PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Mena Public School www.menaschools.org Mena Public Schools serves over 1,700 students in a rural community supported by agriculture, manufacturing, service, and retail industries. We provide a high-quality education, fostering personal growth and success through professional development, innovative teaching methods, and community collaboration to prepare students for prosperous futures in diverse career fields. The hope is that this study will help guide future development by pinpointing what would best fit Mena’s growing community. Mena also needs more skilled trades like plumbing, electrical work, and construction, which are crucial for the city’s growth. “It just seems like there’s not so many people that are interested in learning that trade,” Mayor Smith notes. He is hopeful that younger residents will recognize these opportunities, stating,“There’s definitely going to be an opportunity for anyone looking for that type of skilled trade.” Dr. Smith echoes this, emphasizing the district’s push toward vocational training over a “college for all” mindset. These programs aim to fill the city’s growing need for electricians, plumbers, and builders to support future development. PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE As Mena moves forward, the school district and the city focus on clear, actionable goals to improve quality of life and prepare for future growth. Dr. Smith identifies academic achievement as the school district’s top priority. “We’re trying to get the number of students reading on grade level to increase quite a bit,” he says. The district is returning to the basics, ensuring that foundational reading, writing, and arithmetic skills are a central focus. While Mena’s schools already perform well, Dr. Smith hopes to push them further. “We want more to leave here with higher academic success,” he states. Mayor Smith prioritizes infrastructure plans for the city, especially the bike-pedestrian initiative. “I think we have good plans in place,” he says but recognizes the challenge of securing resources. As Mena becomes more pedestrian-friendly, the mayor sees the need to educate drivers and redesign areas for safety.“We need more education on our vehicular traffic on what’s expected,” he notes. Thoughtful planning will help balance pedestrian and vehicle traffic. With potential grant funding on the horizon, the mayor remains optimistic: “If it’s a project of merit, we have plans, but they always change,” reflecting Mena’s adaptable approach to growth. 270 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10
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