Financial Resources
The Fordyce Redbug Alumni Foundation (FRAF) was established by an alumnus who had moved to Northwest Arkansas but had a soft spot in his heart for his alma mater. He knew there were others all across America with the same deep, abiding love. With them being far-removed from the annual local millage taxes, they were more than willing to pitch in financially to make their home school the best it could be. A Board of Trustees was established, made up of alums and former teachers who would make contacts for funds and then rule on those funds' usages. Upon a request from within the school system and with the superintendent’ approval, a formal written request can be directed to the FRAF Board for either full or partial approval. Some of the approved requests include: funding for 80 Texas Instruments hand-held calculators, so every child in Fordyce School District can be properly equipped entering the state-mandated benchmark exams in math; a potter's wheel and dry kiln for the art department; lockers for a new 5th grade wing; software for a NASA program in our science department; and a $1,000 technology scholarship to a graduating EAST lab student. Plaques in the shape of a redbug have been made and sent to those donors who give cumulatively $500 or more. Also, we send yearly donors are sent a window decal to place in their car window, similar to the Razorback Foundation stickers seen around the state.

Fordyce School District
Contact: Cheesa Parham chee4558@yahoo.com
Date Listed: May 30, 2006

School Choice
The Monticello and Drew Central School Districts have a freedom of choice agreement that has been very beneficial to the school districts and parents. We have agreed to not only follow the state law on freedom of choice but to allow parents moving into either district to make a choice on schools at the time of moving. This eliminates the July 1 deadline for parents moving after this date. We also allow students a freedom of choice move during the year if both superintendents agree to the move. This allows some parents who have a problem to ask to move during the school year. Each case is handled individually. Children who have major discipline problems are never recommended by the home school to the receiving school during the school year. This policy seems to work for both districts, balancing out the number of freedom-of-choice students for each district. This policy has been in effect for several years, even before the state mandated freedom of choice.

Monticello School District and Drew Central School District
Contact: Norman Hill (870) 367-4000 or Mike Reeves (870) 367-5369
Date Listed: May 30, 2006

School Reform Strategies
Students in the lower elementary grades (K-2) receive “report card” scores in the core subjects based on their performance levels of: 1-below basic, 2-basic, 3-proficient, 4-advanced. As a result, teachers, students, and parents are more aware of the expectations at a given grade level. The teachers say that they know the academic strengths and weaknesses of each and every student and can adjust instruction to their needs. Based on a positive parent survey and teacher feedback, the district is expanding the use of standards-based report cards to grades 3-5.

Rogers School District
Contact: Ashley Kelley (479) 636-3910
Date Listed: May 30, 2006

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