnt be reached for comment Thursday evening. School ofFicials, board members and a district spokesman all were attending a meeting. The lawsuit alleges that more than 20 minutes prior to the lightning strike, flashes of lightning and sounds of thunder were observed in the McDermott Elementary School area. The lightning bolt struck about 1:15 p.m. Aug. 31, 1994, while about 180 students were on the playground. It split a tall oak tree that stood on a hill about 100 feet from the schools southeast corner. The school is at 1200 Reservoir Road. One teacher described the scene afterward as mass panic. Superintendent Henry Williams said then that the students were not taking shelter under a tree. During lightning and thunder, teachers are instructed that they should take their students inside. -TlWIArkansas Democrat ^(jjazcttc f SATURDAY, AUGUST 19,1995 McDermott parents told of school routes The Little Rock Public Works i ' Department has identified routes ' for parents of McDermott Elemen- R tary School pupils to take to reach H the school despite construction to I widen parts of Reservoir Road. j School starts Monday for McDer- I mott children and other students in ( the Little Rock School District Parents coming from Cantrell Road will be allowed access to the school. Parents coming from Rodney Parham Road should take Southedge Drive to get to the school. When leaving McDermott, parents should go north on Reservoir Road to Old Forge Drive, which will take them back to Rodney Parham. <5 j A'r kansas Dem ocrat ^(J^aze*l-t-c-- -- - THURSDAY. APRIL 4, 1996 Arkansas Democrat-Gazen&STEVE K==35 McDennott Dementary Principal Michael Oliver holds one of three liohtning students w..ere injured in the fail of 1S94 when lightning struck a tree on the detectors the Little Rock School District has bought. Several McDermott playground. 3 LR schools install lightning detectors BY CHRIS REINOLDS Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer The Little Rock School District installed lightning detectors in three schools Wednesday, becoming the first district in the state to use the new technology. Nine students were injured Sept. 1.1994. when lightning blew apart a tree on the McDermott Elementary School playground. Tire lightning bolt struck when about IfJO students were on the playground. It split a tall oak tree about. IIX) feet from the schools southeast comer. McDennott Principal Michael Oliver now has the SkyScan light-ning/ storm detector, which can track liglitning bolts up to 46 miles away. Fulbri^t Elementary and Romine Interdistrict Elementary also received the detectors. The device widely used by the U.S. miiitap'. Secret Service and school districts outside Arkansas was introduced in July 1995. Samuel B. Clubb, president ofSkj- Scan Technologies, said his company has sold 5.000 to 6,000 detectors at $200 each. Robert Jones, safety and security director, said the district will evaluate the detectors at the end of this school year to decide whether to install more. Tliis gives the principals a real tool, Jone.s said. The device is not meant to replace National Weather Service reports, but to serve as a first warning. The detector is slightly bigger than a cellular phone and can be held or mounted on a wall. The machine beeps when it detects lightning. A light array indicates the distance of the lightning on a scale of zero to three miles, three to eight miles, eight to 20 miles and 20 to 40 miles. The average lightning stroke is 6 miles long and most thunderstorms move at 25 mph, Clubb said. Once a tliunderstorm is within 10 miles, you're in imminent danger," Clubb said. And once you hear it. youve already been at risk for some time. Since 1990, lightning has killed six people and injured 59 in .'\r-kansas, said Renee Fair, National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist. Fair (le-clined to comment on tlie effectiveness of the new lightning detector. Teachers and students were not allowed to comment on the device at McDermott because two families whose children were hospitalized have sued the distncL Four McDermott pupils were hospitalized in the 1994 liglinung strike: five other students were treated at the hospital and released. Oliver and teacher Nancy Downing were named as defendants in the lawsuit filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court last year. Five unnamed teachers and aides, the Little Rock School District the school board and the United National Insurance Co. also are '.le-fendants. Tlie lawsuit alleges that more than 20 minutes prior to the lightning strike. Hashes of lightning and sounds of thunder were ob-sened in the McDennott Elenien-taiy School area." I SE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1998 Arkansas Democrat (gazette Paper Trails By Carrie Rengers I Nell Frost has enough stories for her own book I am Hogue was honored when guest reader Nell Frost visited her sixth- Pgrade class at McDermott Elementary School, but she did have one concern. Would a reading by a 100- year-old woman keep toe attention of a fidgeting group of preteens? Frost could have left her book at home. The class wanted to hear her stories. Frost who taught sixth grade for 40 years, is one of more than 675 volunteers who visited classrooms at Little Rock elementary schools to read to pupils in celebration of National Childrens Book Week Nov. 16-20. t A representative with Volunteers in Public Schools, which organized the readings, drove Frost to McDermott, but she did toe rest It was a very simple little storj
Frost sajs of Shel Silverstein's The Gii> mg Tree, which she chose to read. The discussion, though, was quite involved. We had so much to talk about, Frost says. We wondered what she had to live through, what inventions she had to live through and live without says pupil Sam Rabaduex. Frost told them of the first time she saw an automobile. She and a cousin were on a horse returning from the store with eggs. The car fii^tened toe horse, who threw off the girls and galloped away. The girls Jost the eggs, which broke and smeared all over the street but the horse returned home and stood waiting for them in front of his stable. She knows a lot about historj, says pupil Abdias Montoya. She was alive when toe Titanic (sankIl Frost told of how people in her hometown of Dardanelle got updates on toe , Titanic, not from radio or TV but by I heading to the river each day to get newspapers that came by boat 1 , Shed be good for social studies. Sam says. It was neat actually being in the room with somebody who lived at SI !> Pam Hogue (standing, back row) had no reason to worry that her pupils might be inattentive when 100- year-oid Nell Frost visited her classroom during National Childrens Book Week. Even o ne had not brought each pupil a Slinky, James Pfeifer would have been a hit with this group of kindergarten pupils at Romine Elementary School. the time of the Titanic. And you can understand it better from her than, like, a book. Pupil Savannah Couca says she was surprised that she wasnt boring, that she had a lot to say. The pupils surprised Frost, too, when she quizzM them on current events. 1 was amazed they were so smart, she sajS- I was so proud of them. And shes not through. Theyre going to let me come back and tell them some more things, Frost says. The pupils are already planning a birthday party for her. She turns 101 two days after Christmas. I just love it I or years, James Pfeifer was busy at work at Little Rocks One Source Home and Building Centers. He F supported various causes financially, but it has only been in retirement that the 82-year-oId Pfeifer has been able to devote as much time as be wants in person to those causes. So, in addition to reading for Book Week, Pfeifer reads to kindergarten pupils at Romine Elementary School in Little Rock once or twice a week. Honestly, I have never done any-thing so fulfilling as this, Pfeifer says. I just love it So do the kids. During Book Week, he brought each of them a brightly colored Slinky. The pupils like their Slinkj's. but it's Pfeifer they really appreciate. Of the pupils, he says. I havent met one yet that I havent fallen for. i TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26.1999 CopvT<i C 1999. *ATivs OemccTaxVvmv. I Arkansas Democrat WtQazettc | They see it, hear it, say it, feei it Tlie only thing theyre not doing is tasting it, and if I could figure out a way for them to dothat, Id doit 4" Youve got to hand it to Nancy Downing. The McDermott Elementary schoolteacher (below) will do almost anything to help her students learn. Movement helps her class understand sounds. Downing says. Sensible approach i Little Rock teachers multisensory methods earn her accolades and her students devotion. I'- \ t Photos by Staton lireidenthal By J.J. Thompson Special to the Democrai-Ga/ette - " ancy Downings 25 second- graders dance in their classroom. They sing jingles. They snap fingers. And, above all, they dont just leam. They have fun learning lots of fun. Downings ability to motivate her students won her national recognition as one of 29 L teachers named to USA To- days 1999 All-USA SaHH Teacher Team, its second annual, which was fea- tured in the newspapers Oct. 14 edition. On Oct. 15, the Little Rock McDermott Elementary School teacher traveled to Arlington, Va., to receive a trophy and $2,500 for her school, and she says she has also received a telephone call offering ku- do.s from representatives at the White House. Downing was selected from a pool See TEACHER, Page 8ETeacher Continued from Page 1E of 599 nominees, according to Tracy Wong Briggs, an editor al USA Today who i.s working on the project. The leachers selected are representatives of all outstanding teachers Briggs says, since its really impossible to definitively decide the best Other Arkansans honored by USA Today include Vicki Allland, Ida Bums Elementary. Conway, vho was named to the second earn. Honorable mentions were wl twarded to Mavis Forrest, MacArthur Junior High. Jonesboro. and to the Fundamentals in Research Method.s Team Donna Hutchinson. Alecia Castleberry and Shane Willbanks al the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Science!? in Hol Springs. CARING TEACHER I dont think I do anything special." Downing, a tall, slender woman dressed in a flowing black and while skirt topped by a fuchsia blazer, says recently, sitting in her bright, yellow-walled classroom while her students are off to music class. I think I do what I'm supposed to do. Perhaps, but fellow teachers and parents who nominated her see it differently. They each described Downing as a teacher who cares about every single one of her students and who has figured out how to tap into each students abil-it>' and desire to learn. "She involves everyone in the learning process with a st\ le of her own." says McDermott's principal. Virginia Ashley. "Every child is happy in there, though she is very firm and determined that they will learn what she has set out for them to learn." Firm? Yes. Tough? Not really. Throughout the day. certainly more times than Downing would like, lessons are punctuated with her saying in an *i m serious" kind of voice. Excuse me! I will wait until I have every ones attention. Or until the students at Table 2 are quiet. Or until the little boy who seeks constant attention has put down his pencil, sat down in his chair or stopped whatever other disturbing behavior he might be doing. Obviously, the blank after until" can be filled in any number of wavS. Yet the students respond. They seem to thrive in the controlled atmosphere she esiabli.shes "The neatest tiring is. when students first go into Ms. Downings class, they go home and say. 'Shes mean. 'Shes hard. but all you have lo do is give them one week. Then they say. 'Tliere s no one like Ms. Downing. .Ashley says. .A lot of that has lo be because they know that Downing knows Artiansas Oemoaal-GazanaSTATON BOEIDEMTHAL Nancy Downing and her students act out a jingle. and cares about each of them. She knows which children haven't had breakfast, which children have no parents in the house to help them with reading and other homework, and which children live in homes with all the nurturing and guidance they need. She knows which ones are autistic, which one has difficulty hearing (a condition that she was one of the first to recognize) and which one hears only Spanish in the home. Though she has taken time to learn about the myriad and sometimes depressing home lives from which her students come to school each day. her expectations for learning never vaiy from child to child. Each one is expected to focus" on the task at hand, each one is expected to be respectful and courteous, and each one is expected to behave. Downing maintains this state with the usual idealsa calm voice, positive reinforcement a piercing l(X)k when necessaiy and consistent rules and consequences but mostly she maintains it with her multi-sensoiy approach to education. The approach .she has developed Ibr teaching reading a peppy mixture ol'phonics, signing and jingles grouped together in what she calls Downfcld Phonics offers a prime example. With Downfeld Phonics, children dont simply recite the alphabet. they chant to a beat A, vowel, long a, aaaay. short a. aaaah,... to stress the sound or sounds each vowel or consonant makes while at the same time using their hands to sign the letter. They don't just learn vowel rules, they jump up and move to catchy jingles, singing about such things ns "trouhlc-innkcr y a trouble maker because it Is a member of the vowel fam-i ly and consonant fam-i-ly. Ashley and oilier educators have taken notice of Downing, who was last year's Arkansas Teacher of tlie Year, and her effective approach. Wlial's amazing to me is how fast they all gel into it" Ashley says. Tliey learn those jingles and tliose movements so quickly, and they're so proud of themselves for it And that's the key to a students succe.ss right tliere Uicy feel they can do what the/ve been asked to do. Downing developed Downfeld Phonics, which she would like to market to reach students at other schools, seven years ago. She started with the framework of a fellow teacher's reading program when she found herself teaching first grade after years of teaching older elemental^ children. lore they a.s.sociale it with the written characters, so performing the motion can be a quicker trigger than seeing the letters for the brain to produce the sound. Reading isnt the only subject that benefits from Downings determination to allow learning to happen through multiple senses. Other lessons are spiced up with movement, tactile activities or problem-solving with a partner. Remember learning division by watching a teacher draw a pie on the chalk board? These children cut out cookies with a partner and set the table for imaginary guests. As more guests arrive, they redivide the cookies. Downing says she realized the importance of a multiscnsory approach to teaching from watching her own three children learn. Because one child is considered gifted and another has what she* calls learning differences, Downing understands that children have many different ways of learning. Punctuation family's antics What's a day in a second-grade classroom like? Of course, that will vary from teacher to teacher, but what follows are some typical scenes from a day in Nancy Downing's class at McDermott Elementary School in Little Rock: Punctuation lesson: Whispers and giggles give away the students' exertement as soon as Downing tells them that there was a big commotion at her house before she left for school that morning. In fact, they guess immediately that the Punctuation Family had caused the ruckus. Downing confirms their suspicions by telling them that Punky Period, who goes on tolling senloncos, was tattling again. Mark Question Mark was still crying because he never knows the answers. And Elmer Exclamation Mark was going wild because he's always excited or scared about something. for work so early that he had no one al home to make sure he was up and ready for school. The students knew the chafactefs by heart, lau^ at their antics. Reacing grap: "Awesome. I can tell you're practicing at heme. Keep it up," Downing tells the student who has just read. The boy smies shyly and bews his head. Another bc^ reads and grins widely when Dewnrig offers Nm a quiet high-five for his efforts. To discuss the assignment for the next day, Downing motions the boys and girls to lean in as if in a huddle. She whispers the reading game plan, and they end the lesson with their hands stacked on each other and a whispered OKT. Schools out At the end of each day. Downing stands at the door as they are dismissed so she can hug each one and rrtake sure they leave with a final word from her. That it means much to the students is evident in the hug. smile and nod that J.they return. ).J. Thompson She bought him an alarm clock. As a single mother who works taught him how to use it, and after ^wo jobs (she tutors after school), that, he rarelv came in tardy. Downing is s.j inp. atlietic to families Its easy to forget that dedicated who struggle to get children to teachers have a life outside tlieclass-school already fed, rested and with completed homework. Therefore, she makes sure to do ivoin. but major events have a way of making tliat fact hard to ignore. At the beginning of the year, hcr priority, Ashley says. Downing's "concern never wavered from her students.... When it was time to take him back to the hospital, she would call and check on her students every day. "She asked Iteacher] friends and me to go in and monitor them while they were with a substitute. such things as send home the next just days before learning of the , weeukus spelling 1l esson. uo-n the pre- Tbday recognition, Downings A LIVELY APPROACH Thats another reason the stu- < dents seem to blossom in Downings class: Its lively.
For instance, a recent spelling list encompassed the continents, f the names of which were printed neatly on the board. The children shouted out in unison the letters of the words, using sign language to sign each letter with their hands as they said it. Downing has found that using a multiscnsory approach in her teaching allows her to capture and hold the interest and imagination of all children, be they top of the class or struggling to keep up. They see it. hear it say iL feel it Tlie only thing they're not doing is tasting it. and if 1 could figure out a way for them to do that. Id do it." Downing says. I freaked out. I thought. Ive got to teach these kids to read fast, Downing says. She built on the program by teaching students to sign the alphabet and the sounds of blends such as bl or "wr with their hands while they speak the sound. For extra effect, they close their eyes while speaking and signing. When you close your eyes, you take away the sense of sight.*' Downing says, but you feel at a deeper level. Some children, she says, associate the sound with the motion be-ceding Friday so tliat busy parents will have the weekend to start working with their children. She asks parents to bring sandwiches and fruit instead of cookies and candy to school parties, and then slips the leftovers into the backpacks of those students whom she suspects may not get a nutritious supper at home. Shes also been known to pull coats out of her own closet to give to students who needed them. One year, she says, she taught a little boy who was habitually absent or late to class. She learned that his parents had to leave home teen-age son suffered severe injuries in a car accident. Though her son was naturally June 2 1, 2 0 0 5 Arkansas Damooral-Qazette/STEVE KEESEE Barbara Beavers (center), the math coach at Meadowcliff Elementary School In Little Rock, reacts along with fellow teachers Joyce Mason (left) and Theessa Arnold after the staff was honored Monday because their students showed improvement on test scores during the past year. Test results score bonuses for school Private pay program rewards Meadowcliff teachers, staff for 17% gain BY CYNTHIA HOWELL ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Teachers and staff at Little Rocks Meadowcliff Elementary School are $134,800 richer this summer as a result of a privately funded pilot program to reward employees for what turned out to be a 17 percent student achievement gain on a nationally standardized test. The Student Achievement Challenge and Teacher Reward Project is the end result of a quest started two years ago by Meadowcliff Principal Karen Carter as a way to reward faculty for the academic progress the pupils at the 350-student school seemed to be making. On Monday, school, district and state leaders celebrated the project that was quietly put into place in August by staff with help from the Public Education foundation of Little Rock and an anonymous financial donor. We are here to show that the quality of teaching impacts the education of children, and that the clear measurement of data is important and necessary, Lisa Black, executive director of the foundation said at the school in a news conference attended by about 100 school employees and community leaders. Carter said her staff screamed and cried when they learned of the bonus amounts last week, but during the year their focus was on student achievement. "The staff agreed to participate ... not because of the money but because they were excited to have data on the growth of their students, she said. Kathy Thomas, a first-grade teacher, agreed. 'Tve taught since 1970 and have never had the opportunity to look at what my students knew and how they ch^ged, she said. "The money is nice
the tools are better. As part of the project, and despite coping with a July 23 fire that damaged the school's kitchen and cafeteria, the Meadowcliff faculty administered the Stanford Achievement Test, ninth edition, to pupils in kindergarten through fifth grade during the week of Aug. 30. The results of the exam gave teachers information on the skills each child had or needed, making it possible to target instruction. The results of a second set of Stanford tests, given the week of May 9, showed pupils on average made a 17 percent gain. Black said. Teacher bonuses were calculated based on individual gains of pupils. For each pupil who made up to a 4 percent gain on the May test when compared with the See BONUSES, Page 5B ! Bonuses Continued from Page 1B pre-test last August, the teacher was entitled to $100. For each pupil who made a gain of between 5 percent and 9 percent, the bonus was $200. If the pupils gain was between 10 percent and 14 percent, the bonus was $300 and if the gain exceeded 15 percent, the bonus was $400. The actual teacher bonuses ranged from $1,800 to $8,600, and cost $65,000, Black said. Twenty-five school employees including curriculum specialists, the media speciahst, and maintenance and cafeteria workers also earned bonuses the maximum allowed because the schools gains overall exceeded 15 percent. For certified employees such as the math and literacy coaches, that bonus was $5,000. The total cost of the project, including the testing, was about $145,000, Black said. When Meadowcliff pupils took the test in the fall, they only scored better than 25 percent of a national sample of students who took the same test. By spring, they had improved to scoring better than 34 percent of fellow ... ---------- tion and used in more than a test takers nationwide. They had dozen Arkansas schools, includ- curve equivalent score ing Rockefeller and Stephens in of 35.6 in the fall, improving to Little Rock. 41.5 in spring for the 17 percent The Meadowcliff plan differs . from the Denver and Milken The Little Rock School Dis- plans in that it is focused solely trict and the state have discontin- on student ued use of the Stanford test and All of these things are promis- cb-n Iowa Test of Basic ing, Greenman said. We have to J try a lot of different kinds of mod- Meadowcliff used the Stan- els instead of this current system ford for the project because the of only rewarding teachers based district had the software to grade on the amount of time they stay in the school system and the The results came after the end graduate credit they rack up. of the school year, but Carter said , . ------------- Kathy Christie, vice president pupils who return to school in for the Education Commission of August will be rewarded as well, the States, said the performance Performance pay plans remain pay concept is very popular with rare throughout the country. business leaders and political fig- The statistic that is out there ures, including a number of govts something like more than 95 ernors, but it is unusual for a percent of the school districts state to do anything large scale. use a single salary schedule, said ..................... Meadowcliff Teacher Reward Project Teachers and staff at Little Rocks Meadowcliff Elementary School earned bonuses totaling $134,800 tor the achievements made by pupils In kindergarten through fifth grades in the 2004-05 school year. Using the Stanford Achievement Test, ninth edition, Meadowcliff teachers tested their students in late August and again In early May to determine how much learning was gained over the school year. GRADE LEVEL Kindergarten e' First Grade Second Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade PRE - 42.8 '33.2 4/ 38.6 31.2 Josh Greenman, director of strategy and communications for The Teaching Commission. Exceptions include alternative pay plans in Denver and the Teacher Advancement Program created by the Milken Founda- business leaders and political fig- Its tough work, she said Bonuses varied by teacher based on the gains of their individual students. The pilot Student Achievement Challenge and Teacher Reward Project was made possible by the Public Education Foundation of Little Rock with funding from a donor. The bonuses were based on normal curve equivalent scores, which is one of several methods used to report standardized test scores. POST AVG.CHANGE 48.7 37.6 38.2 10.4'1 5.9 +4.4: -0.4 51 9 34.8 40.2 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about putting alternative pay plans into practice. The conversations are growing, but it is squishy business. Its hard and getting it right is very tricky. Black said foundation and district leaders would continue to study the data provided by the project and would be interested in continuing the reward system at Meadowcliff and other district schools if funds become available. Funding is a significant challenge for many bonus pay programs, Greenman said. Opponents of performance pay systems cite that as a reason so it is important that when the systems are designed it is important that they are somewhat sustainable, Greenman said. I sure hope they can find the money to continue it. If you are trying to make teaching a more professional profession, youve got to be able to tell teachers that they are eligible for awards for the quality of the jobs they do not just in a single year but on a continuing basis.
This project was supported in part by a Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives project grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Council on Library and Information Resoources.