[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6670791,"mediaKeyId","2171966-7ddf369f74d984743e8031aac1bd0ef5","parentId",2171966,"title","Board approves December 2024 financial report and consent agenda; staff flags temporary federal funding pauses affecting projects","audioSeconds",460,"startMs",5284000,"endMs",5744000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171966-7ddf369f74d984743e8031aac1bd0ef5&start=5284&end=5744","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171966-7ddf369f74d984743e8031aac1bd0ef5/thumbnail_5284000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6670791/Arkansas/Board-approves-December-2024-financial-report-and-consent-agenda-staff-flags-temporary-federal-funding-pauses-affecting-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670791-48f77aa8f1cbb92b38352650d1423275/orig.mp4?Expires=1776060634&Signature=RHaiSkrAMZC73tete6JSBy9eYju9kT23yOla31R3XR5WbS4FBB~rTE1eQruOHfNc4LKUjGzhweSJ7aSbd1~Jh47WPnBy-51VVQhq04NeoltVyKNbTBwOUJUZmayNCt8ghKpMtspu~S1zLn1gr~rNT~~GY7pBRvF7F~dXoR3QQqGdwFWAG414xO8X1oWj5dA2YcSGMXX-ODKloaCxeuPZ278tQNJ49AR-tSlTFrXMl7wDoUhh2L02aKLNUsIL50c4NqQMhHRREhnXuPwMoNGbcwl-qJvZuSfrNkd4y3CQoVT7vkr2Bf1wHMXdQsJpuyeOyU3~F~XKhRlHRDozLSGCzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-01-31T02:19:19.247Z","article","The Little Rock School District Board of Education approved its December 2024 financial report and a consent agenda covering personnel changes, community service learning partner applications, electronic bid posting resolution, purchasing reports, international memoranda of understanding, property donations, strategic plan goals and the staffing formula manual for 2025–26.

Kelsey Bailey, finance director, presented the December budget summary and said property-tax revenue collections were higher than projected through the first half of the fiscal year and interest income from capital investments exceeded budget. She cautioned that timing and reporting anomalies in the finance system caused some month-to-month display issues but that those would be corrected in subsequent reports.

Bailey and other staff also briefed the board on federal competitive awards and implementation work. Several large projects tied to federal programs are in a holding pattern because grant portals and federal approvals are temporarily paused; staff named the EPA Clean Bus Program and related electric-vehicle (EV) bus purchases as areas under active review. Bailey said the district has 25 EV buses in production and described a procurement value “a little over $9,000,000” for that order; she also said the district must decommission older buses to meet program rules and had completed decommissioning steps.

Bailey noted work on energy and ventilation projects tied to other federal programs and said the National Park Service funds used for window replacement at Central High had been a recurring award (several rounds totaling roughly $750,000 across cycles). Staff said they were pausing nonessential obligations tied to competitive federal awards until program portals reopen and reimbursements are confirmed.

Board members asked staff for a clearer spreadsheet showing what the district has spent and what reimbursements remain outstanding by grant; staff agreed to provide that breakdown. The board approved the December financial report and consent agenda by voice votes; both motions carried.

Why it matters: Pauses or delays in federal competitive awards can slow capital projects, energy-efficiency upgrades and bus replacements. The board will need to track reimbursements and adjust project sequencing if federal funds are delayed or reduced.

Next steps: Staff will provide a line-by-line spreadsheet of grant obligations, amounts spent and reimbursements pending; administration will pause projects when appropriate to avoid incurring unreimbursed costs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","LRSD School Board Meeting, Jan. 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Little Rock School District board approved the December 2024 financial report and passed a multi-item consent agenda. Financial staff told the board some federal competitive grant portals and awards are paused or under review, which could delay projects including electric-bus purchases and energy-efficiency work.","taxTitle","LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, Arkansas","taxId",13594,"location","Arkansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6670795,"Board adopts new vision and mission statements after extended debate on wording",1199,6205000,7404000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171966-7ddf369f74d984743e8031aac1bd0ef5&start=6205&end=7404","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171966-7ddf369f74d984743e8031aac1bd0ef5/thumbnail_6205000.jpg","/articles/6670795/Arkansas/Board-adopts-new-vision-and-mission-statements-after-extended-debate-on-wording","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670795-648d515dac436941dffd5acf3ee1ca7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776060634&Signature=fMEywM~C1aTBI8Sdcx1bBW75rdQonbCDe4mUWneeG8X6c63T3iKvwZWS7WaTtpB-6hhK2wzURHlfxKAzqkNlocTIUGXAyS-P2vCspQTCSPtSulqC3daVebdgx6BAUJPJuLhufLrW56XQj2hRgtDlldBNOvwqYnyDaZpNyOfr~NJgDkuuhonfhhAcs1HkYQpmkRVfD8ypY5-TMgJMQ01haZ0Nqg6q4AdfPocfCxSg3j3hFx6E0CkU7OSG4wEw5M9e0gdBlEDuwnH8pVpqr-Ic51E8CvfwLDuNSmHALG3rXTpMKkQTba6PdV31bGeuqYCMUup3Ye6QC5AKo6HeWX7RTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Little Rock School District Board of Education adopted a new vision and mission statement on Jan. 30. The board approved “A lifelong love of learning in every student” as its vision, and adopted a mission that the board finalized after extended discussion over phrasing and punctuation.

The mission approved by the board reads: “Our mission is student success achieved by empowered, supported, and inspired teaching; engaged and barrier free partnerships with families; and well earned community trust.” Board members spent substantial time on the wording, debating whether to include the phrase “engaged and barrier free” and whether to separate the three clauses with semicolons for clarity.

Board members said the mission language was influenced by staff input; several speakers noted that “barrier free partnerships with families” and “well earned community trust” were priorities for district staff and stakeholders.

The board approved vision option 1 and ultimately adopted the mission after amendments and parliamentary motions to adjust punctuation. Votes were taken by voice; the transcript records the motions, seconds, and chair declarations that each motion carried, but not a roll-call tally by individual board member names.

Why it matters: Vision and mission statements articulate the board’s public priorities and guide district strategy and public messaging. The board’s emphasis on family partnerships and earned trust signals priorities for communication and community engagement going forward.

Implementation notes: Administration indicated it will fold the new vision and mission into district materials and communications and return with related implementation steps when appropriate.","The Little Rock School District board adopted a concise vision — 'A lifelong love of learning in every student' — and a mission emphasizing student success achieved by teaching, family partnerships and community trust. Board members debated grammar and punctuation before approving final mission wording with semicolons separating the clauses.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6670800,"Board approves two-day retreat with Council of the Great City Schools after debate over contract terms",2092,3149000,5241000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171966-7ddf369f74d984743e8031aac1bd0ef5&start=3149&end=5241","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171966-7ddf369f74d984743e8031aac1bd0ef5/thumbnail_3149000.jpg","/articles/6670800/Arkansas/Board-approves-two-day-retreat-with-Council-of-the-Great-City-Schools-after-debate-over-contract-terms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670800-fb3b3e837678fe4296d3d6469f3421c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776060634&Signature=icfw2rOyLoIeGD9G7AwRpal0QiDQJJszaQDq6X4rQzN6rjOsHQtzeVl8Tbcgyr4JNINWEByRQkNrgFEPrfzAdkQanaNFoTgcu~P5JDvsrxgDN-hybomuKYQlzxhsUcaoBbdtCNvtHTMQOBj9nRYy~DWbhDf5EzNBAHaO1FRRW4vNxY3z-IxH9pbrJdUY4rnGE-UGKszYcphDcgjAz9X6IDf8eMwjUcN4y190tMzNtIODH~vk94AspbCMnWV63VjbaSsSINViusp-78b4l4SGh~JHYgbUTOYrVF5QJlNEcrc5FzVzpsu9z9JUu-292oapKDKk3DbDTtY5Ar0Zz6UslA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Little Rock School District Board of Education voted Jan. 30 to schedule a two-day governance retreat with the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS), accepting a support proposal from CGCS governance coach Ashley Paz.

Paz told the board the retreat would be two full days focused on “student outcomes–focused governance” and adult behavior change — knowledge, skill and mindset — and that the work is meant to help the board develop a shared vision and practices intended to improve student outcomes. “Student outcomes don't change until adult behaviors change,” Paz said during her presentation, describing the retreat as a starting point for a longer engagement if the board chooses to continue.

Board members debated contract terms, including a previously circulated dollar figure for the full program and language in the proposal that would provide a discount if the board later adopted a multi-year plan unanimously. Paz said she did not handle contracting details and that the initial assessment (the interviews and materials already provided) had no cost beyond travel; she said the council underwrites a substantial portion of the overall work. She also said the retreat cost would roll into the total program cost if the board chose a longer-term engagement.

Some members objected to a fee structure that treated unanimous board agreement as a discount or incentive, with one board member characterizing a reduced price for unanimous agreement as equivalent to “buying votes.” Paz said the discount exists because unanimous buy-in typically reduces the amount of extra work the council must do; she also said the council could remove that clause from the contract if the board preferred.

After discussion, Director Greg Adams moved and another director seconded a motion to schedule the two-day retreat; the board approved the motion by voice vote. The board did not record a roll-call tally by name in the public transcript.

Why it matters: Board governance coaching can influence district priorities, oversight, and the relationship between the board and superintendent. The board’s agreement to a retreat begins a facilitated process the district says could lead to a multi-year engagement if the board later votes to continue.

Next steps identified in the presentation and discussion include scheduling the retreat on dates when all board members can attend; administration will work with CGCS to settle logistics and contracting details.","The Little Rock School District board approved a two-day retreat with the Council of the Great City Schools to begin governance coaching and planning; the board discussed costs, a potential discount tied to unanimous participation, and whether that discount structure was appropriate.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6670805,"Board grants waiver for Ryan Mitchell’s disqualifying criminal background finding, requires reapplication after falsified application",250,278000,528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171966-7ddf369f74d984743e8031aac1bd0ef5&start=278&end=528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171966-7ddf369f74d984743e8031aac1bd0ef5/thumbnail_278000.jpg","/articles/6670805/Arkansas/Board-grants-waiver-for-Ryan-Mitchells-disqualifying-criminal-background-finding-requires-reapplication-after-falsified-application","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670805-8586194175204954f2789c061496ee6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776060634&Signature=N05OMH0uasSvaXbNi5m~~Xlf9EeqZb7OE1dAV6baPuzTuwqMM432D2TlXS~P8w-qzkyiA4bMUyN03uQYHwlUQpN-vdAFsJ5uR1lFUIfTUuOCUDxh-Tk62A5LAnB2v0y6H5m6yJxrpYyf771wJnfFxtYlQYMoGcrm9fEFkUkJg-oMEcSFNVOd569Se33XSuwqGAZWadZzHvA~xY6Fb5hDiN1DNz01-h2fnci2wlLKo1Hw3vhwiCClTVd0OP4EOTwL0VcZm9Xy7A1PQeFQJNth5J2STRflzAmw7pox6qNbGzuVQYwgmZ4In3~Wb4Ji7rBZp2iNmDGtPEj85OBf5Y-7jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Little Rock School District Board of Education on Jan. 30 granted a waiver of a disqualifying criminal background finding for applicant Ryan Mitchell but required Mitchell to reapply because of a falsified employment application.

The district administration told the board it did not oppose a waiver “based on the totality of the circumstances” and recommended the board adopt option 3, which the board approved. The board’s action included language that administration will prepare a resolution for the board president’s signature and that Mitchell’s employment would be subject to further administrative review.

Mitchell, who spoke to the board at the hearing, described the charge as an incident from 2019. “That was a while ago. I was in the wrong place, wrong time, and that is not at all indicative of my character. So may I ask you all’s mercy with that?” Mitchell said. When asked what the assault-on-a-public-servant charge “consisted of,” Mitchell responded, “It consisted of me being attacked from the back and really just responding. I didn’t know that it was an officer.”

Board members moved and seconded the administration’s recommendation. The presiding officer called for a voice vote; members answered “aye” and the chair declared the motion carried. No roll-call tally by name was recorded in the public record.

Why it matters: The board’s action allows Mitchell to remain eligible to reapply for district positions but leaves an administrative review in place because the board said Mitchell falsified parts of her employment application. That condition may affect how and when Mitchell may be rehired.

The hearing record shows the district acknowledged a prior criminal matter in 2019, described the administration’s recommendation as “fair and sound,” and declined to oppose the waiver request. The board did not adopt a permanent hiring entitlement — Mitchell must reapply and pass administrative review.

The board’s personnel hearing concluded before the rest of the meeting’s agenda moved forward.","The Little Rock School District board granted a waiver of a disqualifying offense for applicant Ryan Mitchell, with conditions that she reapply because of a falsified application. The district did not oppose the waiver and recommended option 3 based on the totality of the circumstances.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves December 2024 financial report and consent agenda; staff flags temporary federal funding pauses affecting projects

Board adopts new vision and mission statements after extended debate on wording

Board approves two-day retreat with Council of the Great City Schools after debate over contract terms

Board grants waiver for Ryan Mitchell’s disqualifying criminal background finding, requires reapplication after falsified application