Magnet Cove School Board approves $1,300 one-time bonus for employees, passes routine business

The Magnet Cove School District #8 Board of Education approved a one-time, nonrecurring bonus of $1,300 for all licensed and classified employees currently under contract for the 2024–25 school year at its regular meeting on Oct. 21, 2024. The motion, made by Mrs. Samantha Nuckolls and seconded by Mrs. Karen Scott, passed unanimously, 4–0.

The board opened the meeting at 6:02 p.m. with Board President Jeff McJunkins presiding. After routine procedural items — including the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer led by Cameron Alexander — the board heard reports from the district’s building principals. The minutes record Members Present as Jeff McJunkins, Mike Hughes, Karen Scott and Samantha Nuckolls, and Member Absent as David Sulton.

Alongside the personnel bonus, the board completed a set of routine governance and fiscal actions. The board approved minutes from the Licensed PPC meeting (Oct. 1) and the Classified PPC meeting (Oct. 4) on a motion by Mike Hughes, seconded by Samantha Nuckolls (vote 4–0). The board also approved the minutes from the Sept. 16 regular meeting (motion by Mike Hughes, seconded by Karen Scott; vote 4–0) and approved the district financial statements (motion by Samantha Nuckolls, seconded by Mike Hughes; vote 4–0).

In educational services actions, the board authorized electronic fund transfers with four named vendors — Decker Equipment, Harpara Inc., Measurement Inc., and Pioneer Manufacturing — to permit routine electronic payments (motion by Samantha Nuckolls, seconded by Mike Hughes; vote 4–0). The board appointed Mrs. Samantha Nuckolls to represent the district at the Arkansas School Boards Association Delegate Assembly scheduled for Dec. 11, 2024 (motion by Karen Scott, seconded by Mike Hughes; vote 4–0), and appointed Mr. David Sulton to serve as the district’s legislative liaison for the 2025 legislative session (motion by Mike Hughes, seconded by Samantha Nuckolls; vote 4–0). The minutes note Sulton’s appointment; the attendance line records him as absent.

The superintendent delivered a report that the minutes record as "heard"; the published minutes do not include details of that report. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Approve Licensed and Classified PPC minutes (Oct. 1 & Oct. 4): motion Mike Hughes; second Samantha Nuckolls; vote 4–0; outcome approved. - Approve Sept. 16, 2024 regular meeting minutes: motion Mike Hughes; second Karen Scott; vote 4–0; outcome approved. - Approve financial statements: motion Samantha Nuckolls; second Mike Hughes; vote 4–0; outcome approved. - Authorize electronic fund transfers (Decker Equipment; Harpara Inc.; Measurement Inc.; Pioneer Manufacturing): motion Samantha Nuckolls; second Mike Hughes; vote 4–0; outcome approved. - Appoint ASBA delegate (Dec. 11, 2024): motion Karen Scott; second Mike Hughes; vote 4–0; outcome approved (appointee Samantha Nuckolls). - Appoint legislative liaison for 2025 session: motion Mike Hughes; second Samantha Nuckolls; vote 4–0; outcome approved (appointee David Sulton). - Approve one-time $1,300 bonus for licensed and classified employees under contract for 2024–25 SY: motion Samantha Nuckolls; second Karen Scott; vote 4–0; outcome approved.

Next steps: The minutes document the approvals; implementation details for the bonus (funding source, payment timing, payroll processing) were not specified in the published minutes and would be handled by district administration.