[{"_1":2,"_95":-5,"_96":-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",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6036582,"mediaKeyId","5047327-9615a1967ca3bac38808268606bf3c1a","parentId",5047327,"title","Board approves 2025-26 alternative calendar, renews superintendent contract and bonus; OKs MOU, expenditures and student discipline","audioSeconds",34,"startMs",3664000,"endMs",3698000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5047327-9615a1967ca3bac38808268606bf3c1a&start=3664&end=3698","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6036582/Arkansas/Board-approves-2025-26-alternative-calendar-renews-superintendent-contract-and-bonus-OKs-MOU-expenditures-and-student-discipline","mediaUrl","author","FORREST CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-02-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Forrest City School District Board of Education voted on multiple items including the district's 2025--26 school calendar, the superintendent's contract and bonus, a memorandum of understanding with postsecondary partners, routine expenditures and student disciplinary actions.

The board approved an alternative 2025--26 school calendar after the district's Professional Planning Committee recommended the alternative schedule and teachers voted to select it. The motion to approve the calendar carried unanimously.

On personnel and contract matters the board voted to renew the superintendent's contract for one additional year and separately approved a one-time 6% incentive bonus for the superintendent. Both motions passed by recorded vote, 6 to 1.

The board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the University of Arkansas and East Arkansas Community College to continue partnership programs including commercial driver training and emergency medical training.

The board approved routine expenditures for the December and January periods by roll call (the board recorded approval by voice or roll call; roll-call tallies were announced during the meeting). The board also considered student disciplinary hearings and approved an expulsion recommendation for one student (referred to in the record as \"Student B\"); one board member recused on that vote and the recommendation was adopted by the remaining voting members.

Votes at a glance

- 2025--26 alternative calendar: motion to approve carried unanimously (recorded roll call). Motion made on recommendation of superintendent and PPC; mover: Annie Norman (motion recorded); second: not specified in the transcript. Outcome: approved.

- Superintendent contract renewal (one year): motion to renew contract carried 6 to 1 (roll call). Mover: not specified in the transcript; second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- One-time 6% incentive bonus for superintendent: motion carried 6 to 1 (roll call). Mover: not specified in the transcript; second: recorded as supported. Outcome: approved.

- Memorandum of understanding with University of Arkansas and East Arkansas Community College (commercial driver training and EMT/related programs): motion carried unanimously. Mover: district staff recommendation; second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Routine expenditures (December and January): approvals by roll call; motions carried by recorded vote as announced (December expenditures motion carried 6 to 1; January expenditures motion carried by roll call). Outcome: approved.

- Student disciplinary action (\"Student B\"): board voted to accept the superintendent's recommendation to expel the student for the remainder of the school's specified period in the record. One board member, Sadie Blackwell, recused herself on the vote; the motion passed among voting members present.

Why it matters

These votes set the district's academic calendar and personnel terms for the coming year, preserve ongoing postsecondary workforce-training partnerships, and document the board's handling of routine fiscal oversight and student-discipline responsibilities. The calendar determines start/end dates and impacts staffing and program scheduling; the contract and bonus affect the superintendent's employment terms; and the MOU sustains career training pathways for students.

Who spoke

Roll-call and motion activity were recorded by board members: Sadie Blackwell, Larry DeVazier, Roy Hamilton, Tarzan Lee, Annie Norman, Sandra Taylor and Yvette Whitby. The superintendent presented recommendations to the board. Other staff presented or handled agenda logistics for specific motions.

What the record shows

All motions listed above and the recorded roll-call outcomes are explicitly reported in the meeting transcript. Where a mover or seconder was not clearly named in the recorded sequence, the article notes that the transcript did not specify the second.

Next steps

The approved calendar and the renewed superintendent contract take effect according to the district's timelines and administrative practice. The district will execute the MOU with the partner institutions as authorized. The board did not identify additional formal follow-up actions for these items during the meeting.

(See provenance entries for the specific transcript spans that record each vote and motion.)","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","February 27, 2025\tFebruary Regular Meeting ","oneSentenceSummary","The Forrest City School District Board of Education voted on multiple items including the district's 2025--26 school calendar, the superintendent's contract and bonus, a memorandum of understanding with postsecondary partners, routine expenditures and student disciplinary actions.","taxTitle","FORREST CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, Arkansas","taxId",65583,"location","Arkansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6036572,"District says it has exited early-intervention review, increased building fund and completed major projects; insurance covers recent Stewart Elementary water-dw",764,1656000,2420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5047327-9615a1967ca3bac38808268606bf3c1a&start=1656&end=2420","/articles/6036572/Arkansas/District-says-it-has-exited-early-intervention-review-increased-building-fund-and-completed-major-projects-insurance-covers-recent-Stewart-Elementary-water-dw","District financial and facilities staff told the Forrest City School District Board of Education that the Arkansas Department of Education's early-intervention review for the district has concluded and the district has been released from that program after completing required steps.

Presenters told the board the district has increased its building fund balance over a ten-year period. The superintendent's presentation included a comparison noting a building-fund balance of about $1,300,000 on June 30, 2014 and a building-fund balance of about $3,100,000 on June 30, 2024. District staff said the district has completed roughly $15,000,000 of facilities projects without issuing a mill levy for those projects (district materials in the packet were cited during the presentation).

The board heard a facilities update: a roofing and emergency repair project at the Lincoln ABC and junior-high cafeteria was reported as approximately 85% complete and expected to finish within about a week of the meeting date; some roofing materials for high-school projects remain on backorder. Staff discussed ongoing planning for an ABC campus gym preservation project and other routine facility work.

Stewart Elementary has experienced multiple water-damage incidents during weather events. District staff reported the insurance company has covered most costs for mitigation and repairs; the district has paid its insurance deductible (reported as $5,000). Staff said the district and its architect agree on a design solution to prevent future leaks involving more extensive barriers and insulation around pipes and openings. The district's vendor for mitigation (Servpro) has coordinated with the insurer on work orders.

District staff also presented a 10-year chart of teacher supplemental pay and bonuses, saying the district has distributed more than $1,800,000 in teacher bonus payments from 2014 through 2024 (the presentation separated bonus payments from retention pay). For 2024 the presentation noted one-time Christmas payments of $750 per employee and $825 for returning employees in a retention category.

Why it matters

Exiting ADE's early-intervention program signals the district's completion of fiscal corrective steps required by the state division that monitors districts with indicators of fiscal stress. The building-fund balance and completed projects affect facilities planning; insurance and mitigation actions affect near-term repair budgets and operations.

Details & context

- ADE early-intervention: district staff said a letter from the Arkansas Department of Education certifies the district completed early-intervention requirements and has been released from the program.
- Building fund balances (figures presented by staff): June 30, 2014 balance ~ $1,300,000; June 30, 2024 balance ~ $3,100,000 (figures cited in the meeting packet presented to the board).
- Projects: staff said the district executed approximately $15,000,000 in facility projects over the period without a mill levy; examples discussed during the meeting included roofing, emergency repairs and wellness-space work nearing completion.
- Stewart Elementary water damage: multiple leak incidents occurred during extreme weather; staff reported insurance mitigation and repair with district deductible ($5,000) paid by the district; a more substantive design change to prevent cold-air intrusion and pipe exposure was planned and agreed by the architect and insurer.
- Teacher bonuses: district presentation recorded roughly $1,800,000 in teacher bonus payments between 2014 and 2024; 2024 payments included $750 at Christmas and $825 for returning staff in a retention category.

Speakers

District financial and facilities staff presented these items. A state legislative representative also spoke in support of the district's work; the transcript identifies that speaker as representing the district at state level but does not provide a full name in the public record excerpt.

What the record does not specify

Some year-by-year transfer amounts and certain line-item project costs in the packet are presented by staff but not read in full during the meeting; the transcript includes summarized totals rather than complete accounting tables. Where specific dollar amounts in the transcript were unclear or incompletely read aloud, this article identifies only the totals the staff explicitly referenced (building fund balances and districtwide project totals).

Next steps

Staff said they will continue completion of roofing and wellness-space projects, finalize the architect's recommended preventive measures at Stewart Elementary, and process insurance and mitigation invoices per insurer direction. The board did not identify additional formal votes on facilities at the meeting.

(Transcript evidence: superintendent's finance and facilities report and staff presentation.)","District officials told trustees the Forrest City School District completed Arkansas Department of Education early-intervention requirements, increased its building fund balance over a decade and completed multiple facility projects; recent water-damage repairs at Stewart Elementary are proceeding with insurance coverage.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6036577,"Forrest City reports statewide growth gains; junior high earns high-growth award and $50-per-student grant",784,220000,1004000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5047327-9615a1967ca3bac38808268606bf3c1a&start=220&end=1004","/articles/6036577/Arkansas/Forrest-City-reports-statewide-growth-gains-junior-high-earns-high-growth-award-and-50-per-student-grant","District academic leaders told the Forrest City School District Board of Education that new state growth metrics show the district met or exceeded expected student growth in English language arts, mathematics and science for grades 3 and up.

Superintendent's staff explained the state now reports growth as a score centered on zero: a score of 0 means students met expected growth, positive values indicate growth above expectations and negative values indicate growth below expectations. Using that metric, district staff said the Forrest City district average growth score across tested content areas was 0.06; the state average reported in the presentation was about -0.003 in the comparable summary table shown to the board. For mathematics the district average reported was about 0.10 while the state average cited in the presentation was about 0.003. For science the district average cited was about 0.04; the state figure cited was about 0.002. District staff said these figures come from the Arkansas Department of Education accountability reports.

The presentation highlighted several school- and teacher-level top performers. District staff singled out teachers by name for positive growth scores at Seward Elementary, Lincoln Academy and the junior high. The junior high received a high-growth award from an external reviewer (the Office of Education Policy) and, as part of that award, district staff told the board the junior high will receive $50 per student to be allocated by a school committee (a staff member on the dais estimated the award to total about $13,000 for the school based on the student count).

Officials explained the growth measure is newly emphasized in state accountability (the district said growth now carries a higher weight than previously), and that sustained positive growth can affect district recognition and funding. Presenters also noted some content areas and grade-level cohorts still require additional focus: the high school's algebra, geometry and biology content areas were identified as areas needing extra support, and the district said it does not currently have a coach assigned to some high-school content areas.

Why it matters

The growth scores affect district accountability and can translate into awards and targeted funding for schools that outperform expectations. The junior high's award includes discretionary funds to be spent locally by a school committee, and district leaders said growth-weighting changes at the state level increase the significance of these outcomes.

Speakers and sourcing

The academic presentation and the data excerpts cited in the meeting came from district academic staff using Arkansas Department of Education published accountability growth reports and a synopsis by the Office of Education Policy. Teachers and school leaders referenced in the presentation include Miss Winford, Mr. Whitby and Mr. Garner as noted by district staff during the recognition portion of the report.

Details & context

- District average growth (all tested areas cited by presenters): 0.06 (district value reported in presentation).
- State average figures cited in the presentation: roughly -0.003 (ELA summary cited), 0.003 (math) and 0.002 (science).
- Junior high award: district staff reported the school qualified in a high-growth band (top 6'0% in state ranking according to the presentation) and will receive a per-student award the school committee will allocate; staff estimated about $13,000 for the junior high based on its enrollment.
- Teacher recognitions: staff named several teachers with high growth scores (Miss Winford, Mr. Whitby, Mr. Garner) during the presentation.

What the presentation did not specify

The presentation cited ADE data but did not provide the raw score tables for every grade/content cell in the public transcript; the board packet handed out at the meeting includes the district's slide set and the district noted the data were copied from the state accountability site.

Next steps

District staff said they will continue to monitor targeted content areas at the high school, pursue coaching supports where needed, and work with school leadership on how to allocate the junior high award funds through a teacher/staff/student/parent committee.

(Transcript evidence: academic presentation and discussion recorded in the superintendent's report.)","District officials presented Arkansas Department of Education growth-score data showing the Forrest City School District exceeded state averages in English language arts, math and science; the junior high ranked among the state's top growth performers and will receive an award allocation to spend locally.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves 2025-26 alternative calendar, renews superintendent contract and bonus; OKs MOU, expenditures and student discipline

District says it has exited early-intervention review, increased building fund and completed major projects; insurance covers recent Stewart Elementary water-dw

Forrest City reports statewide growth gains; junior high earns high-growth award and $50-per-student grant