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Magnet Cove School Board approves 2025–26 calendar, insurance contract and multiple personnel actions
Summary
At its Feb. 27 meeting the Magnet Cove School District No. 8 board approved the 2025–26 academic calendar, contracted for educator liability insurance at $12,527, added a K–12 assistant principal position, accepted a $14,694 fencing bid, adjusted the third-quarter end date and extended four administrator contracts in unanimous 4–0 votes with the presiding officer absent.
The Board of Education of Magnet Cove School District No. 8 on Feb. 27 approved a slate of personnel, financial and facility actions, including the 2025–26 academic calendar and a $12,527 insurance contract, in a series of unanimous 4–0 votes with presiding officer Jeff McJunkins absent.
The board voted to adopt the 2025–26 school calendar after a presentation by Personnel Policy Committee chair Dr. Thomy Green; the motion to approve was made by Mrs. Samantha Nuckolls and seconded by Mr. David Sulton. The board later approved moving the end date of the third quarter from March 7 to March 14, citing a loss of 6.5 instructional days due to inclement weather.
The board approved entering into a contract with Cadence Insurance for Educators for legal liability, employment practices coverage and out-of-state general liability at a total cost of $12,527. The motion, made by Mr. David Sulton and seconded by Mrs. Samantha Nuckolls, carried 4–0.
On personnel and compensation matters, the board added a K–12 assistant school principal position on a 238-day contract and placed the position on step 28 at M+24 of the Teacher Salary Schedule for 2025–26; Mrs. Karen Scott moved the measure and Mr. David Sulton seconded it. The board also approved increases to the principal index multipliers: elementary from .2178 to .2678 and high school from .3108 to .3608, a motion moved by Mrs. Karen Scott and seconded by Mr. Mike Hughes.
The board adopted a resolution to be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education to enter into a contract with Lori McJunkins to serve as the elementary school’s principal for the 2025–26 school year; the resolution passed 4–0 (moved by Mrs. Karen Scott, seconded by Mr. David Sulton).
Facility work approved included accepting the low bid of $14,694 for chain-link fencing and gates to be installed at the discus/shot-put field and the football practice field used by Magnet Cove’s youth baseball/softball teams. Mrs. Samantha Nuckolls moved acceptance of the bid and Mr. David Sulton seconded; the board approved the bid 4–0.
In human resources business, the board hired Jana Wright as a school bus route driver for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year (motion by Mrs. Samantha Nuckolls, second by Mrs. Karen Scott) and extended by one year (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) the contracts of high school principal Jeff Eskola, principal Lori McJunkins, special programs coordinator Karen Harris and athletic director Robert Webb (motion by Mrs. Samantha Nuckolls, second by Mrs. Karen Scott). Both measures were approved 4–0.
Superintendent’s reports were heard; the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Meeting details: Regular Board Meeting, Central Office Boardroom, Magnet Cove School District No. 8, Feb. 27, 2025. Vote tallies in the minutes record each action as approved 4–0. No item in the minutes recorded dissent or abstentions.
