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Board adopts streamlined student handbooks, adds QR flipbook and K–12 discipline rubrics
Summary
The board approved revised K–12 student handbooks for 2025–26: shorter handbooks with policy links, a flipbook/QR distribution method, consolidated elementary/middle handbook, updated transportation guidelines, updated meal charges, and newly created K–4 discipline rubric.
The Bentonville School District Board of Education voted July 15 to adopt revised student handbooks for the 2025–26 school year, consolidating some grade-level handbooks, adding a flipbook format with QR codes for distribution, and inserting updated discipline rubrics across K–12.
Aaron Hoover (presenting the handbook revisions) told the board the district condensed handbooks and moved policy text out of handbook pages to shorten high-school handbooks from roughly 117 pages to about 40 pages by linking to district policies. He described a flipbook interface for the handbooks that will be published online and accessible via QR codes placed at open houses and other school events.
Key changes adopted: consolidation of elementary and middle handbooks into a single document for this year (with future plans to combine junior high and high school), inclusion of the Religious Freedom Act (Act 400) language in all handbooks as required by recent legislation, and incorporation of the GT (gifted and talented) handbook content into the elementary K–6 handbook.
Transportation and safety updates include requiring students to carry their name badge daily to board and exit buses, expectations for proper conduct at bus stops, keeping hands/feet/head inside the bus at all times, and keeping aisles clear. Nutrition-section updates add pricing details and a federal nondiscrimination statement; Hoover said breakfast will be at no charge and lunch prices were listed by level in the handbook drafts.
The board also approved new discipline rubrics, including a K–4 rubric meant to provide consistent consequences across elementary sites and a wider K–12 rubric to offer administrators and deans a consistent method for applying discipline across grade levels. District staff said a deeper training session on the rubrics will be scheduled for the board.
The board approved the handbooks by roll-call vote; staff said the handbooks would not be published to the public until about July 25 to allow final edits and linking of recently approved policies.
Ending: The board adopted the handbooks and encouraged staff to publish the final versions with flipbook and QR access and to schedule the planned rubric training for administrators and board members.
