Fayetteville board approves playground, parking and site GMPs, preliminary FY26 budget and policy updates

The Fayetteville Public Schools Board of Education on a 7-0 vote approved three construction guaranteed maximum price (GMP) packages, adopted a preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget and approved several policy updates during its May meeting.

The board approved a $499,751 GMP for the Leverett Playground phase 1, a $21,095,807 GMP for the Fayetteville High School parking garage and a $5,681,432 GMP for the Woodland Junior High early site package and MEP services. The board also approved the district's preliminary FY26 budget and voted to adopt one new policy, repeal one policy and approve three policy revisions.

Board action and why it matters

The Leverett Playground GMP covers drainage remediation and regrading to improve water runoff and playground safety; presenters said work is expected to begin in June with the goal of completion before the start of school and a 53-calendar-day schedule noted in the proposal. The Fayetteville High School parking garage GMP advances a multistory parking structure project and was presented with the construction cost estimate. The Woodland Junior High GMP covers early site work, mass-timber procurement steps and MEP coordination; staff told the board they must order an initial round of mass timber before the board's next regular meeting to hold the locked pricing and that a full GMP for the Woodland project will be presented in July.

The preliminary FY26 budget was approved as presented during the board's earlier budget workshop. Board members and staff said full budget documents and certification will be public once state timelines are finalized.

Policy approvals and board organization

The board voted to approve one new policy, repeal one out-of-date policy tied to the graduating classes of 2024'25, and accept three revisions to existing policies that staff said were required by recent state legislative action. Staff said drafts of additional policy revisions will return for action next month.

The board completed its annual reorganization by approving a slate of officers: Tim Hudson as president, Justin Eichmann as vice president and Keaton Smith as secretary; the motion passed 7-0.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: approved (motion: Justin Eichmann; second: Yvonne Hudson) — outcome: approved, tally 7'0yes, 0 no. - Leverett Playground GMP ($499,751): motion to approve passed (mover: Keaton Smith; second: Tim Hudson) — outcome: approved, tally 7'0yes, 0 no. - Fayetteville High School parking garage GMP ($21,095,807): motion to approve passed (mover: Katrina Osborne; second: Tracy Pomeroy) — outcome: approved, tally 7'0yes, 0 no. - Woodland Junior High early site package & MEP GMP ($5,681,432): motion to approve passed (mover: Justin Eichmann; second: Katrina Osborne) — outcome: approved, tally 7'0yes, 0 no. Staff said a full Woodland GMP will be presented in July and noted the need for a June special meeting to approve an initial mass-timber order to hold pricing. - FY26 preliminary budget: motion to approve passed (mover: board member; second: Keaton Smith) — outcome: approved, tally 7'0yes, 0 no. (The board conducted a budget workshop earlier the same day.) - Policies (one new, one repeal, three revisions): motion to approve passed (mover: Justin Eichmann; second: Tracy Pomeroy) — outcome: approved, tally 7'0yes, 0 no. - Board reorganization: slate (Tim Hudson, president; Justin Eichmann, vice president; Keaton Smith, secretary) approved (mover: Katrina Osborne; second: Yvonne Hudson) — outcome: approved, tally 7'0yes, 0 no.

What the board did not vote on tonight

Staff presented a proposal to raise some meal prices for adults and second student meals and to set student breakfast free under the new Arkansas law; staff sought approval for a 25-cent increase in paid lunch prices beginning 2025-26, but the transcript records only the staff presentation and no recorded board motion or vote on that meal-pricing item during the meeting.

Next steps

Staff said a special board meeting will likely be scheduled in June to approve time-sensitive elements of the Woodland Junior High GMP (notably the initial mass-timber order) and that the district will present the full Woodland GMP in July. Public documents for the preliminary budget and finalized GMP packages will be posted once certifications and contracts are complete.

Ending: The board adjourned after final remarks and presentation of recognition items earlier in the meeting.