Benton County School Board approves agenda, purchasing agreements, policies, contracts and budget resolutions

The Benton County School Board voted unanimously to approve the meeting agenda and consent agenda and then took a series of routine approvals covering purchasing cooperatives, policy first readings, contracts and budget resolutions.

The board approved the agenda and the consent agenda by roll call; the consent package included the June minutes, the annual agenda and a substitute teacher list. The board then approved purchasing cooperative agreements described in the meeting packet as agreements with “HPS, which is Volvo, TISS, Soarscribe, and Byward” (motion and supporting materials referenced by staff). The board approved on first reading multiple policy updates that staff identified as coming from PSBA policy recommendations; the policies will return for second reading on Aug. 4.

Separately, the board unanimously renewed the StaffEasy substitute teacher contract for one year, with staff saying the new agreement is essentially the same as prior years’ contracts and was recommended for renewal. The board also approved a third-year contract with Capturing Kids’ Hearts to continue programming at three schools; staff said the program will continue at those three schools with grant funding covering most costs and the district paying $5,000. The board approved a set of budget resolutions, including the acceptance of $1,123 in unclaimed property identified to schools and transfers needed to cover an unexpected workers’ compensation increase (staff reported an approximately 17% increase in premiums). Board members also authorized routine payroll budget adjustments through the county commission for operational flexibility.

All motions reported roll-call tallies of nine yes votes and no recorded dissent on the items listed above. The board moved from these approvals into the director’s report following passage of the budget resolutions.