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Magnet Cove School District No. 8 board unanimously approves cybersecurity policy, tech purchases and multiple hires
Summary
At its June 16 meeting the Magnet Cove School District No. 8 Board of Education approved a district cybersecurity policy, an MOU for special education services under IDEA, purchased 160 Chromebooks and a three-year firewall subscription, and approved multiple personnel hires and appointments; all motions passed 5-0.
The Magnet Cove School District No. 8 Board of Education on June 16 unanimously approved a district cybersecurity policy, technology purchases and a slate of personnel actions during a regular meeting at the district's Central Office Boardroom.
Board President Jeff McJunkins called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the five-member board — Jeff McJunkins, Mike Hughes, David Sulton, Karen Scott and Samantha Nuckolls — voted 5-0 on each action recorded in the minutes.
The board approved the Magnet Cove School District Cybersecurity Policy as presented (motion by Samantha Nuckolls; second by Karen Scott). The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Dawson Education Service Cooperative for the 2025-26 school year to ensure provision of special education services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (motion by David Sulton; second by Karen Scott).
On technology purchases, the board approved buying 160 Dell 3120 Chromebooks, including Google management licenses and enrollment services, from GovConnection, Inc. at a total cost of $57,219.46 (motion by Mike Hughes; second by Samantha Nuckolls). The board also approved a three-year districtwide firewall subscription from GovConnection, Inc. for $17,517.06 (motion by Mike Hughes; second by Samantha Nuckolls). Both technology purchases passed 5-0.
Administratively, the board voted to delete fixed assets as presented and accepted the Arkansas Legislative Audit Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 (motion by Karen Scott to accept the audit; second by Mike Hughes). Both motions passed 5-0.
In human resources actions, the board accepted the immediate resignation of Gina Pruett as cheer coach (motion by David Sulton; second by Mike Hughes). The board appointed Alicia Hughes as cheer coach for the 2025-26 school year (motion by Samantha Nuckolls; second by Karen Scott). The board conditionally hired Ashley DeVane as a high school math teacher for 2025-26, pending completion of background checks (motion by David Sulton; second by Mike Hughes).
The board approved hiring custodial staff with specified contract lengths pending background checks: Margarita Cardona (238-day contract), Rebecca Rickels (178-day contract), Bruce Trussell (178-day contract), and Luisa Tyhurst (178-day contract) (motion by Karen Scott; second by Mike Hughes). The board also approved hiring Rebecca Rickels as a part-time school bus driver and Bruce Trussell as a full-time school bus driver for 2025-26, pending background checks (motion by David Sulton; second by Samantha Nuckolls).
The board approved hiring student Sophia Prehn as summer help for maintenance/grounds/custodial retroactive to June 4, 2025 through the start of the 2025-26 school year at $11 per hour (motion by Samantha Nuckolls; second by Mike Hughes). All human resources motions recorded in the minutes passed with a 5-0 vote.
The superintendent presented a report that was recorded as heard in the minutes. The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
Next steps: the minutes record the approvals and hires as final board actions; several hires and appointments are contingent on successful background checks and some purchases are contracting actions with GovConnection, Inc.
