Springdale board approves 2026 six‑year master plan, selects contractors for Westwood and Jones; related‑party purchases approved

The Springdale School Board on Aug. 12 approved a 2026 six‑year master plan for academic facilities and selected contractors for two elementary projects, voting on a bundle of routine and statutory items including July financials and related‑party vendor agreements.

The master plan — described by a staff presenter as a list of planned, committed and completed projects — was approved by motion and voice vote. Board members also approved selection of contractors for Westwood Elementary and Jones Elementary and voted to forward a related‑party contract with Inkstorm Design Company to the Arkansas Department of Education (DESE)/Secretary of Education for review. The board approved July 2025 financial statements in the same meeting.

Board staff said the master plan lists several projects that remain planned (not committed) and that projects can be added or removed later. Facilities projects named in the plan include Harbor High School baseball and softball stadium renovations, Harbor track/infield resurfacing, Springdale High School indoor practice facility and performing‑arts center renovation, band covers for Springdale and Harbor high schools, multiple HVAC replacements, and site work for the Treehouse Pantry expansion, among others.

Mr. White (staff member) presented the master plan and told the board the list is intended to guide planning and to position projects for partnership funding. "These are planned; they're not committed or anything," White said. He noted some projects (Westwood and Jones) already have partnership funding and will move to the committed list.

On Westwood, the board approved selection of Nabholz Construction (listed in the packet as the recommended contractor) with Core Architects as the architect of record. The board then approved selection of Baldwin & Shell and Core Architects for Jones Elementary. The staff presentation said the selections followed a qualifications process: RFQ publication, shortlisting, interviews and final selection; final guaranteed maximum price (GMP) numbers will be brought back as addenda once scope and bids are developed.

The board took routine financial action to approve the July 2025 financial statements. The district finance director explained that July balances and several columns on the revenue/expenditure report still reflect fiscal‑year 2025 figures until the district completes its period‑13 closeout and the state reopens the cycle for submission, around Aug. 15; final adjustments must be submitted by Aug. 31.

The board also approved two related‑party vendor items that were disclosed in the packet. The first involves Inkstorm Design Company; the disclosure says Kimberly Crumby is a district administrator whose spouse owns 20% of Inkstorm and the remaining 80% is owned by parties not affiliated with Springdale Schools. Staff reported Inkstorm's prices for district t‑shirt production were generally lower than other vendors and that the contract is expected to exceed $10,000 over the year, requiring state review. The board voted to approve the district submitting the contract to the Secretary of Education for approval. The second related‑party item involved an employee‑owned vendor called The Brain Freezer (seasonal frozen treats) and totaled about $200–$300 annually; the board approved that local purchase.

Votes at a glance - Resolution approving 2026 six‑year master plan and academic facilities partnership: motion passed by voice vote (motion by Mrs. Creek; second by Mr. Ramos). Individual roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the public voice vote. - Approval of contract selection for Westwood Elementary (Nabholz Construction / Core Architects): motion passed by voice vote (motion by Mrs. Creek; second by Mr. Hutchinson). - Approval of contract selection for Jones Elementary (Baldwin & Shell / Core Architects): motion passed by voice vote (motion by Mr. Hutchinson; second by Mr. Ramos). - Approval of July 2025 financial statements: motion passed by voice vote (motion by Mr. Ombi; second by Mrs. Creek). - Approval to submit related‑party transaction with Inkstorm Design Company to the Secretary of Education for review: motion passed by voice vote (motion by Mrs. Creek; second by Mr. Ramos). - Approval of related‑party purchase from The Brain Freezer (employee‑owned): motion passed by voice vote (motion by Mr. Ramos; second by Mrs. Cook).

Board members and staff emphasized the master plan is a planning document and that specific projects will return for GMP approvals once design and bidding are complete. The meeting packet noted some projects were rolled back in sequence after facility condition index (FCI) review because they did not qualify for partnership funding at this time.

The board meeting adjourned after routine business.