🎙️ 𝗔𝗦𝗕𝗔 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟑 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲!
In this episode, “Facilities 101,” special guests Jeff Lisenbey, ASBA Executive Board member and President of the Sheridan School Board, and Aliza Jones, statewide Facility Planning Coordinator and ASBA Facilities Consultant, join us to cover the basics of school facilities in Arkansas.
From understanding “warm, safe, and dry” projects to navigating partnership funding, facilities master plans, procurement laws, and storm damage claims, this conversation breaks down what every board member and superintendent needs to know.
Listen on our website at arsba.org/page/asba-boardcast or on your favorite podcast platform:
🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon Music
Also, we are looking for feedback from our members on what you want to hear! Please submit this brief survey to share your ideas for future episodes. - https://bit.ly/boardcastsurvey
#StudentFocusedLeadership #ASBABoardCast
Remember to join us for ASBA’s next free 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫, scheduled for tomorrow 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓, from 𝟏𝟏:𝟑𝟎 𝐚.𝐦. 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟐:𝟏𝟓 𝐩.𝐦.
This month’s topic: 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 Guidance for Districts
Led by ASBA Policy Service Director Lucas Harder, this session will cover key timelines, required documentation, and procedures for accepting or rejecting transfer requests—both interdistrict and intradistrict. Participants may submit questions during the webinar, and any unanswered questions will receive follow-up after the session.
While school board members are welcome to attend, these no-cost, no-credit sessions are designed primarily for district personnel who handle the day-to-day responsibilities related to the topic.
We look forward to your participation!
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Wednesday, February 25
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Zoom Webinar
𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭: No Cost, No Credit
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: https://bit.ly/schoolchoice26
Final Reminder - Deadline next Monday, March 2!
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 🎓
Since 1994, the ASBA Educational Foundation Scholarship Awards have recognized academic excellence and leadership potential. All scholarships are one-time awards for eligible Arkansas students and school board families.
🔹 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬
Award: $2,500 each (4 scholarships – one per Arkansas congressional district)
Eligibility: Incoming freshmen at two- or four-year colleges, who are the sons, daughters, or legal wards of publicly elected Arkansas school board members who served during the 2025–2026 school year
🔹 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 (𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧) 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Award: $5,000
Eligibility: Overall statewide freshman winner selected from the ASBA Freshman Scholarship applicants
🔹 𝐉.𝐊. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Award: $2,500
Eligibility: Publicly elected Arkansas school board members, their spouses, children, grandchildren, or legal wards (Board member must have served during the 2025-2026 school year).
**Applicants must be 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 at an Arkansas institution.
📅 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞:
All applications must be submitted electronically by 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.
🔗 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 & 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: https://www.arsba.org/article/2535610
📩 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?
Contact Jessica Prothro at jprothro@arsba.org
or 501.492.4820.
📚 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐧-𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐑 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐄𝐝!
Strengthen your leadership and stay informed with these timely trainings—available online and ready when you are.
Now Available:
• 2026 School Law Seminar (Full Day)
6 Hours | $200
• Campaign Finance: The What, When, & How
Jill Rogers-Barham | 1.5 Hours | $75
• What Are You Dueing? Student & Employee Due Process
Leila Seigrist & Shasta Wagner | 1 Hour | $55
• Public Comment & Best Practices for Community Interaction
Panel | 1 Hour | $55
• TESS, LEADS, & Recommendations for Rehire
Dr. Tyler Broyles & Jeremy Lasiter | 1.5 Hours | $75
• Can They Say That? Student & Employee Free Speech
Cody Kees & Jay Bequette | 1 Hour | $55
• Post-Election Guidance
Lucas Harder & Tammie Reitenger | 1 Hour | $55
💻 Log in to AR Board Ed at https://arsba.talentlms.com/plus/ to enroll at your convenience.
Questions? Contact Jessica Prothro at jprothro@arsba.org
#StudentFocusedLeadership
This month’s topic: 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 Guidance for Districts
Led by ASBA Policy Service Director Lucas Harder, this session will cover key timelines, required documentation, and procedures for accepting or rejecting transfer requests—both interdistrict and intradistrict. Participants may submit questions during the webinar, and any unanswered questions will receive follow-up after the session.
While school board members are welcome to attend, these no-cost, no-credit sessions are designed primarily for district personnel who handle the day-to-day responsibilities related to the topic.
We look forward to your participation!
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Wednesday, February 25
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Zoom Webinar
𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭: No Cost, No Credit
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: https://bit.ly/schoolchoice26
ASBA offices will be closed on Monday, February 16, in observance of the holiday. We will return to normal business hours on Tuesday.
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: DoubleTree Hot Springs or Virtual
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭: Six (6) training hours
Designed for newly elected board members and those who want a refresher, this one-day institute meets state-mandated training requirements and provides practical guidance to help you serve with clarity and confidence.
You’ll learn about:
• The roles, powers, and responsibilities of school board members
• School finance basics and how to read and interpret a school audit (state-required)
• FOIA and ethics laws
• School safety and student discipline (state-required)
• How board decisions shape district direction and student success
Participants receive the ASBA Basics for New School Board Members Handbook and connect with fellow board members from across Arkansas.
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞: https://www.arsba.org/article/2702848
𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect
Start strong. Serve with confidence. #StudentFocusedLeadership
Newly elected or re-elected board members must complete several important steps to certify their election and remain in compliance with state requirements.
ASBA is offering a one-hour webinar to walk through exactly what you need to know.
𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙩-𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨: 𝘼 𝙊𝙣𝙚-𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨
This session will cover:
✔️ Taking the oath of office
✔️ Required contribution and expenditure reports
✔️ Important post-election deadlines
🗓 𝙏𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙁𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝟭𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
⏰ 𝟱:𝟯𝟬 – 𝟲:𝟯𝟬 𝙥.𝙢.
💲 $𝟱𝟱
🎓 𝟭 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩
Register through AR Board Connect: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect
Appropriate for board members seeking election or re-election and district personnel who assist with filing requirements.
We look forward to your participation! #StudentFocusedLeadership
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 [Deadline March 2!] 🎓
Since 1994, the ASBA Educational Foundation Scholarship Awards have recognized academic excellence and leadership potential. All scholarships are one-time awards for eligible Arkansas students and school board families.
🔹 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬
Award: $2,500 each (4 scholarships – one per Arkansas congressional district)
Eligibility: Incoming freshmen at two- or four-year colleges, who are the sons, daughters, or legal wards of publicly elected Arkansas school board members who served during the 2025–2026 school year
🔹 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 (𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧) 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Award: $5,000
Eligibility: Overall statewide freshman winner selected from the ASBA Freshman Scholarship applicants
🔹 𝐉.𝐊. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Award: $2,500
Eligibility: Publicly elected Arkansas school board members, their spouses, children, grandchildren, or legal wards (Board member must have served during the 2025-2026 school year).
**Applicants must be 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 at an Arkansas institution.
📅 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞:
All applications must be submitted electronically by 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.
🔗 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 & 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: https://www.arsba.org/article/2535610
📩 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?
Contact Jessica Prothro at jprothro@arsba.org
or 501.492.4820.
Through their dual service, they provide valuable perspective, thoughtful leadership, and steady guidance to school boards and communities statewide. We are grateful for their continued commitment to students, schools, and the ASBA mission of student-focused leadership! #AnsweringtheCall #StudentFocusedLeadership
We know many of you are itching to get out of the house after all this ice and snow ❄️ If you’re ready to be back on the road, join us in Little Rock for a full day of timely legal guidance and practical insights.
And if your roads are still a little too treacherous, no worries. Virtual attendance makes it easy to join from home.
Register online by Monday, February 2 at https://bit.ly/arboardconnect. We hope to see you next Tuesday! #StudentFocusedLeadership
Three new online courses are ready when you are—learn at your own pace and earn credit on your schedule.
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬:
• 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬
Jerrod Williams | 1 Hour | $55
• 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞: 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬
Misty Doyle & Jonesboro Public Schools BOE | 1 Hour | $55
• 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 & 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Cody Kees & Lucas Harder | 1 Hour | $55
💻 Log in to AR Board Ed at https://arsba.talentlms.com/plus/ to enroll at your convenience.
Questions? Contact Jessica Prothro at jprothro@arsba.org
#StudentFocusedLeadership
ASBA offices are closed in observance of the holiday and will reopen on Tuesday, January 20.
𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬! -
School board members play a key role in superintendent contracts and evaluations. This one-hour webinar will provide a clear, high-level overview of both.
Superintendent Contracts and Evaluation: A One-Hour Overview for School Boards
• Tuesday, January 20
• 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• $55 | 1 Hour Training Credit
This session includes a recorded presentation from Bequette, Billingsley & Kees P.A., followed by a live Q&A with Lucas Harder, ASBA Policy Service Director and Staff Attorney.
Register through AR Board Connect, https://bit.ly/arboardconnect, via the Registrations/Publications tab. #StudentFocusedLeadership
Superintendent Contracts and Evaluation: A One-Hour Overview for School Boards
• Tuesday, January 20
• 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• $55 | 1 Hour Training Credit
This session includes a recorded presentation from Bequette, Billingsley & Kees P.A., followed by a live Q&A with Lucas Harder, ASBA Policy Service Director and Staff Attorney.
Register through AR Board Connect, https://bit.ly/arboardconnect, via the Registrations/Publications tab. #StudentFocusedLeadership
Mark your calendar for 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟐, from 𝟏𝟏:𝟑𝟎 𝐚.𝐦. – 𝟏𝟐:𝟏𝟓 𝐩.𝐦. and join us for a Lunch & Learn webinar focused on school board member training hours reporting.
This 45-minute session will walk participants through:
• Statutory expectations and reporting timelines
• Verifying board member training hours using the ASBA database
• Step-by-step guidance for completing the ASBA fillable template
• Why accurate reporting matters, including statutory penalties tied to training hours
This session is especially helpful for 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 responsible for preparing or explaining the report.
✔️ Live Q&A included
✔️ Recording and summary available after the session
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬
Date: Monday, January 12
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Location: Zoom Webinar
Cost: No cost, no credit
👉 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://bit.ly/trainingreports26
Plan to join us for this practical, informative session! #StudentFocusedLeadership
In this episode, “What Is a Board Member?,” Jason Jones (Yellville-Summit) and Adam Bailey (Bearden) break down the role of a school board member, address common misconceptions, and discuss the importance of community involvement and sound governance.
Listen on our website at arsba.org/page/asba-boardcast or on your favorite podcast platform:
🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon Music
#StudentFocusedLeadership #ASBABoardCast
We are grateful for the leadership and service of our school board members and partners across the state. Wishing you a season of rest and time with those who matter most!
ASBA offices will be closed December 22 – January 2 for the holidays. We look forward to serving you in the new year. #StudentFocusedLeadership
February 3, 2026 | DoubleTree, Little Rock or Virtual
Stay current on the legal issues shaping Arkansas public schools. Join experienced school law professionals for a full day of practical guidance on topics like campaign finance reporting, due process, public comment, personnel decisions, and free speech.
✔️ 6 hours boardsmanship credit
✔️ Up to 5 CLE hours for attorneys
✔️ In-person and virtual options available
Register now through AR Board Connect (Registrations/Publications tab): https://bit.ly/arboardconnect
🔗 View the full agenda: https://5il.co/3syrd
Learn more at https://www.arsba.org/article/2602473. #StudentFocusedLeadership
The December 2025 issue of Report Card, the Journal of the Arkansas School Boards Association, is now available!
Here are a few highlights you won’t want to miss:
Start Strong in Pre-K – At Lakeside Primary, 4-year-olds build academic and behavioral foundations with certified teachers in every classroom.
District Grades Are In – Twenty-two Arkansas school districts earned A’s in the state’s first-ever district report cards.
Friday Night Lights Win – A Dierks booster’s dream led to nearly 2 million votes and a $1 million football field makeover.
AI in the Classroom – Ed tech leader cautions: AI must serve student learning, not replace it.
Top Teacher Named – Stephanie Williams of Benton is the 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, bringing music and joy to K–4 learners.
This quarter’s issue, as well as previous issues of Report Card, can be found on our website at https://www.arsba.org/page/report-card-magazine.
Thank you for staying connected with ASBA. We hope you find this issue informative and inspiring! #StudentFocusedLeadership
