Johnny Arnold

The meeting commenced with special recognitions for the TASD Care Employee of the Month and the TASD Standout Razorback. Key actions included the approval of consent agenda items, which covered payments to Riverview Behavioral Hospital. The Superintendent provided a data presentation regarding Arkansas Middle School and presented the November finance report. First readings were held for the 2026-2027 TASD licensed salary schedules and pay additions. The Board approved an RFP for parking lot asphalt replacement and/or repair at several locations, and contracts with Nabholz for construction management services for the Fairview safe room addition and Razorback Gym renovation projects. An agreement with Nabholz for the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for these construction projects was also approved. The Board suspended rules and approved alternate calendar option E for the 2026-2027 school year. The meeting included an executive session to discuss personnel matters, followed by the approval of amended changes in personnel in open session.

Discussions during this meeting covered several critical administrative and policy topics. Unfinished business included an update on maternity leave eligibility requirements, specifically the need for one year of consecutive service within the district for the 12-week leave benefit. New business focused extensively on concerns regarding the proposed 12-month school calendar, clarifying that it is not a year-round calendar, that intervention time during breaks would be voluntary and compensated at the summer school rate, and that childcare offerings would operate under existing policy parameters based on community survey results. Other topics included the necessity of the district lesson plan template for staff internalization, policy discrepancies between the approved state policies (Internet Usage, Student Discipline, AI, Antisemitism) and the current student handbook, a proposal for a bereavement policy subcommittee review, glitches being addressed on the new district website, merit pay continuation upon resignation or retirement, and the requirement for administrative approval for contractual release requests.

Key discussions included the introduction of new campus representatives. The board plans to vote on an employee bonus structure based on years of service, potentially costing $720,000. Calendar options for 2026-27 were reviewed, considering traditional, alternate, and extended year-long formats, while explicitly excluding a four-day work week. Updates on several new and revised ASBA policies were presented for employee review, prompting specific questions regarding Act 247 and Act 725 compliance, and livestreaming requirements for remote board member participation. The committee unanimously approved the election of new PPC officers, naming Lyndsey Willis as secretary and Hollyn Maddox as president. Discussions also clarified that blanks in the Gradebook do not affect averages, and that monthly faculty meetings and PLC meetings are mandatory contractual duties. Following the meeting, detailed responses were provided addressing concerns about administrative staffing, the removal of classroom printers, duty pay compensation, professional development efficacy, and the use of i-Ready and filtered access to YouTube.

The Texarkana Arkansas School District's strategic direction aims to create a positive, student-centered environment that fosters a winning attitude and produces graduates ready to contribute to society, while educating, inspiring, encouraging, and leading all students. Key commitments include fostering a professional learning community, ensuring high-quality and equitable learning, prioritizing student-centered decisions, cultivating an inclusive and respectful environment, engaging with the community, celebrating achievements, and encouraging growth and innovation. The plan sets specific goals to decrease chronic absenteeism, increase district literacy rates, and reduce behavioral referrals.

The PPC meeting included discussions on donating days policy, PPC representative elections, changes to October and April PPC meeting dates, attendance incentives, salary schedules, licensed personnel policies, student handbook updates (including AI, Code of Ethics, and Harassment policies), the 2026-2027 calendar, school board meetings streaming policy, and access to PPC agendas.