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Harrisburg School Board approves FY27 proposed budget, bus purchase loan and personnel changes
Summary
At a July 21 meeting, the Harrisburg School Board unanimously approved the FY27 proposed budget and 2025 election preparations, agreed to take a loan to buy two previously leased buses, approved six student transfers and enacted a personnel FTE change after executive session.
Ryan Murphy, board president, called the Harrisburg School Board to order at 5:02 p.m. July 21 in the Central Office Board Room. The board voted unanimously on a series of routine and programmatic items during the meeting.
Superintendent Julie Isbell presented a Student Academic Achievement report; no action was taken on the report. A JROTC presentation was given by instructors Steven Henderson and Robert Smith; the presentation was listed as informational and required no vote.
The board approved minutes for the June 16 regular session (an amendment changing item #11 from 5-0 to 4-0) and the July 7 special session (amendment to item #4 from 5-0 to 3-2). The board then approved June 2025 invoices and financial reports; those motions carried 4-0.
On superintendent recommendations, the board approved six Board-to-Board student transfers and waived the Fine Arts Center fee for the 2025 Miss Poinsett County Pageant. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with ASUN to provide a career coach and approved updates to handbooks and district policies as presented.
The board approved an IXL renewal quote for the 2025–2026 school year and agreed to obtain a loan to purchase two buses the district had previously leased; both motions carried 4-0. The board approved the 2025 election preparations and the FY27 proposed budget by the same unanimous margin. The minutes do not specify dollar amounts for the FY27 budget.
The board entered executive session from 6:01 p.m. to 7:32 p.m. After returning, the superintendent recommended increasing Tara Harrleson’s assignment from 0.5 to 1.0 full-time equivalent for the 2025–2026 school year; the motion carried 4-0. The board also approved adding a stipend to the district stipend list as presented for 2025–2026.
With no further business, the board adjourned at 7:34 p.m. A staff note in the minutes lists the Arkansas School Boards Association Fall Leadership Institute on Sept. 4, 2025 as informational.
Votes at a glance: all recorded motions during the July 21 meeting carried by recorded vote of 4-0. Specific movers and seconders cited in the minutes include Ashley Rowton and Jeremy Lally on minutes approval; Jeremy Lally and Kurt Johns on financials and several renewals; Kurt Johns and Jeremy Lally on the bus-loan motion; and Ashley Rowton and Jeremy Lally on the election/FY27 budget approval.
