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
Register at https://bit.ly/arboardconnect
#StudentFocusedLeadership
As we reflect on the many reasons we are grateful, we extend our appreciation to Arkansas school board members, the communities that support Arkansas students every day, and all who serve students across our state. Your service shapes brighter futures, and we are thankful for all you do!
ASBA offices are closed November 24-28 in observance of the holiday.
Wishing you and your family a safe, restful, and meaningful Thanksgiving!
#StudentFocusedLeadership
ASBA Policy Service Director Lucas Harder will break down the legal requirements, structure, and key responsibilities of PPCs, as well as answer your questions live. Any unanswered questions will receive a follow-up after the session.
✔️ No cost, No credit
✔️ Recording and summary available afterward
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/ppcwebinar25
Thank you for your understanding!
At their November 13 meeting, the Arkansas State Board of Education approved a resolution proclaiming 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 as 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬.
The resolution recognizes the more than 1,500 locally elected school board members who dedicate their time, expertise, and leadership to strengthening public education. Their service connects communities and classrooms, ensuring Arkansas’ public school students remain at the heart of every decision.
Thank you to the State Board for this acknowledgement and for your continued support of strong governance across our state. We look forward to celebrating school board members throughout January 2026 and beyond!
View and download the resolution at https://5il.co/3se6p. #StudentFocusedLeadership
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 🎓
Scholarship applications for 2026 are now open!
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.
Today, we pause to honor the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of the men and women who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces. Their commitment to protecting our freedoms and communities continues to inspire us every day.
Thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice.
In observance of Veterans Day, ASBA offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11. We will reopen on Wednesday, November 12.
*Important Information for Potential Candidates:
• Act 503 requires that school boards transition to terms of either four (4) or six (6) years.
• Board members currently serving will see their terms adjusted to expire according to specific timelines laid out in Act 503. According to the language in the Act, terms that were set to expire in November 2025, Calendar Year 2026, or Calendar Year 2027 will now expire in 2026.
• The attached guidance document provides ASBA’s suggested method for balancing terms that become unbalanced due to the new law. The guidance states, “All positions that are currently scheduled to be up for election will be up for election at that time. The board members who are elected in 2026 would then draw lots to stagger future terms.”
Important Dates for the 2026 Election
• November 3, 2025 (noon): Candidate filing period opens
• November 12, 2025 (noon): Candidate filing period closes
• December 22, 2025: District deadline to submit millage information to county clerk
• January 1, 2026: District deadline to publish proposed budget
• February 2, 2026: Deadline to register to vote
• February 17, 2026: Early voting begins
• March 3, 2026: Election Day
• November 3, 2026: Run-off Election (if needed)
Please note that if a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it will advance to the next business day, per Ark. Code § 7-1-108. Accordingly, we have updated the voter registration deadline and the start date of early voting from our previous email.
Additional resources for candidates can be found on the ASBA Board Candidates page - https://www.arsba.org/page/board-candidates.
