Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Board Meeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bearden School Board approves proposed budget for publication, signs ACT 1599 and clears dozens of personnel and purchases
Summary
The Bearden School Board on July 10 unanimously approved publication of its Proposed Budget and Tax Levy for fiscal 2026–27 ahead of the November election, adopted Resolution ACT 1599 on vendor disclosures, and approved multiple hires, purchases and contracts affecting athletics, facilities and transportation.
The Bearden School Board met July 10 in the district cafeteria and unanimously approved a slate of budget, personnel and procurement actions ahead of the November school board election.
The board voted to approve the Proposed Budget of Expenditures together with the Tax Levy for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, for publication in the newspaper as part of election materials. Tony Harcrow, board member, made the motion and Joannie Cayce, vice president, seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The board also designated Doris Parham, board president, to cast its vote at the upcoming election.
Board members approved several personnel actions, including acceptance of the resignation of cafeteria worker Wendie Brandon effective at the end of her 2024–25 contract and hiring Ronnie Cook as part-time maintenance for 2025–26. Jeff Ballard, board member, moved to hire Alisha Castleberry as an elementary school teacher contingent on Praxis test scores and Aspiring Teacher status; Ken Juniel seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The board also approved adding five extra summer coaching days for four coaches, hiring a flag line helper for the band with a $550 stipend, and a pay increase for maintenance staff member Colby Dull from $12.50 to $13.10 per hour for 2025–26.
On facilities and vendor matters, the board approved a $44,900 purchase of a 30-by-40 metal building from DMR Construction for the football field and authorized the purchase of eight stage lights from Bensberg.Tech for $5,862.70 for the high school auditorium. The board approved payment of $2,250 to AR Risk Management for cyber insurance covering district employees, allowed Y-95 radio to broadcast football games for $250 per month and approved a $750 Big Bear sponsorship package, and accepted bids for several buses from Fellowship Baptist Church of Bearden.
The board approved contracts for garbage pickup with Get Rid of It ($1,175) and cafeteria supplies from Myers Supplies, and voted to sign Resolution ACT 1599, which requires notification to the school board of contracts, relationships and interests with specified vendors.
Other actions included adding a bus route to pick up students at Grandy’s Daycare and approving drivers for a 14-passenger route, granting a waiver to retain employee Marquita Jordan after a closed hearing, adopting ASBA Model Policy changes as recommended by the Certified/Classified Personnel Policy Committee, and appointing activity-account officers for 2025–26 (naming Denny Rozenberg ex officio financial secretary, Kaye Livingston business manager, Lavell Wright and Devonda Moore as activity account officials, and Josh Nix as a designated check signer).
All motions recorded in the meeting transcript passed unanimously. Superintendent Denny Rozenberg also provided a solar panel update and a Benchmark news update during the meeting. The board adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
