Sometimes people are confused about tutoring, Virginia Anderson, federal programs coordinator for Arkadelphia Schools, told the school board Tuesday.

Though some parents may think tutoring is always done during school, Anderson said the school district offers out-of-school tutoring for students who qualify for Supplemental Educational Services (SES). The program offers families a chance to get their children free academic help outside of the normal school day on Mondays and Tuesdays for two hours.

Arkadelphia is the first public school in Arkansas approved to be an SES provider, Anderson said. “We can utilize the buildings, technology, materials, books, training and staff expertise we already have,” she said. “We feel by providing our own SES we can provide safety and quality to our students.”

For students who qualify, SES will be offered for six weeks each semester prior to Benchmark exams. To be eligible, a student must be from a Title I school in its second year of school improvement, in corrective action or restructuring.

Paulette Blacknall, board member, asked if there were any collaboration between teachers and the SES program. “There is quite a bit of communication” between the two, Anderson said. She said progress reports are sent to teachers so he or she can see what improvements a student may need to make.

Board member Dr. Kenneth Harris asked how much staff is paid for being a part of the program. Anderson said the federal program recommends paying $50  per hour, but that the district has a fund and policy that allows $30 per hour.

“We stuck with the district policy,” she said. Only eligible teachers may tutor in the SES program.

Mary Jane Cooper, board member, asked if every child in the program is forced into it. “We can’t force them,” Anderson said. She said parents may choose whether or not to put their child in the program.

There are currently 132 students from the district enrolled in SES.

The district is one of 34 providers of SES.

“I really feel like we’re ahead of the game with this,” Superintendent Donnie Whitten said of the program. “It keeps money in our district.”

In other business, the board voted to give a $100 holiday bonus to faculty and staff, as it does each year. After taxes are collected from that bonus, it amounts to about $87. Harris asked the board if it could be possible to raise the amount given to each recipient so that, after taxes, the staff or faculty member actually gets $100. Not knowing what the cost to the district would be without further calculations, Cooper recommended that the board “ask (Whitten) to keep this in mind to explore for next year.” With no further discussion the motion carried.