Votes at a glance: Pine Bluff board approves federal assurances, career coaches, fixed‑asset policy and several purchases

Here is a summary of formal motions and board outcomes from the Pine Bluff School District Board of Education meeting.

Federal assurances The board approved the district's annual federal assurances document, confirming the district will follow federal requirements for programs such as Title I and special education. Motion and second were recorded but individual mover and seconder names were not specified in the public transcript. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

Architect — athletic master plan (also covered in separate report) The board approved a motion to hire Louis Elliott Architects to prepare construction documents for the proposed athletic master plan at the new high school. Outcome: approved on voice vote. (See separate article for full presentation and context.)

CR career coach Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) The board approved continuing the partnership that funds three career coaches (two at the high school, one at junior high) through a shared arrangement with Southeast Arkansas College (CR). The district's share of the three coaches is described as $90,029 total payment, with $60,000 expected to be reimbursed through Perkins grant funds; after reimbursement the district net cost was stated to be approximately half the salary of one coach. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

Policy 7.13 — fixed asset capitalization threshold The board approved an updated fixed‑asset policy (policy 7.13) and set the capitalization threshold at $2,500, retroactive to July 1, 2024. Staff said the change aligns district practice with IRS guidance and allows the district to clean up legacy ledger items. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

Purchases and agreements - Career‑tech lab equipment (CDW): Purchase amount reported as $26,741 for lab equipment; Carl Perkins start‑up grant will cover $24,255 and the district will pay the remaining balance from Title I. Outcome: approved on voice vote. - Fixed‑asset inventory services and software (three‑year agreement): The board approved a three‑year agreement to inventory and manage fixed assets (district staff proposed paying for three years upfront to obtain a discount). The transcript did not record the exact total cost in a single unambiguous figure; staff said other districts use the vendor and that the cost would be paid from capital outlay. Outcome: approved on voice vote. - Professional learning (Kids First): The district was awarded funds from the state to purchase professional learning services. Staff presented a Kids First proposal with a project cost of $54,575 and said the district was granted $102,385.46 (as read aloud in the meeting) to spend on professional learning; the Kids First engagement was approved. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

Personnel and waivers The board recessed into executive session for personnel. After returning, the board approved personnel recommendations from the superintendent in executive session. A separate waiver request for a classified employee who failed a background check was discussed and placed on the executive‑session agenda; the public transcript shows the board deferred the waiver discussion to executive session and then approved personnel recommendations. Outcome: personnel recommendations approved (executive session); waiver details were discussed in executive session and are not part of the public record.

Notes on vote recording Most motions in the meeting were adopted by voice vote; the public transcript records multiple “ayes” but does not include a roll‑call tally with individual board member roll names for every vote. Where costs or reimbursements were described in testimony, staff cited grant reimbursements (Perkins) and category funds; exact budget line items and contract amounts should be confirmed in the official minutes and contract documents.

Ending: Board members asked staff to return with contracts, final costs and implementation details on purchases, the career‑coach MOU and fixed‑asset software before funds are spent or work is scheduled to begin.