Magnet Cove board approves student transfers, Head Start lease, insurance renewals and staffing for 2024–25

The Board of Education of Magnet Cove School District #8 on Aug. 19 unanimously approved a slate of routine actions for the 2024–25 school year, including four board‑to‑board student transfers, renewal of employee insurance coverage, a five‑year lease to host a Head Start program and staffing and policy updates.

Board President Jeff McJunkins called the meeting to order at approximately 6:00 p.m. and the board moved through consent and action items without recorded debate. The board approved minutes from two PPC meetings (Aug. 1 and Aug. 8) and the regular July 15 meeting; motions to approve were made by Samantha Nuckolls and Mike Hughes, respectively, and carried 5‑0.

On student residency matters, the board approved four board‑to‑board transfer requests. David Sulton moved to approve a transfer requested by parent Stephanie Kuhn to the Glen Rose School District; Mr. Sulton’s motion, seconded by Samantha Nuckolls, passed 5‑0. A transfer request from Keilani Chandler for two children to attend Magnet Cove was approved contingent on Glen Rose School District’s consent (motion by Mike Hughes, seconded by Karen Scott, passed 5‑0). Transfers for two children of Monique Honeycutt and for a child of Taz Downie were approved after the resident Malvern School District granted the transfers (motions by Mike Hughes and Samantha Nuckolls, respectively; all passed 5‑0).

The board renewed the district’s employee insurance plans for 2024–25, approving vision coverage with Arkansas BlueCross and BlueShield, life insurance with OneAmerica and dental coverage with Delta Dental. The motion to renew insurance plans was made by David Sulton, seconded by Mike Hughes, and approved 5‑0.

The board also authorized electronic fund transfers with a set of vendors (Arkansas School Counselor; Educator Consulting Services; Fleming Network and Security; Hot Spring County; Legacy Printers and Supply; Soter Technologies) by motion of Samantha Nuckolls, seconded by David Sulton; the motion carried 5‑0.

By motion of Samantha Nuckolls, seconded by David Sulton, the board approved a lease agreement with Arkansas Early Learning, Inc. for a district building to be occupied by a Head Start program and family support services. The lease term runs from Aug. 1, 2024, through July 31, 2029. The motion passed unanimously, 5‑0.

The board approved its Teacher and Administrator Recruitment and Retention Plan for 2024–25 (motion by David Sulton, seconded by Mike Hughes, passed 5‑0) and approved licensed teaching positions for the elementary, middle and high schools for the coming year (motion by David Sulton, seconded by Mike Hughes, passed 5‑0).

Finally, the board adopted a series of ASBA Model Policies (listed in the minutes as 3.0, 3.17, 3.19, 3.2, 3.26, 3.28, 3.28F, 3.34, 8.0, 8.13, 8.20, 8.22, 8.22F, 8.25, 8.45 and 8.48) to serve as district policy for 2024–25; the motion by Mike Hughes and seconded by Samantha Nuckolls passed 5‑0.

Superintendent’s reports were received; no formal actions were recorded from that report. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.

Votes at a glance: All motions recorded in the minutes passed unanimously, 5‑0.