Several thousand students will soon set "SAIL," the Summer Adventure In Learning program being offered by Marion County Public Schools on most weekdays from June 6-July 21.

The Marion County School Board spent 90 minutes on Thursday learning about the plan to open two-thirds of the district's 50 school sites to provide struggling students with needed learning opportunities and other students with enrichment programs.

The district is planning to employ 1,408 instructional employees, mostly teachers, and 998 non-instructional employees, which includes bus drivers, paraprofessionals, clerks and other positions that are not classroom related.

Pandemic fallout:Marion school district using initial recovery money on summer programs

The district is budgeting $3 million for all the summer school programs. The money will come from federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund monies the district received in the wake of COVID-19.

Not all of the programs and camps this summer will be in session during all seven weeks. Some programs are six weeks long, others are shorter and a few are a week longer. The summer programs will run Mondays through Thursdays each week.

More details, such as times and busing availability, will be made available on the district's website – https://www.marionschools.net/ – in the coming weeks. The district is planning to meet with some parents about why their child may need the instruction.

Enrollment could surpass 6,000

Last year, 6,144 students attended summer school: 3,455 in elementary, 1,283 in middle school and 1,786 in high school. That was about double the number of students who typically attend summer school.

The cost of last year's summer program was $2.6 million, officials said. This year's cost is expected to be $3 million, but will ultimately depend on how many students actually attend summer school.

Jennifer Beck, the district's director of elementary curriculum, instruction & digital learning, said the district is offering "very robust programming."

"We have access to those extra dollars and we want to make sure we minimize the loss of learning that our students may have incurred as a result of the last couple of years," Beck said of what is often called a COVID-19 slide.

Beck added that "we want to be very strategic and we want to make sure that we are utilizing that summer opportunity to continue to close some of those gaps."

Chad Frazier, secondary area superintendent, said that middle and high schools will have two sessions, one 12-day and one 11-day, for middle and high school students. The first session will be from June 6-23 and second from June 27-July 14.

"We are anticipating invitations for summer school will be going home with students during the week of April 18th," Frazier noted, adding each school will have some flexibility in some of the course offerings.

"We will allow schools to have some flexibility to meet the needs of their students," he noted. "For example, discussions with some of our principals have occurred, with schools looking to potentially offer Spanish to students and others that are looking to provide career exploration (programs)."

Middle Schools will provide an Algebra I readiness to help prepare students to for the course later in middle school. High schools will provide Algebra refresher courses to ensure students have additional time to master Algebra standards.

All high schools have the option to offer driver's education, he added. Marion Virtual will have additional units as well. He noted that there will be guidance counselors available on school campuses.

The schools will also continue providing 21st Century grant programs that teach many skills. He also noted that the extended school year will be hosted for identified students with disabilities at Hillcrest School.

Board wants to make sure parents are aware

School Board member Nancy Thrower said she knows many students in the district have fallen behind and that, in itself, is a scary situation.

"We know that we need robust summer programs to get to where we're trying to get to, which is to be a true A district, a proficient A district," she noted.

Thrower also suggested the district to look into internship opportunities for high school students, "who need those coveted and needed volunteer hours."

Member Don Browning, 79, balked at the term invitations, stating summer school in his day was often mandatory for students who had fallen behind. Browning loves the idea of summer school, though it needs to target those who are behind.

"Often it was mandatory," Browning said about his memories of attending summer school. "Sometimes it wasn't, but it was a great opportunity for a teacher to have an impact on student advancement."

Beck said the district will get the summer school word out to the community. She said information will be delivered to churches, day cares and pediatricians' offices.

The district hopes to touch base through phone calls and/or parent-teacher conferences to discuss students who need the summer instruction. The district will also use its automated phone call system to alert parents.

"Those first round of invitations are truly generated by what our data is telling us," said Beck, adding that invitations are first sent to parents of students who have fallen behind.

The district said that any student can register. Browning, as echoed by most other board members, urged a media blitz to make sure all parents know about the opportunities. Last year many parents said they were unaware of summer school.

Up until the pandemic, summer school typically targeted third-graders who needed extra help after scoring poorly on the state language arts test needed to be promoted to fourth grade.

"I want to encourage parents and students not to just sit home and play video games all summer," Cummings said. "Go to the beaches. Do all that stuff, too. But let's make sure we get our academics together."

Joe Callahan can be reached at (352) 817-1750 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS

PreK: Exceptional Student Education Pre-K; and Voluntary Pre-K.

K-5: Enrichment Camp; third-grade reading camp; Extended School Year (ESY); Kindergarten Kickstart; and 21st Century.

Elementary Host Schools

[Host site in bold. (Schools attending host site in parenthesis.)]

Belleview-Santos (Belleview Santos & Belleview)

College Park (College Park & Saddlewood)

Dr. NH Jones (Jones, Madison Street & Eighth Street)

Dunnellon (Dunnellon & Romeo)

Emerald Shores (Emerald Shores & Greenway)

Fort McCoy K-8 (Fort McCoy & East Marion)

Harbour View (Harbour View & Stanton-Weirsdale)

Legacy (Legacy & Maplewood)

Maplewood (Maplewood only)

Oakcrest (Oakcrest & Ocala Springs)

Reddick Collier (Reddick & Fessenden)

South Ocala (South Ocala & Shady Hill)

Sparr (Sparr & Anthony)

Sunrise (Sunrise, Hammett Bowen, & Marion Oaks)

Ward Highlands (Ward Highlands & Wyomina Park)

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS

(All middle school sites will be open)

Advanced Studies & Career Exploration

Algebra Readiness

AVID ELA & Math Bridge

Credit Recovery

Enrichment Camp

Extended School Year

Marion Virtual

21st Century

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS

(All high school sites will be open)

Advanced Studies & Career Exploration

Algebra Refresher

Geometry Readiness

AVID ELA & Math Bridge

Credit Recovery

Driver’s Education

Enrichment Camp

Extended School Year

Marion Virtual

Nation’s Best, the Dallas, Texas-based hardware and building supplies dealer, has acquired Sparr Building and Farm Supply.

Sparr Building and Farm Supply, operates four locations northwest of Orlando. The company joins Nation’s Best’s other Florida banners: Hall’s Hardware & Lumber and Panhandle Lumber & Supply, both located in the states Panhandle region.

“With two other Nation’s Best-owned stores already in Florida, the expanded presence that comes from Sparr Building and Farm Supply gives us a very strong foothold in the state,” said Chris Miller, president & CEO of Nation’s Best. “Their well-earned reputation as a one-stop-shop for farm supplies, hardware, and lumber is something we can learn from and build on in our other locations. And their best-in-class operational excellence and inventory management processes will strengthen our entire organization. We are excited to bring over 150 new employees to the Nation’s Best family who share our aligned culture and core values.”

As Sparr’s owners Paul and Sam Howard were planning to retire, the brothers sought out a partner who would value and continue to hone the best practices that drove them to become the largest farm and horse fencing supplier in the state, Nation’s Best said.

“The Nation’s Best team has shown us they see the importance of honoring the Sparr brand and our commitment to the communities we serve,” Paul and Sam Howard said in a press release. “Our family and our staff have committed their lives to delivering with excellence. We’re confident that our partnership with Nation’s Best will allow us to build on these accomplishments and grow the business even more in the region.”

As part of Nation’s Best’s strategy, Sparr Building and Farm Supply will maintain operations under its existing name with its key leadership team overseeing company operations alongside Nation’s Best, which will provide the strategic and financial support necessary to drive optimal growth and profitability.

“I’m proud that the Howard family has put their trust in us to build on the great traditions they’ve established. And we’re pleased to have the family’s involvement continue, with Sam’s son Chris overseeing the Sparr division within Nation’s Best, and Chris’ wife Kandis continuing to contribute to various functions within the company, including operations, human resources, and recruiting,” added Miller.

Nation’s Best is a member-owner of Do it Best and operates about 30 locations. Financial terms of this acquisitions were not disclosed.

Earlier this year, the dealer acquired Weiss Do it Best Lumber of Perryville, Ark. and Woodland Building Center in Springville, Ariz.

A new school for Marion County’s youngest learners will be opening in August.

The Fordham Early Learning Academy, which is located at 4000 W Anthony Road in Ocala, will open on Wednesday, August 10 to students in Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten.

Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten students must be four years old on, or before, September 1 of each year to be eligible. Kindergarten students must be five years old on, or before, the same date.

According to Marion County Public Schools (MCPS), the academy is expected to enroll 72 students in its inaugural year. First grade will be added the following year, and second grade will also be offered at the academy beginning in 2024.

The academy is named after Edmond Fordham, a career educator and MCPS leader. The school will operate as a choice program, which means that any appropriately aged students can apply to attend. As with any choice program, parents and families must provide their own transportation.

In the event that enrollment demand exceeds 72 for the upcoming school year, MCPS will use its established lottery system to determine enrollment selections.

The academy will focus on developing strong literacy skills, social-emotional learning concepts, and music enrichment opportunities in early learners. Future expansion plans could include opportunities to serve three-year-old students, and the academy will seek input from school families to determine the academy’s mascot and colors.

A showcase event to celebrate the academy’s opening is in the planning stages.

Edmond Fordham, the academy’s namesake, grew up in Marion County’s Fort McCoy area and graduated from Howard Academy. He served in the U.S. Air Force and later graduated from Payne College in Augusta, Georgia.

Fordham served MCPS as a history teacher at Belleview-Santos School; assistant principal at Osceola Junior High School; and principal at Sparr Elementary, Dr. N.H. Jones, and Dunnellon Elementary Schools.

After retiring, Fordham became the site administrator for NOVA Southeastern University, mentoring aspiring school administrators enrolled in the Early Education and Exceptional Student Education programs.

Community groups and organizations interested in partnering with the academy can contact Early Learning Director Jennifer Beck, who serves as the school’s principal, via phone (352-671-4925) or email (Jennifer.Beck@marion.k12.fl.us).

Nation’s Best, Dallas, Tx., has added Sparr Building & Farm Supply in central Florida to its family of businesses.

“With two other Nation’s Best-owned stores already in Florida, the expanded presence that comes from Sparr Building & Farm Supply gives us a very strong foothold in the state,” said Chris Miller, president and CEO of Nation’s Best. “Their well-earned reputation as a one-stop shop for farm supplies, hardware, and lumber is something we can learn from and build on in our other locations. And their best-in-class operational excellence and inventory management processes will strengthen our entire organization. We are excited to bring over 150 new employees to the Nation’s Best family who share our aligned culture and core values.”

As Sparr’s owners Paul and Sam Howard were planning to retire, the brothers sought out a partner who would value and continue to hone the best practices that drove them to become the largest farm and horse fencing supplier in the state. “The Nation’s Best team has shown us they see the importance of honoring the Sparr brand and our commitment to the communities we serve,” they said. “Our family and our staff have committed their lives to delivering with excellence. We’re confident that our partnership with Nation’s Best will allow us to build on these accomplishments and grow the business even more in the region.”

“I’m proud that the Howard family has put their trust in us to build on the great traditions they’ve established. And we’re pleased to have the family’s involvement continue, with Sam’s son Chris overseeing the Sparr division within Nation’s Best, and Chris’ wife Kandis continuing to contribute to various functions within the company, including operations, human resources, and recruiting,” added Miller.

Sparr, with four locations northwest of Orlando, joins Hall’s Hardware & Lumber and Panhandle Lumber & Supply, both located in the Florida Panhandle, as Nation’s Best extends its presence in the southeastern US.

As part of Nation’s Best’s strategy, Sparr will maintain operations under its existing name with its key leadership team overseeing company operations alongside Nation’s Best, which will provide the strategic and financial support necessary to drive optimal growth and profitability.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage Capital Group, Inc. ("Heritage"), an investment banking and financial advisory firm serving middle-market and emerging growth companies in the US and worldwide, is pleased to announce that its client, Sparr Building & Farm Supply ("Sparr" or the "Company"), has been purchased by Nation's Best.

Continue Reading

Sparr Building & Farm Supply is a family business that has served customers in Central Florida for more than seven decades. The Company has four stores that blend the best characteristics of a lumber yard with a farm and ranch store. The Company's "one-stop-shop" experience makes it easy for customers to pick up livestock feed, animal nutrition products, fencing, lumber, lawn and garden, pet supplies, building materials, paint, and many other products. The rich equestrian history of Ocala, Florida also led Sparr to develop expertise in horse fencing and products.

Nation's Best is one of the country's fastest growing independent home improvement companies. Sparr will join Hall's Hardware & Lumber and Panhandle Lumber & Supply in Florida as Nation's Best extends its presence in the Southeast. As part of Nation's Best's strategy, Sparr Building & Farm Supply will maintain operations under its existing name with its key leadership team overseeing company operations alongside Nation's Best, which will provide the strategic and financial support necessary to drive optimal growth and profitability.

Heritage served as the exclusive financial advisor and intermediary to Sparr Building & Farm Supply. The deal team included Bill Nicholson and Doug Kravet.

"Doug and Bill had the perfect combination of M&A and real estate deal experience that we needed," commented Sam Howard and Paul Howard, owners of Sparr. "They helped us navigate a complex transaction and keep our team well-coordinated as we tackled both big and small issues. Looking back, it's hard to imagine completing this transaction without them."

Heritage Capital Group provides objective advice to private companies in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, business valuations, debt and equity capital raises, corporate restructurings, and financial and strategic advisory services focused on enhancing the value of business enterprises. Heritage Capital Group is a FINRA registered broker-dealer, and a member of Oaklins, the world's most experienced mid-market M&A advisor, with 850 professionals globally and dedicated industry teams in 45 countries worldwide.

Media Contact:Katie Quackenbush904-354-9600337900@email4pr.com

SOURCE Heritage Capital Group