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Bearden School Board approves budgets, personnel moves, expels student and OKs cybersecurity MOU
Summary
At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Bearden School Board unanimously approved updates to district and federal budgets, accepted a cafeteria worker's resignation, granted a leave request, approved bond paperwork and a cybersecurity MOU, and voted to expel a student for the 2025–26 school year.
The Bearden School Board met Sept. 16, 2025, in the district cafeteria and unanimously approved a slate of routine and administrative items, including updates to the 2025–26 district and federal budgets and a cybersecurity memorandum of understanding.
In the meeting’s opening business, the board approved the August minutes and the financial statement and current bills. Joannie Cayce moved to accept the resignation of cafeteria worker Maria Crouse, effective immediately; the board noted she may be used as a substitute. The board also approved a leave of absence for Tracy Graves through the end of the semester due to the illness of his parents.
Superintendent Denny Rozenberg presented updates to the 2025–26 district budget, Special Programs/ASCIP/Federal Budget and the 2024–25 Cycle 9 ADE Annual Financial report and Cycle 1 2024–25 budget; the board approved those updates unanimously. The board also approved the Stephens Inc. disclosure report and bond paperwork and approved Master Plan changes to support a partnership grant after a Garland Inc. roof inspection identified needed repairs; Rozenberg asked All State Roofing to verify the scope of repairs.
A student disciplinary hearing was held in open session with the student’s parents present. After the hearing, the board voted to expel Preston Kelly for the remainder of the 2025–26 school year.
The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the South-Central Service Cooperative for the district’s continuity plan and cybersecurity. Rozenberg gave additional administrative updates: he said he will complete his current contract, which ends June 30, 2027; he announced a training on Sept. 18 at the South-Central Service Cooperative in Camden and Region 13 training on Oct. 27 at the Smackover/Norphlet School District; he reported an employee payroll mobile-deposit that appeared not to have completed before the employee cashed the check; and he said he will meet with the Ethics Board on Oct. 8, 2025.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at 7:45 p.m.
Votes at a glance - Approve August minutes — Mover: Tony Harcrow; Second: Joannie Cayce; Outcome: passed unanimously (Doris Parham: yes; Joannie Cayce: yes; Adam Bailey: yes; Jeff Ballard: yes; Tony Harcrow: yes; Ken Juniel: yes). - Approve financial statement and current bills — Mover: Jeff Ballard; Second: Ken Juniel; Outcome: passed unanimously (same vote roster). - Accept resignation of Maria Crouse (cafeteria worker), effective immediately — Mover: Joannie Cayce; Second: Tony Harcrow; Outcome: passed unanimously. - Approve leave of absence for Tracy Graves through end of semester — Mover: Joannie Cayce; Second: Tony Harcrow; Outcome: passed unanimously. - Approve updates to district and federal budgets and ADE Cycle 9/Cycle 1 reports — Mover: Joannie Cayce; Second: Adam Bailey; Outcome: passed unanimously. - Approve Stephens Inc. disclosure report and bond paperwork — Mover: Tony Harcrow; Second: Joannie Cayce; Outcome: passed unanimously. - Approve Master Plan changes to support partnership grant (roof repairs verification requested) — Mover: Tony Harcrow; Second: Ken Juniel; Outcome: passed unanimously. - Expel student Preston Kelly for remainder of 2025–26 school year — Mover: Adam Bailey; Second: Ken Juniel; Outcome: passed unanimously. - Approve MOU with South-Central Service Cooperative for continuity plan and cybersecurity — Mover: Adam Bailey; Second: Tony Harcrow; Outcome: passed unanimously. - Adjourn — Mover: Adam Bailey; Second: Ken Juniel; Outcome: passed unanimously.
This report is based on board proceedings recorded in the Sept. 16, 2025 meeting transcript and the board’s recorded motions and votes.
