Newsletter--Aug 2010 (to download a copy of actual newsletter/ please click here)

On behalf of the ANSAA Board of Directors, we welcome you to the 2010-2011 school year. We are pleased to have you as part of our association and we look forward to assisting you in maintaining your school’s excellent reputation by adhering to professional standards through the evaluation and accreditation process.

ANSAA Officers 2010-2011:

President--Greg Jones, Chief Academic Officer, Shiloh Christian, Springdale

Vice President --Sharon Blentlinger, Principal, Immaculate Conception, Ft. Smith

Secretary --Vernell Bowen, Superintendent, Catholic Schools of AR, Little Rock

Treasurer--Sharon Morgan, Principal, The Anthony School, Little Rock 

ANSAA Board Members Re-elected for Three Year Terms / 2010-2013

Harrell Austin, Retired Director, NE AR Education Coop., Paragould, Board Position #4

Ileana Dobbins, Principal, Our Lady of Holy Souls, Little Rock, Board Position #5

Sharon Blentlinger, Principal, Immaculate Conception, Ft. Smith, Board Position #6 

Position #1--Vernell Bowen       2009 / 2012       Position #6—Sharon Blentlinger   2010 / 2013

Position #2--Leesa Renshaw    2009 / 2012       Position #7—Carter Lambert         2008 / 2011

Position #3-- Russell Eudy        2009 / 2012      Position #8—Nora Yates               2008 / 2011

Position #4-- Harrell Austin       2010 / 2013        Position #9—Greg Jones              2008 / 2011

Position #5—Ileana Dobbins    2010 / 2013       Position #10-Sharon Morgan        2008 / 2011

New Administrators for this year

Abundant Life School, Sherwood                                      Dr. Geary Brown, Superintendent

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, Jonesboro              Sr. Lisa O’Connell, OSB, Principal

Concordia Christian Academy, Jonesboro                        Mindy Grubbs, Principal

Crowley’s Ridge Academy, Paragould                              Perry Gates, President

Garrett Memorial Christian School, Hope                          Barbara Childress, Principal

The Huda Academy, Little Rock                                        Zakeyieh Silat, Principal

Immaculate Conception, North Little Rock                        Marcia Brucks, Interim Admin.

Immaculate Heart of Mary School, North Little Rock        Dan Smith, Principal

Life Way Christian School, Centerton                               Stuart Bell, Interim Administrator

Ridgefield Christian School, Jonesboro                            Pending

St. John Catholic School, Russellville                               Mark A. Tyler, Principal

St. Joseph Catholic School, Paris                                     Kimberlee A. Felix, Principal 

St. Michael’s School, West Memphis                                Fr. Les Farley, Headmaster

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Rogers                    Joseph Sine, Principal

Subiaco Academy, Subiaco                                              Fr. Leonard Wangler, OSB, Headmaster

Union Christian Academy, Fort Smith                               Ben Lewis, Superintendent

Vision Christian Academy (formerly SBCA), LR                LaRhonda Cook, Interim Principal

West Memphis Christian School, West Memphis              Dr. Loretta Dale, President

Congratulations! ANSAA Accreditations 2009-2010

Accreditation Renewals:

Fayetteville Christian School, Fayetteville, (7-12)        Brad Jones, Superintendent

First Lutheran School, Fort Smith, (K-6)                      Eric Pralle, Principal

Immaculate Conception School, NLR,  (K-8)               Marcia Brucks, Interim Admin.

Little Rock Christian Academy, Little Rock, (K-12)      Dr. Gary Arnold, Head of School

North Little Rock Catholic Academy, NLR, (K-8)         Denise Troutman, Principal

Union Christian Academy, Fort Smith   (K-12)             Ben Lewis, Superintendent

Vision Christian Academy (formerly SBCA), (K-5)       La Rhonda Cook, Int. Principal

Initial Accreditation:

Avilla Christian Academy, Alexander, (K-12)                        Ross Chiles, Principal

Word of Outreach Christian Academy, Little Rock (K-12)    Cheryl Washington, Admin.         

ANSAA Site Visit Dates 2010-2011

ANSAA Renewals:

Trinity Christian School, Texarkana, (K-12)               Ron Fellers, Principal         April 10-13, 2011

Dual Accreditations Renewals:                                                                

Crowley’s Ridge Academy, Paragould, (K-12)          Perry Gates, President       Jan. 30-2, 2011

Harding Academy, Searcy, (K-12)                                   James Simmons, Supt.        Feb. 20-23, 2011

Mount St. Mary’s Academy, LR,  (9-12)                    Diane Wolfe, Principal          Feb. 28-1,  2011

Five Year Review & Accreditation Grade Additions

Episcopal Lower Elementary   (K-5)                          Kelly Kennedy, Principal     Sept. 27-28, 2010

Episcopal Collegiate (6-12)                                       Steve Hickman

Initial Dual Accreditation Candidate Status:

Grace Lutheran School, Lowell, (K-9)                       Steven Gartner, Principal     Fall, 2010

Initial Accreditation Candidate Status:      

Concordia Christian Academy, Jonesboro, (K-7)      Mindy Grubbs, Principal       

Garrett Memorial Christian, Hope, (K-9)                    Barbara Childress, Principal

St. Raphael Catholic School, Springdale, (K-6)         Karen LaMendola, Principal         

ANSAA Self Study

Final revisions are currently underway for the completion of the ANSAA Self-Study Instrument.  This accreditation tool directly correlates with ANSAA Standards I-XII.  An overview of the instrument will be presented at the annual meeting in November, 2010. Opportunities for staff training on the use of the instrument will be available starting in the fall. Any ANSAA school interested in obtaining a copy of the Self-Study should contact the ANSAA office. 

ANSAA Summer Workshops

Tremendous thanks to all who hosted and participated in the summer workshops offered by ANSAA in conjunction with the Arkansas Department of Education, Title II-A program. Evaluations will continue to be reviewed and recommendations will be used to improve and enhance the professional development offerings. A planning session is scheduled for September with the ADE to assess the evaluations and determine the professional in-service needs of our ANSAA schools for the 2010-2011 year; another needs assessment form concerning professional development will be sent out this fall.

NFNSSAA

The National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting Associations (NFNSSAA) Annual Meeting was held in St. Paul, MN on April 5-6, 2010. The following states were present: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Missouri, and   Michigan. Agenda items included:

·     School Accreditation

Brother William Carriere, Ex. Dir., Western Catholic Ed. Association

·     NFNSSAA By-laws and Policies

·     Inner City and Rural Schools – How can we help these schools survive?

·     Charter Schools and Other Alternatives to Nonpublic Education

ANSAA FEES

Membership Fees: The ANSAA Board of Directors voted to increase the annual membership fee for accredited and non-accredited schools based on student enrollment. Starting with the 2010-2011 school year, the annual fee structure will be $2.00 per student (grades K-12) in addition to the current base fees: accredited elementary school $450, accredited secondary school $450, non-accredited schools $300.  Annual Meeting Fee: The ANSAA Annual Meeting fee will remain the same as last year; $50.00 for the first attendee and $25.00 for each additional attendee from the same school; the registration form is on ANSAA.com.

Arkansas Activity Associaton / Annual Meeting

The Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) Annual Meeting of the Governing Board was held August 4, 2010 in Little Rock. All of the following proposals and additions to the AAA handbook were passed. The petition to move up in classification passed but will not start until the next cycle. It is very important that all ANSAA schools stay current  with all AAA paperwork, annually register all volunteer coaches, and annually review the AAA handbook with all coaches and athletic volunteers. The AAA staff will be sending out letters to all voting representatives on their Coop's hosting rules and regulation meetings.

Proposals  # 1-9  / Adding Forms and Definitions to the AAA Handbook:

Proposal # 1 - Teacher-Coach Verification Form

Proposal # 2 - Registered Volunteer Enrollment and Reg. Volunteer-Coach Verification Forms

Proposal # 3 - Application for Hardship Exceptions Form

Proposal # 4 - CSAP (Changing Schools/Athletic Participation) Forms

Proposal # 5 - Criteria for Changing Domiciles Form

Proposal # 6 - Official Contract Between Schools and Officials Form

Proposal # 7 - Contract Between Schools Form  

Proposal # 8 - Non-Competitive Spirit Team Advisor Verification Form

Proposal # 9 – Define Domicile, Authorized Representative, De Novo, Interscholastic Activities

Proposal # 10 - A student may transfer by school choice or legal transfer when a public school closes.

Proposal # 11 - Changes in Notification and Investigation Rule to allow use of modern communication devices

Proposal # 12 - Clarification of the Complete and Bona Fide Change of Domicile Rule

Proposal # 13 - Penalty for using an uncertified coach; forfeit all contests/games won in which the coach was involved, suspend the coach, and place the school on warning.

Proposal # 14 - Clarifies existing tie-breaking procedures in Rule 10, Basketball.

Proposal # 15 - A time management procedure for tied Conference Soccer games

Proposal # 16 - A proposal to provide a fair and equitable soccer tie breaking procedure

Proposal # 17 – Soccer season start date shall be week #35 through week  #46 (same as softball and basketball)

Proposal # 18 – Senior High Classification Petitioning Non-Public Schools:

A non-public school may petition to move to a higher classification than assigned: all sports will be included in the petition. Factors considered in moving to a higher classification are: geographic, population density,  and  competitive. If a non-public school is approved to move up in classification, a public school must be approved to move down a classification in order to fulfill the classification requirements.

Congratulation for Receiving AAA 2009-2010 Awards

AAA / Academic State Champions Awards 2009-2010

   Conway Christian (Football, Volleyball) / Episcopal Collegiate (Boys Golf) / Harding Academy (Baseball, Girls    

   Track) / Little Rock Christian (Boys & Girls Cross Country, Boys & Girls Soccer, Boys & Girls Swimming,  

   Girls Tennis, Wrestling) / St. Joseph, Conway (Girls Basketball & Golf) / Subiaco (Boys Tennis)

   AAA /Sportsmanship Award 2009-2010

   Arkansas Baptist, Little Rock

   Tremendous Thanks To:

    Vernell Bowen, Superintend of Catholic Schools, for her service on the AAA Board and to Joe Mallett,  

    Principal St. Joseph, Conway, for his service as the ANSAA Liaison to the AAA Board. They both did    

    an outstanding job representing our non-public schools and promoting positive public relationships.

ANSAA Annual Report

ANSAA.com

All forms for the 2010-2011 ANSAA Annual Reports are listed on the ANSAA.com with detailed instructions. Contact the ANSAA office (501-803-3888) if you need assistance with the forms or if you would prefer to have the forms mailed to your school. All forms have a set format with some deletions and additions. Please do not alter the forms to fit a different format.

September 15 Deadline

ANSAA Forms, Reports, and Fees must be mailed to the ANSAA office by Sept. 15. Mail the information listed on the Annual Report Checklist for 2010-2011 to: Beverly Gray, ANSAA Executive Director, 48 Norfork Drive, Maumelle, AR  72113.  If the forms are sent after the September 15th deadline, include a late fee of $100.

ANSAA Accredited School Forms & Reports

Non Accredited Associate Member Forms

Helpful Reminders

·         The ANSAA Annual Financial Review Form can be used in place of a school audit to meet ANSAA Standard *10.3.

·         Audit Verification Letter (if applicable)  

If the school conducted a 2009-2010 school audit, include a verification letter from the auditing firm or CPA with the annual report.

·         Annual Report  /  Major Recommendation

A list of the Major Recommendations from the school’s last accreditation site visit must be sent in each year along with a current progress report stating how the school is addressing the major recommendations.

·         ANSAA Policy Manual

The ANSAA Policy Manual was revised in 2009. The Annual Report Forms reflect the changes made in the 2009 Policy Manual Edition.

·         Deficiency Plans

Accredited schools must give an annual update on any approved deficiency plan. This updated plan must also include an updated action plan. Any new request for deficiency plans must be reviewed with the executive director before submitting for board approval.

·         E-Mail Addresses

Most information from the ANSAA office to the school administrators will be sent by e-mail. On the Membership Application form indicate the school e-mail address you want listed in the ANSAA Directory. Under Chief Executive Officer on the same form, include all school administrators’ e-mail addresses that need to receive ANSAA information.