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Bentonville board approves facilities plan, budget and course changes, rejects land offer and extends superintendent contract
Summary
At its Oct. 21 meeting the Bentonville School District board approved the biennial facilities master plan and first‑quarter budget, accepted course approvals and deletions, rejected a 20‑acre land sale offer from Skylight Homes, and approved a personnel packet that included an extension of Dr. Jones' contract.
The Bentonville School District Board of Education approved a package of administrative items Oct. 21, including a state‑required facilities master plan resolution, first‑quarter finance reporting and a set of course changes, while rejecting an outside offer on district land and extending the superintendent’s contract.
Facilities: Mike Belkette presented the biennial facilities master plan and asked the board to pass a resolution allowing the district to apply for partnership funding, including eligibility for "warm, safe, dry" grants. Belkette said the district’s wealth index has historically reduced its chance of receiving some funds but said staff will still apply for any available grants. A motion to approve the facilities master plan (item 7b) passed unanimously.
Courses: Dr. Morrill presented annual course approvals and deletions (item 7d). The board approved several Career and Technical Education deletions aligned with state rotations and additions that included advanced pre‑AP geometry with statistics, AP Cybersecurity, AP Business with Personal Finance, Banking and Finance II, an AP Computer Science Principles pilot for grade 8 at one school, and Theater Production and Management II. A $5 fee for a visual art appreciation course was also approved. Board discussion clarified that some AP offerings for junior high are paused pending state/College Board approval processes.
Budget and finance: Dr. Swanhauser reported first‑quarter numbers: an all‑funds balance of $71,800,000 (up $8.2 million from the prior year), operating fund revenue of $33.4 million and expenditures of $42.9 million — a timing deficit of $9.6 million expected to reverse after tax receipts. The board approved the budget item (7e) after discussion.
Land offer: Staff described an offer from Skylight Homes to purchase 20 acres of an 81.23‑acre district parcel across Bright Road from Fulbright Junior High at $60,000 per acre (total $1,200,000). The board discussed appraisal history and the district’s 10‑year construction plan reserving the property for future use; Jeremy moved and Bill seconded a motion to reject the offer, which passed unanimously (item 7f).
Personnel and superintendent contract: After retiring to executive session to discuss personnel, the board reconvened and voted to approve the personnel packet including an extension of Dr. Jones’ contract. The motion to approve items discussed in executive session was moved by Willie and seconded by Jeremy, and the motion passed with all voting members in favor.
Other items: The consent agenda (item 6A) passed earlier in the meeting; board members also heard the district’s annual report on assessment results, where staff highlighted ATLAS summative assessments, district letter grades, AP and ACT performance and plans to adopt a science curriculum.
The board adjourned after approving the personnel packet.
Votes at a glance: approval of agenda (2a); consent agenda (6A); facilities master plan (7b); removal of class rank (7c — see separate article); course approvals and deletions (7d); budget item (7e); rejected land offer (7f); personnel packet and superintendent contract extension (executive session follow‑up) — all motions passed with unanimous votes recorded by Becky.
