Bentonville Public Schools public meetings in 2025
10 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Board of Education Meeting
The Bentonville School Board will consider approving the financial report for fiscal year 2025, which shows a total fund balance of $82.9 million, and declare five buses as surplus. The board will also elect officers, administer the oath of office to new members Bill Akins and Rachel Nutt, and act on a consent agenda that includes minutes, district transfers, Parent and Family Engagement Plans, and instructional materials adoption.
- Election of Jennifer Faddis as board president and Tatum Aicklen as vice president
- Oath of office for new board members Bill Akins and Rachel Nutt
- Consent agenda includes minutes, facilities and transportation reports, district transfers, 28 Parent and Family Engagement Plans, and instructional materials adoption
- Financial report shows operating revenues of $254.8 million and operating expenses of $235.6 million; fund balance at 23.4%
- Administration requests board approval to surplus five buses
The Board authorized the purchase of 412 Tiger Boulevard for $630,000 to acquire a 0.47 acre lot. The board also elected new officers, approved student handbooks, and updated district policies for the 2025-2026 school year.
- Elected Jennifer Faddis as board president (7-0)
- Elected Tatum Aicklen as board vice president (7-0)
- Approved purchase of 412 Tiger Boulevard for $630,000 (7-0)
- Approved financial report and the surplus of five school buses (7-0)
- Accepted student handbooks and discipline rubric as presented (7-0)
- Approved 2025-2026 policies, including public comment and maternity leave (7-0)
- Approved personnel packet including new hires and resignations (7-0)
- Approved consent agenda including June meeting minutes and facilities report (7-0)
Special Board Meeting
The Bentonville School Board appointed Bill Aikens to the At Large position and Rachel Nutt to the Zone 1 position, filling vacancies created by members moving out of district. The board also approved a consent agenda including an operating funds investment and accepted a personnel packet.
- Appointed Bill Aikens to At Large school board position
- Appointed Rachel Nutt to Zone 1 school board position
- Approved Operating Funds Investment
- Accepted personnel packet as presented
The board appointed two new members to fill vacancies and approved the operating funds investment. The board also accepted a personnel packet containing resignations, retirements, and new hires.
- Appointed Bill Aikens to the At Large School board position (6-0)
- Appointed Rachel Nutt to the Zone 1 School Board position (6-0)
- Approved Operating Funds Investment (6-0)
- Accepted personnel packet including 5 resignations/retirements and 4 new hires (5-0)
Board of Education Meeting
The Bentonville School Board is deciding on several policy revisions and additions for the 2025-26 school year, including updates on entrance requirements, compulsory attendance, student transfers, school choice, absences, equal educational opportunity, student discipline, and prohibited conduct, reflecting changes from recent state acts. The board also approved a financial report showing an $80.3 million operating fund balance (32.1%) and approved a consent agenda covering minutes, reports, and transfers.
- Approval of policy revisions (4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.10, 4.11, 4.18, 4.19, 4.21) incorporating changes from Acts 340, 341, 501, 563, 721, 728, 732, 794, 804, 913, 918
- Financial report: $105.5M all-funds balance; $80.3M operating fund balance; projected ending fund balance $53.4M (20.9%)
- Consent agenda including minutes, facilities/enrollment/transportation reports, and School Choice/district transfers
- Information item on a universal communication platform to centralize school communications
- Recognition of Extra Mile Award to Soma Majumdar, an instructional assistant at Apple Glen Elementary
The Board accepted the resignations of Kelly Carlson and Joel Dunning, effective July 1, 2025. The Board also approved several policy revisions for the 2025/2026 school year and the end-of-period eleven financial report.
- Accepted resignation of Kelly Carlson, At Large member (6-0)
- Accepted resignation of Joel Dunning, Zone 1 member (6-0)
- Approved policy revisions including student transfers, School Choice, and graduation (6-0)
- Approved end-of-period eleven financial report (6-0)
- Approved consent agenda including May meeting minutes and facilities/enrollment reports (6-0)
- Approved personnel packet for new hires and resignations (6-0)
🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Special Board Meeting - Student Expulsion
This was a special board meeting convened for a student expulsion hearing. After an executive session, the board voted unanimously to modify the student’s expulsion to end at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year.
- Student expulsion hearing held in public session
- Board entered executive session for deliberation under Arkansas FOIA
- Motion carried 5-0 to modify expulsion end date to end of 24/25 school year
- Motion by Jeremy Farmer, second by Joel Dunning; all five members voted yes
The Board held a student expulsion hearing and retired to executive session. Following the session, the Board voted to modify the expulsion period.
- Modified expulsion to conclude at the end of the 24/25 school year (5-0)
Board of Education Meeting
The Bentonville School Board approved a $7,773,117 custodial services contract renewal with SSC Service Solutions for the 2025-26 school year, the April 2025 financial report showing a $61.4 million fund balance, and authorization to contract with Cenergistics for energy management. The board also approved a consent agenda that included an expulsion and received an information-only update on Success Ready Graduates career readiness indicators.
- Approved renewal of custodial contract with SSC Service Solutions for $7,773,117 for 2025-26 school year
- Approved April 2025 financial report showing $61.4 million fund balance across all funds
- Authorized administration to enter a contract with Cenergistics for energy management
- Approved consent agenda including formal expulsion of a 9th grade female at BWHS through March 15, 2026
- Received information update on Success Ready Graduates including career studies, Ignite, and early college enrollment
The Board of Education approved a custodial services contract renewal and a performance-based energy management agreement. Members also accepted updated department handbooks, policy revisions, and a personnel packet.
- Approved custodial services contract renewal with SSC Service Solutions for $7,773,117 (7-0)
- Authorized energy management contract with Cenergistics (7-0)
- Approved recommended department handbooks for 2025-2026 (7-0)
- Approved recommended policy revisions for 2025-2026 (7-0)
- Approved Financial report (7-0)
- Accepted Personnel packet including new hires and resignations (7-0)
- Approved consent agenda, including expulsion of 9th grade female through March 15, 2026 (7-0)
- Approved meeting agenda (7-0)
Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education approved Calendar Draft B for the 2026-2027 school year after previous denial and staff vote. They also recognized teacher Logan Misenheimer with the Extra Mile Award and received informational updates on dyslexia intervention, parent choice schools, and a state-mandated cybersecurity policy.
- Approved Calendar Draft B for 2026-2027 (staff vote: 54% licensed, 55% classified favored Draft B)
- Recognized Logan Misenheimer, Sugar Creek Elementary teacher, with Extra Mile Award
- Approved consent agenda including March 2025 meeting minutes, facilities, enrollment, transportation, and school choice transfer reports
- Received update: 205 students accepted into Parent Choice Schools for downtown schools
- Received information on ADE K-12 Cyber Security Policy, effective July 1, 2025 (Phase 1)
The Board approved Calendar Draft B for the 2026/2027 school year and renewed contracts for food services and student accident insurance. Members also approved the financial report, policy revisions, and a personnel packet including new hires and resignations.
- Approved Calendar Draft B for 2026/2027 (5-0)
- Authorized 2025-26 student accident insurance through Health Special Risk, Inc. for $19,520 (5-0)
- Renewed food services contract with Aramark with a per-meal fee of $0.1738 for administration and $0.0651 for management (5-0)
- Approved the Financial report (5-0)
- Accepted policy changes regarding technology use, licensure, leave of absence, surveys, and cybersecurity (5-0)
- Accepted the personnel packet of new hires, resignations, and retirements (5-0)
- Approved the meeting agenda and consent agenda (5-0)
🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Board of Education Meeting
The Bentonville School Board will hear a proposal to eliminate NWEA MAP testing and adopt the new ATLAS assessment system. They will also discuss aligning junior high grading policy with the high school's 100% evidence-of-learning model. Action items include approving the financial report and surplus of three buses from the fleet.
- Proposal to eliminate NWEA MAP testing after 15 years of use
- Proposal to align 7-8 grading policy with 9-12 (70/30 to evidence of learning)
- Approval of financial report showing $78.3 million fund balance
- Approval to surplus three buses from the fleet
- Recognition of Elena Moore with Extra Mile Award
The Board approved a 3.5% salary increase across all schedules plus a step increase for employees. Members rejected a purchase offer from Skylight Homes for district property on Bright Road. The Board also approved a realignment of the junior high grading policy to match the 9-12 policy for the 2025/2026 school year.
- Approved employee raises consisting of a 3.5% increase across salary schedules and a step increase (6-0)
- Rejected purchase offer from Skylight Homes for property on Bright Road (6-0)
- Approved realignment of junior high grading policy to match 9-12 policy (6-0)
- Approved financial report and the sale of three surplus school buses (6-0)
- Approved personnel packet including new hires and resignations (6-0)
- Approved consent agenda including February 18 minutes and facilities, enrollment, and transportation reports (6-0)
- Approved policy revisions regarding licensed salary schedules and personal business leave (6-0)
🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education reviewed district security protocols and a new doula training pilot program. The board also voted to table the approval of the 2026/2027 academic calendar.
- Approval of request to purchase buses
- Formal expulsions of four students from GJHS, COMPASS, and Sugar Creek Elementary
- Approval of Professional Liability Insurance renewal
- Review of Ignite Health Services Doula Training Pilot Program for 11 students
- Approval of Instructional Materials Adoption
The Board approved a personnel packet including new hires, resignations, and one termination. Members also approved the February financial report and a consent agenda covering facilities, enrollment, and student expulsions. The proposed 2026/2027 school calendar was tabled for further review.
- Approved personnel packet including new hires, resignations, and one termination
- Approved February financial report
- Tabled 2026/2027 calendar approval
- Approved consent agenda including facilities, enrollment, and transportation reports
- Approved purchase of buses
- Approved Professional Liability Insurance Renewal
- Approved four student expulsions
- Approved instructional materials adoption
Board Work Session
The board received an informational preview of two expansion options for Bentonville West High School, driven by projected enrollment growth. No action was taken; a board decision is scheduled for August 2025. The remainder of the work session consisted of procedural items.
- Preview of two expansion options for Bentonville West High School
- Current enrollment at BWHS is 3,257 vs. design capacity of 2,780
- Recommended timeline: board decision August 2025, completion August 2029
- Enrollment study projects largest growth in western part of the district
The Board reviewed potential plans to address overutilization at Bentonville West High School by 2029. Options discussed include a 600-student addition, athletic facility expansions, or a new academic-only high school. No final decision was made; a decision is recommended by August 2025.
- Approved the meeting agenda (4-0)
🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education reviewed the district's financial condition and discussed the draft 2026-2027 academic calendar. Members approved the fiscal year 2024 audit and a financial report that included the surplus of three buses.
- Accepted the Fiscal Year 2024 Audit Report from Landmark CPA
- Approved the surplus of three buses from the fleet
- Approved the formal expulsion of a 9th grade male student at Compass through Spring 2025
- Discussed the first reading of the 2026-2027 Academic Calendar
- Reported a total fund balance of $83.9 million at the close of period 6
The Board accepted the Fiscal Year 2024 Audit Report and approved the mid-year financial report. Members authorized the sale of three surplus buses and approved requests for an Arts Integration Coach and an International Baccalaureate Coordinator.
- Accepted Fiscal Year 2024 Audit Report (5-0)
- Approved financial report and surpusing of three buses (5-0)
- Approved personnel requests for Arts Integration Coach and IB Coordinator (5-0)
- Approved personnel packet including new hires, resignations, and transfers (5-0)
- Approved expulsion of 9th grade male at Compass through Spring 2025 (5-0)
- Approved meeting agenda (5-0)
- Tabled final vote on 2026-2027 calendar pending feedback and revisions