Dierks School Board approves one-time $1,000 recruitment bonus

Monday, the Dierks Board of Education met for their regular monthly meeting and voted to approve a one-time $1,000 non-reoccurring retention and recruitment bonus for all certified and classified staff members.

Board members also approved the district’s 2023-2024 general budget, federal budget and athletic budget along with the Federal Programs Statement of Assurances and the district’s Minority Teacher Recruitment Plan.

High School principal, Gene Strode informed the board that the district has implemented some new Math and Science curriculum to help improve test scores by aligning with the ATLAS testing. The district has also implemented a new credit recovery program called Edmentum Learning. And, administrators met with members of the Department of Education Coordinated Support team to devise a plan of support to help improve the district’s Reading scores.

The district’s reading improved from 42 percent of students needing improvement to 36.9 percent in 2022-2023.

Dierks athletic director Paul Ernest took 20 students to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Conference in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Coach Ernest said the FCA mission was pressed upon his heart during the summer FCA All-Star events.

The district Cross Country meet is on Tuesday, September 26 at the Mena Golf Course in Mena.