The school now has a phone number (501-317-1325), an email (Admin@flsbenton.com), and a website (flsbenton.com). The website is modest, I admit, but it is serviceable for now and we will keep it up to date. Anne and Francis and Maggie are all on board for next year. I am the acting principal, and the chapel leader. As of now, Maggie is our primary school contact person—the phone number goes to her—but until the present school year at ACA is over, she will be available for First Lutheran School business only in the evenings and on Fridays. You may contact me also at 501-231-8329. Soon we will have site plans that you may view, and of course, you’re welcome to come by the church any time you wish. Once we start construction, you may very well want to do that!
The congregation is in the final stage of its application for a loan. All appears to be clear on that front; we are just waiting for formal approval and loan disbursal.
We have an active school board which is meeting every week until we can afford to meet less often. A handbook is in development.
We have acquired a contractor to prepare the site for the buildings. As soon as the loan is disbursed, we will begin to prepare the site and arrange for the delivery of the classrooms. There will be four classrooms, enough to house our school next year and with a little room to grow.
We have acquired a great deal of classroom furniture—chairs, desks, and the like—which are in storage, just waiting for the buildings.
Now concerning LEARNS Act scholarship eligibility. We are not eligible yet only because we have not applied for eligibility yet. We have to wait until the loan money is disbursed, which, as I mentioned above, is in progress. We have been in regular communication with Daryl Smith, who oversees the LEARNS Act for the State of Arkansas. He assures us that our situation as a new school is not unusual and that we should have no problem becoming eligible to receive LEARNS Act scholarship funds in time for the 2024-25 school year. We expect that Incoming kindergarteners and First Graders will be eligible for these scholarships, as well as children of first responders and any children, of whatever grade, who received the scholarship for the 2023-24 school year.
Please spread the news that we are opening this August and feel free to direct interested parents to our website of give them the school’s phone number. One day I will tell the story of all that God has worked among us to make this happen! He is to be praised!
Rev. James D. Burns
Pastor, First Lutheran Church
Acting Principal, First Lutheran School