Bentonville school board appoints two members, approves personnel items after executive session

The Bentonville School District Board of Education appointed Rachel Nutt to the Zone 1 seat and named Bill Aikens to an at-large seat at a special meeting on Thursday, June 26. Both appointments were made by motion and approved by unanimous voice vote. The board later entered executive session on personnel matters and, upon returning, approved personnel recommendations.

The appointments filled two vacancies the board said it had opened for application and interview. The board accepted public interviews of two finalists; each candidate had up to 10 minutes to speak and answer questions. Rachel Nutt, introduced as an applicant for Zone 1, described herself as a Bentonville native, a 2003 Bentonville High School graduate and a parent with two children enrolled in district schools. She said she has served on a school PTO and as treasurer at T.J. Elementary. "Education's always been super important to me," Nutt said. She told the board she plans to seek election for the seat in March, saying, "I don't want to fully commit to y'all, but, yes, I would like to see a future here."

Bill Aikens, identified as a University of Arkansas professor and applicant for the at-large seat, summarized his business, academic and community experience and said he views the board's role as setting direction and policy rather than managing day-to-day operations. Aikens described prior work in local business and entrepreneurship programs and said he and his family are active in district activities.

Motion and vote details: the motion to appoint Rachel Nutt to the Zone 1 board seat was moved by Willie and seconded by Jeremy; the board recorded yes votes from Tatum, Willie, Jennifer, Jeremy, the presiding member and Kelly. The motion to appoint Bill Aikens to the at-large seat was moved and seconded (second by Willie); the board recorded yes votes from Tatum, Willie, Jennifer, Jeremy and Kelly. After the appointments the board entered executive session to discuss personnel. Following the closed session the board voted to approve the personnel recommendations; the motion was moved by Becky and seconded by Tatum and carried by recorded yes votes.

During board comments after the executive session, a board member described a recent state insurance issue involving Act 560 and a state "captive property insurance" program. The board member said the district chose not to join the state captive program after staff estimated participation would raise their annual property insurance costs by roughly $200,000 and that discussions with state staff initially added an additional, unrecorded consequence (a reduction in foundation funding). The speaker credited state Senator Bart Hester with intervening on the district's behalf and said that intervention secured more favorable pricing for the district's property insurance.

The newly appointed members were welcomed to the board. The board adjourned after approving the personnel items and other routine matters.