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Board approves budget, personnel package, signers and a transportation mechanic FTE; votes at a glance
Summary
The Bentonville board approved the district budget, a personnel package, three authorized signers and one additional full‑time transportation mechanic; motions passed by unanimous roll‑call votes of present members.
On Dec. 17 the Bentonville School District Board approved multiple action items including the 2024–25 budget, a personnel package, authorization of district signers and an additional transportation mechanic FTE.
Budget and fund summary: district staff said the combined fund balance was about $85.7 million (down about $3.8 million from the prior year). Operating revenue exceeded operating expenditures by approximately $16.5 million, and revenues were up year‑over‑year by about $1.8 million, driven by increases in assessed value and student growth.
Votes at a glance (as recorded on the meeting transcript): - Approve agenda (procedural): Motion by Willie; second by Joel. Vote recorded: Tatum — yes; Willie — yes; Joel — yes; Jeremy — yes; Kelly — yes; Jennifer — absent. Outcome: approved. - Approve consent agenda: Motion by Becky; second by Tatum. Vote recorded: Tatum — yes; Willie — yes; Joel — yes; Jeremy — yes; Kelly — yes. Outcome: approved. - Approve Lincoln Junior High Phase 3 (see separate story): Motion by Willie; second by Joel. Vote recorded: Tatum — yes; Willie — yes; Joel — yes; Jeremy — yes; Kelly — yes. Outcome: approved. - Approve budget (operating and funds): Motion by Jeremy; second by Tatum. Vote recorded: Tatum — yes; Willie — yes; Joel — yes; Jeremy — yes; Kelly — yes. Outcome: approved. - Approve authorized signers (Kelly Carlson, Debbie Jones, Janet Schwenhauser): Motion by Tatum; second by Jeremy. Vote recorded: Tatum — yes; Willie — yes; Joel — yes; Jeremy — yes; Kelly — yes. Outcome: approved. - Approve one transportation mechanic FTE (estimated cost just under $50,000 including benefits): Motion by Tatum; second by Willie. Vote recorded: Tatum — yes; Willie — yes; Joel — yes; Jeremy — yes; Kelly — yes. Outcome: approved. - Approve personnel package (post‑executive session): Motion by Tatum; second by Willie. Vote recorded: Tatum — yes; Willie — yes; Joel — yes; Jeremy — yes; Kelly — yes. Outcome: approved.
The transcript records unanimous approval among present board members on these items; one member (Jennifer) was absent from roll-call votes. The budget and the mechanic FTE will move forward under standard procurement and hiring procedures, and staff indicated next steps (contracts, hiring process) will follow.
