Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School executive director Amanda Johnson is preparing for the upcoming 2021-22 school year with her sights set on filling all spots available for students and hiring all positions.
Johnson said the school ended the 2020-21 year with 323 students.
With one grade being added each year until eighth graders are enrolled, the school will have students from kindergarten through fifth grade in 2021-22.
There are 23 spots available for next year’s kindergarten class.
“Our biggest challenge is making sure that we’re fully hired by July 1,” Johnson said. “We still probably have about four teachers to hire. We feel good about our retention. We just have two teachers that are leaving us, but we’re adding our extra grade.”
Johnson said two new fifth grade teachers will be hired for next year. There is also one teacher vacancy in the second grade and another in the third grade
“That changes as we move people around, but that’s what it is right now,” Johnson said.
“We’re adding quite a few full-time positions. Last year we didn’t have to hire every single one.”
Johnson said there will be two new bus routes next year.
However, there were expenses in 2020-21 the school may not incur next year.
“We definitely spent a lot more money on technology,” Johnson said.
Some of the technology expenses went toward hot spots. There were also extra expenses for packaging and preparing food and cleaning supplies.
There are also two new buildings being constructed to provide enough room for fifth and sixth graders. Both buildings are on schedule to be ready by the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.
“Of course, we’re purchasing some new things based on the facility we’re going into,” Johnson said.
Next year’s expenses are expected to be finalized in June.
“We’re on track to approve our budget for next year at our June board meeting,” Johnson said.
