HOPE, Ark. -- Hope Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley said the five-year planning event Jan. 19 surpassed his expectations.
The public meeting allowed the school system to share plans for a $15 million grant received from the U.S. Department of Education. The priority, Crossley has said, is to use the grant to transform the school system into a magnet district.
"We talked about the long-term investment and teachers and us all being on the same page for that," Crossley said about the January meeting.
Speakers included Dr. Christine Holt, University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana chancellor; Dr. Carol Ann Duke, Hope Academy of Public Service principal; and Hope school board President Linda Haynes. UAHT Board of Visitors member Jerry Pruden and 12th grader Kelston Mask also spoke to the crowd.
"It was great. We had around 200 people there which was great for a public meeting around this," Crossley said.
Feedback has been positive, even from people who did not attend the event.
"I think the school board was really happy with the turnout. I think the fact that we had close to 200 people (shows) they're all invested -- from different backgrounds and demographics. It really spoke to some excitement that we have towards this. I was really pleased with that," Crossley said.
Crossley said the school system is planning to provide an update every two to three months, with the next one tentatively planned for March.
"I have the goal and the ambition to have increasing numbers (in attendance) as we go. We're also planning to have satellite events for portions of our population that do not speak English," Crossley said.
Crossley said since the January community meeting, the Hope Legacy Endowment Scholarship foundation has received a $40,000 donation.
"We're moving in the right direction, and we want as many people as possible to be a part of the process," Crossley said.