Rogers School Board approves discipline, AI and facility agreements, renames New Tech campus

The Rogers School District Board of Education on April 22 approved a set of policy updates and administrative agreements, including revisions to the student discipline policy, a new student artificial-intelligence policy, a naming-rights sponsorship for district athletic fields and a construction guarantee for the district's newly acquired IT building. The board also voted to rename Rogers New Technology High School to the Rogers Academy of Leadership and Innovation for the 2025'1026 school year.

The board moved several housekeeping and governance items in a single meeting that ran through presentations, staff reports and public recognitions before reaching the formal votes.

The administration proposed revisions to Policy JK (student discipline) and accompanying guidelines as an annual compliance review. Key recommended changes included removing a requirement to send certified/registered mail for certain notices, clarifying language about "zero tolerance" for alcohol/tobacco/drugs to reflect progressive discipline, and changing disciplinary steps for tobacco-related violations (first violation proposed as three days in-school suspension, rising to potential alternative placement after repeated violations). The administration also struck and deferred cell-phone rules pending a model policy from the Arkansas School Boards Association to match new state law.

The board adopted the recommended revisions for Policy JK as presented. Board discussion clarified the changes would take effect July 1, 2025 (the 2025'1026 school year). Administration asked the minutes to reflect a 6-1 vote on the discipline policy changes.

Board members also adopted a new student artificial-intelligence policy (Policy JKB) intended as a framework for 2025'1026. District staff said the draft will be revisited when an ASBA model policy becomes available. The motion to adopt the AI policy passed without recorded opposition.

Other voted items included: acceptance of several policy and guideline updates (certified/classified retirement language, meal allowances, lane-change eligibility for dyslexia certification counted similar to ESL, and a revised grievance form/procedure aligned with model language); approval of school-level improvement plans; and approval of routine consent items (minutes and HR changes).

The board approved a naming-rights sponsorship and related memorandum of understanding with First National Bank of Northwest Arkansas to place bank logos on district athletic fields and provide a total sponsorship payment structured over multiple years (the administration described a total donation of $225,000, with $50,000 in each of the first three years, $25,000 in the next two years, and smaller amounts in subsequent years). Administration said the funds would be used for athletics generally (revenues are pooled and redistributed across programs). The board approved the sponsorship and directed staff to finalize an MOU; staff said the district retains termination rights and a 90-day exit clause.

The board accepted a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $573,736 from Cadell Construction to renovate the interior of the district's newly purchased IT building on East/Eighth Street, including remediation for winter water damage. The district had previously budgeted a lower amount and staff said the GMP exceeded optimistic estimates by about $73,000; the motion to accept the GMP passed.

The board approved the renaming of Rogers New Technology High School to the Rogers Academy of Leadership and Innovation (RALLY) beginning with the 2025'1026 school year. The administration said the school completed a process to become a designated School of Innovation and the new name aligns with that status.

The board also approved an E-rate resolution that allows the district to accept federal E-rate funds, approved school improvement plans submitted by individual schools and adopted multiple personnel and policy items on the consent agenda.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (minutes, HR changes): Motion by Amy; second by Paige; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Policy JK (student discipline) and guidelines: Motion to adopt by board member (recorded motion from Paige); second Suzanne; outcome: adopted; minutes requested to show 6 yes, 1 no by administration. - Policy JKB (student artificial intelligence): Motion to adopt by Curtis; second Amy; outcome: adopted (voice vote). - Policy/guideline revisions (certified/classified retirement, meal allowance DKC, lane-change/dyslexia, grievance alignment): outcome: adopted as presented (voice vote). - Renaming Rogers New Technology High School to Rogers Academy of Leadership and Innovation: motion moved; second Amy; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Field sponsorship and naming rights with First National Bank of Northwest Arkansas (site(s) and signage as detailed in MOU): motion moved; second Nathan; outcome: approved (voice vote). Administration described total structured payments totaling approximately $225,000 over the contract term; an MOU will be executed. - GMP for IT Building renovation (Cadell Construction) $573,736: Motion moved; second Suzanne; outcome: approved (voice vote). - School improvement plans (all buildings): outcome: adopted (voice vote). - E-rate resolution (accept federal E-rate funds): motion moved (Paige); second Amy; outcome: approved (voice vote).

What this does and does not do

- The discipline policy revisions set the district's approach for the 2025'1026 school year and remove certain procedural language while clarifying progressive discipline steps for tobacco/vape incidents; staff emphasized the new cell-phone possession rules will be developed once ASBA issues a state-aligned model policy. - The AI policy is a student-facing framework to guide classroom and student use of AI tools; staff expect to revisit it if ASBA issues a model policy. - The bank sponsorship is a multi-year agreement that places branding on district fields; administration said sponsorship proceeds will be used for athletics across the district, and the MOU will include termination provisions.

Speakers (attributed in coverage) included board members (Paige Saltemeier; Amy; Suzanne; Curtis; Nathan) and district staff (Mr. Lee, administration; Jake, finance staff; Dr. Perry, superintendent; Paul, development/athletics staff; Charles/Joanne, administrative staff).