Superintendent's Scoop

Dear Panthers,

As we enter February, our district remains focused on several key initiatives aimed at enhancing the educational experience for all students. We are diligently working on policy updates, preparing for the 2025-2026 school calendar, and planning for staffing changes. I want to share an update on these important efforts:

Policy Updates and the 2025 Arkansas Legislative Session

One of our main administrative priorities is reviewing and updating district policies in response to the ongoing 2025 Arkansas Legislative Session. New laws emerging from this session may impact the policies we implement in our schools. We are carefully tracking all legislation to ensure our policies align with both state law and the needs of our school system. As always, our goal is to provide the best learning environment for our students while adhering to legal requirements.

Planning the 2025-2026 School Calendar

We are currently developing the school calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. This process considers Arkansas state law, as well as the needs of our staff and students. Our goal is to create a calendar that balances instructional time with adequate breaks to support a healthy and productive school year.

The calendar is developed by our District Leadership Team in collaboration with the Classified and Certified Personnel Policy Committees, who carefully review all factors before making recommendations. Final approval rests with our school board. We strive to provide as much advance notice as possible to our students, staff, and community so they can plan accordingly for the upcoming school year.

Staffing for the 2025-2026 School Year

We are also preparing for staffing needs for the next school year. This includes recruiting top talent to join #PantherNation and ensuring we have strong support systems in place for our current staff. Professional development opportunities will remain a priority to equip our educators with the tools they need to provide high-quality instruction.

Using Data to Drive Instructional Conversations

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we have been analyzing student achievement and growth data. This data is instrumental in guiding conversations with principals and teachers about instructional strategies. By identifying areas for growth and celebrating our successes, we aim to improve student outcomes across the district.

Thank you for your continued support of our efforts. We are excited about the work being done and will continue to keep you informed on these important updates. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or feedback.

Sincerely,
Shane Patrick

Go Panthers!

• K-8 Progress Reports going home the week of February 3, 2025
• 5-12 Parent Teacher Conferences February 13th and 18th

Teacher Flex Day

• February 13, 2025

The Siloam Springs High School theater depart put on the play "Cinderella". It was truly amazing to watch our students display their talents. I was blown away. I would encourage everyone to make sure and see the next production.

I want to take a moment to recognize our instructional coaches across our district. These ladies work tirelessly to help teachers get better as educators. They are a super talent bunch of professionals that truly value student learning and educator growth. I am thankful for them and their work!

Thank you, Stephanie, Kailey, Michele, Janice, Gina, Tiffinie, Tamara, Keli, Sandra, Susan, Lori, and Fern!

Love the Bus month isn't just about high-fiving our awesome school bus drivers for getting our kids to and from school safely, it's about recognizing how school transportation is a mighty game-changer for education. By giving props to these rockstar drivers, we can inspire even more peeps to join the school bus crew and ensure that future generations keep getting to school safely and sound.

Thank you, Steven, Catherine, Roseanna, Bryan, Ken, Matthias, Brian, Billy, Douglas, Tammy, Paxton, Jeremiah, Gary, Rodney, Brenda, James E., Leanne, Loren, Lee Roy, Jorge, Andrea, Timothy, James H., Michael H., Tommy, Carol, Nathan, Ashton, Robert, Chuck, Gary, Kimberly, Michael M., James M., Jason, Douglas, Jeremy, Vera, Phillip, Jeff, Tina, Gregg, Beverly, Ronald, William, Michael W., Abby, Steve A., John, Tana, Kenny, Vicky, Christina, Blake, Harold, Kimberley H., Cindy, Dorothy, and Tammy T.

We want to inform the community about the upcoming construction work at the Intermediate School, which is currently in the preliminary planning stages. The main goal of this project is to improve the security of the school’s entrance, ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and families. While we already have secure procedures in place, this revised entrance will help streamline the process, making it even more efficient. During construction, there may be changes to the usual drop-off routine, and the area will likely become a construction zone with increased traffic. We kindly ask for your patience as we work through this process. The project is expected to begin towards the end of the semester, and we wanted to give the community an early heads-up so that everyone can anticipate these changes. Safety remains our top priority, and we look forward to the positive impact this project will have in the future.