Arkansas School Boards Association

The 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 issue of 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝, the journal of the Arkansas School Boards Association, is now available! 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞: 📌 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – Learn how Pearl Public School District is integrating AI into instruction and operations. 📌𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 – Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva explains how ATLAS testing fits into a strong learning foundation. 📌 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 – Winners of the 2024 ASBA Student Speaking Contest share their visions for the future of education. 📌 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – Meet Beau McCastlain, a De Queen High School teacher inspiring students through "failing forward." This and previous issues of Report Card are available online at https://www.arsba.org/page/report-card-magazine. Thank you for staying connected with ASBA! #StudentFocusedLeadership

𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙤𝙤𝙣! ASBA is happy to partner with Missy McJunkins Duke, attorney with Rose Law Firm, for an intensive one-day virtual training on 𝐅𝐌𝐋𝐀, 𝐀𝐃𝐀, 𝐏𝐖𝐅𝐀, and other relevant laws and their impact on school districts, administrators, and other central office staff who handle these issues daily. While board members may choose to register and attend, this virtual training is geared toward 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙚𝙨 who are responsible for administering FMLA.  Topics Covered: ✅ Administering FMLA leave properly ✅ Understanding your district’s obligations under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) ✅ Handling excessive absenteeism while staying compliant ✅ Integrating Arkansas’ paid maternity leave law with existing federal regulations ✅ How ADA and FMLA interact in workplace accommodations Training dates for this virtual workshop include: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟎 | 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟒 | 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟎 | 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟒 | 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟐 *𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 - The April 10 session is fast approaching, and the early registration deadline falls during Spring Break. If you plan to attend, we strongly recommend completing your registration this week to secure your spot at the discounted rate! 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭: Five (5) Hours (Attendees must attend both sessions to receive credit.) 🔗 Register today for your preferred date under the "Registrations" tab in 𝐀𝐑 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 (bit.ly/arboardconnect)! #StudentFocusedLeadership

📣 Registration is OPEN for the 𝟐𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀/𝐀𝐀𝐄𝐀 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞! Join us 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 or 𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 on 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟔 at the 𝐖𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 in 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 for a day of insightful discussions on key education topics, including updates on the 2025 legislative session and what it means for Arkansas schools. 📅 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 📍 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, North Little Rock 💻 Attend in person or virtually 🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐑 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭: bit.ly/arboardconnect 🔗 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: https://www.arsba.org/article/2081207 Make plans to attend and be part of the conversation! #StudentFocusedLeadership

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗮𝘁 𝟰 𝗣𝗠! If you or someone you know meets the eligibility requirements for these awards, be sure to submit all necessary documents before the deadline. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 [𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝟑𝐑𝐃] The deadline to apply for the 2025 ASBA Educational Foundation Scholarships is just a few days away! Please share this information with any eligible students who may be interested. All applications must be submitted electronically by 𝟒 𝐩𝐦 on 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓. These scholarships recognize academic excellence and leadership potential, with awards available for both students and school board members or their families. 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨 & 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: https://arsba.org/article/1958160 #StudentFocusedLeadership

🏆 𝙒𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠! Congratulations to the Dover Public Schools 𝙅𝙧. 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙯 𝘽𝙤𝙬𝙡 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 for earning 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙯 𝘽𝙤𝙬𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣! Coach Danielle Holman shared how proud she is of the hard work that led them to this outstanding achievement. 👏 Great job, Dover Jr. High Quiz Bowl team! 🔹 Back row: Carlos Benavides, Urban Lee, Luka Walters, Bonham Hillis, Edric Funk, Emeri Philpott 🔹 Front row: Jana Beck, Vermillion Dennis, Brage Lawson, Dane Kendrick #StudentFocusedLeadership #WinOfTheWeek

📢 For districts whose local policy calls for Spring elections, the 2025 school board election is just around the corner! If you are thinking of running for school board or are up for re-election, you'll want to be aware of these important dates. - - Feb 24, 2025: Filing Opens (Noon) - Mar 3, 2025: Filing Closes (Noon) - Apr 14, 2025: Voter Registration Deadline - May 6, 2025: Early Voting Opens - May 13, 2025: Election Day - Jun 10, 2025: Run-Off (If Necessary) 💡 Learn more about running for school board at www.arsba.org/page/board-candidates. #StudentFocusedLeadership

Happy Presidents' Day! In recognition of the holiday, ASBA offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025.

🎉 𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: South Pike County School District Great things are happening every day in our schools! This week, we’re celebrating Murfreesboro High School Agri. students who showcased their skills at the Regional Girl Power event. Competing with laser projects they created in Agri. with Mr. Simmons, these students brought home top honors for the Rattlers: 🏆 Chloie Beck – Overall Champion 🥈 Addison Cox – Reserve Overall 🥉 Lillie Mays – 3rd Overall Congratulations to these talented students! Want to be featured? Send your district’s “Win of the Week” to jprothro@arsba.org! #StudentFocusedLeadership #WinoftheWeek

Today, ASBA Policy Service Director Lucas Harder presented at the 2025 AASBO Conference. His presentation titled "Hard Conversations on Employee Performance" equipped school business officials with the right tools to handle difficult discussions with confidence and clarity. Thank you, Lucas, for sharing your expertise! #StudentFocusedLeadership

The scholarship deadline is quickly approaching! Qualified candidates - submit your applications soon to be considered for this year's awards! Info & Applications: https://arsba.org/article/1958160 #StudentFocusedLeadership

That’s a wrap on the 2025 School Law Seminar! 🎉 Thank you to everyone who attended on Friday, February 7, and contributed to a day of learning and discussion. We covered key legal topics, including the legislative process with real legislators, best practices in employment law from EEOC experts, and important insights on termination, renewal, and school board vacancies. Sessions on free speech and FOIA also provided valuable guidance for school leaders. A special thanks to our speakers for sharing their expertise and making this event a success. We appreciate you all! #StudentFocusedLeadership

2025 School Law Seminar is about to be under way! We have a full buffet breakfast to kick things off. Looking forward to a productive day of learning! #StudentFocusedLeadership

📢 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲! 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 📢 The 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 is happening 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟕 at the 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 – or join us virtually from anywhere! 📝 Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time! Sign up through AR Board Connect (https://www.bit.ly/arboardconnect) under the 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 tab. 🔹 𝐈𝐧-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟔 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐨𝐧! 📄 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://5il.co/340uq This must-attend event keeps school board members and education leaders informed on key legal updates and legislative changes affecting Arkansas schools. Don’t miss it! #StudentFocusedLeadership

In honor of School Board Recognition Month, we extend our deepest gratitude to the ASBA Board of Directors for the incredible work you do—not only on your local Boards of Education but also in your service to ASBA. Your leadership and dedication truly reflect this year’s theme - 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥, 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩! 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: Jeff Lisenbey, President – Sheridan Doris Parham, President-Elect – Bearden Nikki King, Vice President – Pangburn Travis Warren, Secretary-Treasurer – Farmington Randy Hutchinson, Past President – Springdale Jason Jones, Region 2 – Yellville-Summit Joe Sheppard, Region 3 – Jonesboro Beth Ullrich, Region 4 – Paris John Gibson, Region 5 – South Conway County Keith Baker, Region 6 – Riverview Shane Bell, Region 7 – Cross County Graham Peterson, Region 8 – Mt. Vernon - Enola Donna Dunlap, Region 9 – Barton Dino Lenox, Region 10 – Hot Springs Carl (Buddy) Puckett, Region 11 – Poyen Laura Clark, Region 12 – Blevins Renee Skinner, Region 13 – El Dorado Debra Barnes, Region 14 – Crossett Thank you for your #StudentFocusedLeadership and for making a lasting impact on Arkansas schools. You are appreciated more than you know!

🚨 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬! 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫! Join us 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock, or attend virtually, to gain critical legal insights impacting Arkansas schools. 🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐑 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 to lock in your early registration rates! Rates increase after 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡. - 𝐈𝐧-𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧: $205 today | $225 after - 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥: $170 today | $185 after 📄 Agenda: https://5il.co/340uq 🔔 Details: https://www.arsba.org/article/1942430 Earn training hours or CLE credits and stay ahead on legal issues impacting Arkansas schools! #StudentFocusedLeadership

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reflecting on his powerful message of justice, service, and equality. “𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮.” - 𝓓𝓻. 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓷 𝓛𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓙𝓻. ASBA offices will be closed today in observance of this day of remembrance.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫! Registration is now open for the 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫, scheduled for 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, at the 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤. Virtual attendance is also available! Access the agenda here: https://5il.co/340uq This seminar is your opportunity to gain essential legal insights and updates tailored for Arkansas school board members and education leaders. Stay ahead of the curve on the issues that matter most to your district. Registration is available via the "Registrations" tab in AR Board Connect (bit.ly/arboardconnect). We look forward to seeing you there! 📅 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧: Friday, February 7, 2025 📍 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: Embassy Suites, Little Rock 📋 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚: https://5il.co/340uq ℹ️ 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: https://www.arsba.org/article/1942430

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫! We’re excited to announce that the 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 is scheduled for 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, at the 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤. This seminar is your opportunity to gain essential legal insights and updates tailored for Arkansas school board members and education leaders. Stay ahead of the curve on the issues that matter most to your district. Registration will open shortly after the New Year—be on the lookout for updates! We look forward to seeing you there!

🎄 𝓜𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓒𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓼 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓐𝓢𝓑𝓐! 🎄 Thank you for your dedication to Arkansas schools. Your leadership and service truly make a difference! ASBA offices will be closed December 23rd through January 3rd. We’ll see you in the new year! Wishing you a joyful and restful holiday season! 🌟 #StudentFocusedLeadership