15 Gosnell students, 6 staff in quarantine

The Gosnell School Board provided several updates in their Monday night public meeting in the Gosnell High School library.

Superintendent Bonard Mace said there is currently one positive student case of COVID-19, one positive faculty case, 15 students placed under quarantine and six faculty members placed under quarantine.

Concerning the school’s virtual academy and online learning, curriculum coordinator Anita McKinney addressed providing hotspots to students in need of home internet access.

“I’ve had 24 parents come pick one up,” McKinney said. “I have another 10 that are accounted for that parents have yet to be picked up.” In total McKinney said about half of the online hotspots are accounted for, and she plans to keep five to 10 of the hotspots in reserve in case of a face-to-face student being placed under quarantine.

The district is utilizing Google Classroom to keep students on track in their online learning and to promote parent involvement as well. Under a guardian link provided by teachers, parents can access and track the assignments their child has completed, assignments that need to be completed, and also see feedback given from teachers on those assignments.

To further improve the communication between teachers, administrators and parents, the school district updated its website so that guardians can also download the school’s app directly to their phone.

In the High School Report, Gosnell was given a B rating by the Arkansas Department of Education’s “Every Student Succeeds Act”.

Concerning the school’s ACT scores from last year given to the junior class, principal Steven Milligian said it was the first time he can remember being above the state in every category.

On the ACT Aspire Exam given to 7th through 10th grade students, Gosnell students exceeded the state requirements in 15 of the 20 tested areas.

Milligian also detailed the student success plans that begins in the eighth grade. This program includes interest inventory for students and encourages them to enroll in college or pursue a more vocational route following their high school education.

The board also: