‘What’s Up, Doc?’

‘What’s Up, Doc?’

New superintendent Fenter outlines his vision for Marion School District

news@theeveningtimes.com

New Marion School District Superintendent Dr.

Glen Fenter has a very blunt message for the community.

Marion School District is at a critical crossroads.

It has the potential to be the place where parents and new residents choose to live and send their children. Or, it can wither away like many other cities in the Delta whose schools have fallen by the wayside.

But it is going to take the entire community to buy into this vision and support its schools and teachers, and for people to stop believing all the negative things they read about the schools on social media.

“You have a very good school district,” Fenter said. “We’re like everybody else. We have some things we can improve on. But you need to get to understand what is going on in your schools, because you have to be our biggest cheerleader. If you’re not supporting what we do every day, then we are losing ground. The only reason you are where you are is because you still have a good school.”

Fenter addressed the public at a recent forum hosted by the Marion Chamber of Commerce where he laid out his vision for the school district moving forward and some changes they are making.

He said there are a lot of good things going on in the schools, but that the school district suffers from a perception problem because of misinformation spread on social media.

“It is insane to allow people on social media to create your own image,” Fenter said. “The difference between the perception of the school district and the reality of the school district is significantly different.

We’re going to make sure you and everyone else in the community knows what’s happening in your schoolhouse. Please don’t criticize your school or run it down on social media.

Come in and see me. Give us a chance to fix what’s broken. But don’t punish an entire school system or a community trying to move forward. If you are going to fix this, then you have got to take ownership of where we are and what’s happening.”

Fenter said they remain committed to student safety. The district recently completed a renovation at the high school and added 30 more cameras and are going to do two more sections.

The school district has also hired a new director of safety.

“It has nothing to do with the kids on our campuses,” Fenter said. “It is the outside world that is crazy and it does come to campus on occasion. There is nothing more important than keeping our campuses safe. We want to make sure we are applying every available technology and every available person and strategy we can to make certain our campuses are safe.”

Fenter said they added a new weight room for its student athletes; are working on a new campus master plan to better beautify the appearance of the schools; and hopes to add an ROTC program in the near future.

Marion School District will also be the first in the state to implement the Peer Power program where students mentor and work with disadvantaged kids to improve their academics, and a new partnership with WorkBay which will help students learn how to choose their career path and match them with the right classes.

Fenter said they also plan to enhance the district’s computer science program to expose students to more Information Technology skills.

“We’re going to do everything possible to make sure our students leave here with a world class exposure to anything related to IT,” Fenter said. “Why? Because there is nothing they will ever do in their life that is not going to be touched by that.”

Fenter also touted the district’s unique relationship with ASU MidSouth. Students in Marion can graduate with a high school diploma and also earn a two year associates degree at the same time.

“You ought to be telling everybody you run in to because there aren’t a handful of communities in the state that can lay claim to that same model,” Fenter said.

“There are people in this region circling deciding where they want to live.

When you explain to them that we have a world class public school system at their disposal and they can also complete two years of college at the same time, that could be the difference maker on where those people choose to move and live.”

Fenter pointed to Big River Steel which he said is going to change everything in the region within a 75 mile radius. The community that has the best public schools is the one that is going to reap the benefits and grow.

“Big River Steel is the biggest thing to happen to Arkansas in its history,” Fenter said. “We have to position ourselves to take full advantage of that. This is the opportunity that places like ours either embrace and thrive, or ignore and fade off into the sunset. The most important piece of the puzzle is can we deliver a community that people want to put their children in.”

Fenter said Marion and Crittenden County’s future is only as bright as its ability to educate its children.

Otherwise, they risk becoming like Memphis and other big cities whose schools have failed, resulting in crime, poverty, and a poor quality of life.

He also added that contrary to public perception, the district’s diverse student population was one of its strengths, not weaknesses.

“The world is a diverse place,” Fenter said. “If a student doesn’t learn about diversity, does not experience diversity, then they’re never going to be able to function in the world.”

Marion School District has lost over 400 students in the last five years, he said, mostly because of parents living in Marion sending them to schools outside of the district.

Every student lost costs the district $7,000 in student

aid.

“That’s how much money is leaving your school district very year,” Fenter said. “And I can assure you that the vast majority is based on perception and not reality.”

Fenter concluded by praising the staff and said Marion has an opportunity to see distinctive change in a very short time. But it is going to take the entire community to put some “skin in the game.”

“Our teachers, our staff, our custodians, our bus drivers, are working their tails off every day to help you grow a community,” Fenter said. “And in many instances they have thankless jobs. They’re not paid nearly enough. And they are dealing with things that are insanely difficult. But they are doing a fantastic job every day to make certain your students have the opportunity to achieve their God given potential. We’re going to do the best we can to provide for you everything possible to make it happen. But it can’t happen without your belief and your buying in to what’s going on.”

By Mark Randall