Arkansas School Boards Association

🎆 Happy Fourth of July! We’re wishing everyone a fun, safe, and meaningful Independence Day. ASBA offices will be closed tomorrow, Friday, July 4, in observance of the holiday. Enjoy the festivities! 🇺🇸

June 2025 Report Card Out Now! The June 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: Dual Degrees in High School – Hope and Texarkana students graduate with both a diploma and associate’s degree at no cost. Legislative Changes – The ACCESS Act and other new laws reshape public education, board governance, and student rights. New School Grading System – ADE outlines a simplified, student-focused accountability model based on growth and readiness. Board-Superintendent Teamwork – School leaders share how strong relationships drive trust, transparency, and results. ASBA Scholarships – Meet the six students honored for academic excellence, leadership, and service. 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!

📢 New Courses Alert! Summer 2025 New Board Member Institute courses are now live in AR Board Ed! Whether you're newly elected or a returning board member, these online trainings cover essential governance topics—including key updates from the 2025 legislative session—and fulfill up to 6 hours of annual training credit. ✅ Includes required audit, school safety, and student discipline training. 🎓 Take the full 6-hour course or individual 1-hour sessions: 🟢 NBMI Full Day – 6 hrs – $185 🟢 Governance w/ Jeff Lisenbey – 1 hr – $50 🟢 Finance & Audit w/ Robyn Keene – 1 hr – $50 🟢 FOIA/Ethics w/ Jay Bequette – 1 hr – $50 🟢 Safety & Discipline w/ Kelli McNeill – 1 hr – $50 🖥️ Log in to AR Board Ed to enroll anytime! - https://arsba.talentlms.com/plus/ #StudentFocusedLeadership

📣 Lunch & Learn: Act 902 – Public Comment Law 🗓️ Wednesday, July 2 | 🕦 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. 💻 Free Zoom Webinar Join ASBA Policy Service Director Lucas Harder for an overview of the new Act 902 (2025) and practical tips for implementation. Live Q&A included! 🎯 Free to attend. No credit offered. 📹 Recording available after the session. 🔗 Register now: bit.ly/pcwebinar25

Early registration deadline for the July 7 training is TODAY! We encourage you to get signed up for this impactful training! 📣 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 Join Cody Kees for a 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴-𝘰𝘯 workshop designed to help school leaders navigate the latest changes in Arkansas education employment law—including what the repeal of the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act means for your district. ✅ Real-life scenarios ✅ Practical tools for both licensed and unlicensed supervisors ✅ Guidance on documentation and evolving due process ✅ 5 hours of training credit 📍 ASBA Office, Little Rock 📅 June 30 | July 7 | July 16 | August 4 🕘 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 🥗 Lunch included 🎟️ Space is limited—register today via the Registrations tab in AR Board Connect - https://bit.ly/arboardconnect!

In observance of Juneteenth, ASBA offices will be closed today, Thursday, June 19, 2025, as we honor this day in our nation's history—a celebration of freedom, resilience, and progress! We will reopen on Friday, June 20, 2025.

We wrapped up another great New Board Member Institute yesterday at the DoubleTree in Hot Springs! It was a full day, with both in-person and virtual attendees diving into topics like board governance, finance, FOIA, school safety, and student discipline. Thanks so much to all of our presenters for sharing their time and expertise — and to the board members who showed up ready to learn and ask thoughtful questions. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the next event! #StudentFocusedLeadership

📘 2025–2026 Arkansas School Law Annotated – Preorders Now Open! With the 95th General Assembly now wrapped, it’s time to get your hands on the essential legal guide for Arkansas schools. Edited by Lucas Harder, ASBA’s Policy Services Director, the Arkansas School Law Annotated is your comprehensive resource for navigating the latest updates to Title 6 and beyond. 🔑 Key changes include: ✔️ Accelerated learning course mandates ✔️ School board term & election updates ✔️ “Bell to Bell, No Cell” policy ✔️ Free breakfast for all students ✔️ Updated laws on ethics, FOIA, discipline, and more 📦 Available in print or e-book (e-book releases after print ships) 💵 $85 per copy (includes shipping) 📅 Ships by October 👉 Preorder now: bit.ly/lawbooks25 🔗 Or visit www.arsba.org Don’t miss this must-have legal resource for educators, administrators, and board members across Arkansas. Stay informed. Stay compliant. Stay ahead. #StudentFocusedLeadership

The first available date for this training is Monday, June 30, and the early registration deadline is just around the corner on next Monday, June 16! Get signed up today for this impactful training. 📣 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 Join Cody Kees for a 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴-𝘰𝘯 workshop designed to help school leaders navigate the latest changes in Arkansas education employment law—including what the repeal of the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act means for your district. ✅ Real-life scenarios ✅ Practical tools for both licensed and unlicensed supervisors ✅ Guidance on documentation and evolving due process ✅ 5 hours of training credit 📍 ASBA Office, Little Rock 📅 June 30 | July 7 | July 16 | August 4 🕘 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 🥗 Lunch included 🎟️ Space is limited—register today via the Registrations tab in AR Board Connect - https://bit.ly/arboardconnect!

If you have not yet registered, now is the time! Online registration for in person attendees will close at 3:30 pm tomorrow, June 12. 📣 New to your school board? Start strong with ASBA’s 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 on 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓! This one-day event is tailored to new board members (or anyone looking for a reset) and meets state-mandated training requirements while diving deeper into: ✅ Board powers & responsibilities ✅ Budgets, audits & financial oversight ✅ FOIA & ethics laws ✅ School safety & student discipline ✅ Student-focused decision-making 🎓 Earn 𝟔 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 of training credit! 💻 Register via the “Registrations” tab in AR Board Connect - https://bit.ly/arboardconnect 📅 In-person: $$225 per person 📅 Virtual: $185 per person Learn more at https://www.arsba.org/article/2185997. #StudentFocusedLeadership

Early Registration deadline is TODAY! Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn, connect, and lead! 📣 New to your school board? Start strong with ASBA’s 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 on 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓! This one-day event is tailored to new board members (or anyone looking for a reset) and meets state-mandated training requirements while diving deeper into: ✅ Board powers & responsibilities ✅ Budgets, audits & financial oversight ✅ FOIA & ethics laws ✅ School safety & student discipline ✅ Student-focused decision-making 🎓 Earn 𝟔 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 of training credit! 💻 Register via the “Registrations” tab in AR Board Connect - https://bit.ly/arboardconnect 📅 In-person: $205 early bird (through June 3) 📅 Virtual: $170 early bird (through June 3) Learn more at https://www.arsba.org/article/2185997. #StudentFocusedLeadership

After 15.5 years of dedicated service, we are celebrating the retirement of Dwayne Mc Anally, ASBA Loss Control Consultant. Dwayne has helped countless school staff across Arkansas stay safe, informed, and compliant—and here at ASBA, he’s earned the unofficial title of “Facilities Fixer-in-Chief.” From safety training to keeping our office in top shape, Dwayne has done it all. We honored him with a celebration lunch last week. If you know Dwayne, it will come as no surprise that he had a few great stories to share. We’ll miss his wit, wisdom, and one-of-a-kind antics, but we wish him the very best in retirement as he looks forward to more time with his family. Thank you, Dwayne! #StudentFocusedLeadership

ɢᴏɴᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ꜰᴏʀɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ. Today, we remember and honor our brave heroes—the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and their legacy lives on in the freedoms we hold dear. ASBA offices are closed today, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 & 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲! – 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟕 Join us next Tuesday, May 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for a FREE Lunch & Learn webinar addressing ASBA Model Policy. This session, led by ASBA Policy Service Director Lucas Harder, will provide a general overview of model policy and the options available to school districts when policy updates are received. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 Date: Tuesday, May 27 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Location: Zoom Webinar Cost: No Cost, No Credit To attend, please register using the following Zoom registration form. There is no fee associated with registration. Once the registration is submitted, you will receive the link to join the webinar. 𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦: https://bit.ly/policywebinar25 A recording of the webinar will also be available following the session. We look forward to your participation!

We’re wrapping up our celebration of the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 recipients by recognizing this year’s 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝟒 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 winner – 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐠𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐲! Reese is a senior at Mena High School (Mena School District) and the daughter of board member Clint Montgomery. She has earned a $2,500 scholarship in recognition of her academic success, leadership, and heart for service. With a 𝟒.𝟎𝟔 𝐆𝐏𝐀, a 𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐂𝐓 score, and a class rank of 9 out of 117, Reese will attend John Brown University to study 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 and continue her athletic career as a collegiate volleyball player. A two-time 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 player, she’s also a leader in 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥, 𝐅𝐂𝐂𝐋𝐀, 𝐅𝐁𝐋𝐀, and multiple varsity sports. She’s served over 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 of community service through NHS and her church, supporting events like Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, and City Wide Clean Up. Reese’s passion for helping others through healthcare and her strong foundation in leadership and service make her an exceptional representative of the ASBA scholarship program. Congratulations, Reese! 🎉 #StudentFocusedLeadership

We continue to celebrate the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 recipients by recognizing this year’s 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝟑 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 winner – 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫! Mason is a senior at Green Forest High School (Green Forest School District) and the son of school board member Alechia Meador. He has earned a $2,500 scholarship to pursue a degree in 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. Mason plans to begin at North Arkansas College and later transfer to either Arkansas Tech or the University of Arkansas. With a 3.74 GPA and a long list of accomplishments, Mason has excelled both in and out of the classroom. A standout athlete, he’s received 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 and 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 honors in baseball and 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 recognition in football. He’s also active in 𝐅𝐅𝐀, Student Council, Youth Alive, and Arkansas Talent Search. Mason’s deep commitment to service shows through his volunteer work with Green Forest Youth Sports, veterans' events, 4-H, church programs, and hands-on labor on his family’s poultry and cattle farm. Congratulations, Mason! 🎉 #StudentFocusedLeadership

Congratulations are in order for the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝟐 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 winner – 𝐎𝐰𝐞𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧! Owen is a senior at Bryant High School (Bryant Public Schools) and the son of school board member Tyler Nelson. He was awarded a $2,500 scholarship in recognition of his academic excellence, servant leadership, and commitment to his future. Owen will attend Ouachita Baptist University this fall to study 𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. With a 4.1 GPA, a 31 ACT score, and a challenging schedule of AP courses—including Computer Science, Biology, and Calculus—he’s also completed four years of high school engineering classes. Outside the classroom, Owen is a four-year member of the Bryant Varsity Track Team and is active in National Honor Society, FCA, and Geyer Springs Student Ministry. His volunteer work spans medical missions, youth outreach, and local service projects. In his own words: “With the support of this scholarship, I will be better positioned to pursue my goals and make meaningful contributions to my field.” Congratulations, Owen! 🎉 #StudentFocusedLeadership

We continue to celebrate the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 recipients by recognizing this year’s 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝟏 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 winner – 𝐂𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫! Cayla is a senior at McCrory High School (McCrory School District) and the daughter of school board member Angela (Nikki) Schaefer. She has earned a $2,500 scholarship in recognition of her academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to service and growth. Ranked first in her class with a 4.0 GPA, Cayla has completed numerous AP and concurrent credit courses through East Arkansas Community College. This fall, she’ll attend the University of Arkansas to pursue a degree in 𝐏𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, with a long-term goal of becoming a surgeon. A leader in her school and community, Cayla serves as 𝐅𝐁𝐋𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 and participates in National Honor Society, band, and the Gifted & Talented program—all while giving back through volunteer work across Woodruff County. In her own words: “I am determined to succeed in my academic journey and to contribute positively to the fields of agriculture and medicine, helping others live healthier lives.” Congratulations, Cayla! 🎉 #StudentFocusedLeadership

We continue to celebrate the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 recipients by recognizing this year's 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐑. 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 winner – 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬 “𝐋𝐞𝐱𝐲” 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧! Lexy is a senior at Concord High School (Concord School District) and the top freshman scholarship recipient in the state! This $5,000 award goes to one outstanding Arkansas student entering college whose parent or legal guardian serves on an Arkansas public school board. Lexy is the daughter of Concord School Board member Jody Cannon. She’ll attend North Arkansas College this fall to pursue 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 with plans to advance into ultrasound. Known for her academic excellence, leadership in student organizations, and dedication to volunteer service, Lexy embodies the values this scholarship was created to honor. The award recognizes the legacy of 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐑. 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬, a respected expert in public finance and advocate for Arkansas schools throughout his career. Congratulations, Lexy! 🎉 #StudentFocusedLeadership

📣 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 Join Cody Kees for a 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴-𝘰𝘯 workshop designed to help school leaders navigate the latest changes in Arkansas education employment law—including what the repeal of the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act means for your district. ✅ Real-life scenarios ✅ Practical tools for both licensed and unlicensed supervisors ✅ Guidance on documentation and evolving due process ✅ 5 hours of training credit 📍 ASBA Office, Little Rock 📅 June 30 | July 7 | July 16 | August 4 🕘 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 🥗 Lunch included 🎟️ Space is limited—register today via the Registrations tab in AR Board Connect - https://bit.ly/arboardconnect!