Rogers Board asks personnel committee to review policy on staff contact with board members
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Summary
Board member Mitch Lockhart successfully moved to send policy SBP BHB — governing employee contact with board members — to the Personnel Policy Committee for review and recommended rewording to encourage staff-to-board communications; motion passed by roll call.
Mitch Lockhart, a member of the Rogers School District Board of Education, moved that the district’s policy governing employee contact with board members be sent to the Personnel Policy Committee for review and rewording to encourage staff members to share nonpersonnel ideas directly with board members. The board voted to send the policy to the committee for review and possible rewording.
Lockhart told the board he had researched Arkansas School Board Association guidance and asked that the policy’s "punitive nature" be removed so employees could freely offer "thoughts and ideas" that might help the district. He said staff often believe they will face discipline for contacting board members directly and that the perceived restriction discouraged informal idea-sharing.
Supporters on the board said they were open to clarifying language that encourages non‑controversial, general conversation while preserving the chain of command for legal or personnel matters. Some board members and administrators warned the line between casual idea-sharing and matters that implicate personnel, legal or contractual issues can be narrow and urged care in any revision. Superintendent Dr. Perry and other administrators said the district already encourages staff feedback through existing channels such as a monthly teacher advisory committee but agreed the policy language merits review.
After discussion, Lockhart amended his proposal to request review and rewording rather than immediate adoption of new text. The board voted by roll call: Mitch Lockhart — yes; David — yes; Nathan — yes; Rob — yes; Curtis — yes; Jamie — yes. The board directed the Personnel Policy Committee to review SBP BHB and prepare recommended revisions for a future board meeting, with a tentative review target in September and a likely return to the board by October.
The motion did not adopt new policy language; it only directed the committee to review and propose wording. Board members said if the committee recommends no change, the status quo would remain in force.