Bentonville board votes to adopt six-year terms for trustees

The Bentonville School District Board of Education voted unanimously Aug. 19 to adopt six‑year terms for its trustees after a presentation from the district attorney and legal staff explaining options under recent state law.

District legal counsel and District Attorney Marshall Knight outlined why six‑year terms would reduce the frequency of board turnover and the administrative burden of near‑continuous election cycles. Knight said the statute (referred to in discussion as “Act 503”) does not plainly provide a three‑cycle path to six‑year terms, so the district’s implementation plan uses permitted rebalancing steps and, in one year, a lot‑drawing mechanism to stagger terms without forcing mass turnover.

Marshall Knight said Benton County election staff had reviewed the plan and indicated approval, but that the state election commission had not yet issued formal guidance. "So far, the people that we have engaged on this have been... approved it," Knight said, describing county‑level feedback while noting uncertainty at the state level.

Board member Willie moved to adopt six‑year terms; Rachel seconded the motion. Becky (board clerk) called the roll and the board voted unanimously to approve the change (Item 6a).

The measure was presented as an action item limited to selecting between four‑ and six‑year terms; legal staff said further discussion and refinements could follow. The board did not take additional structural actions at the meeting beyond voting to adopt the six‑year option.

The vote closes the question for this board at least administratively, but legal counsel said final implementation depends on the election commission’s procedures and any further state guidance.