001We will reconvene the May 2026 state board of education meeting at 12:31. We're going to kick off today. Oh, sorry. Thank you. We're going to kick off today with a moment of silence and then we'll move into the pledge. So, please join me with a moment of silence. Thank you. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. You can be seated. >> Okay, we are going to go ahead and move um into recognition. So, I'll turn it over to Secretary Ala. >> Yes. So, good afternoon. And this is um I think part of my favorite part of the board meetings because
002we get to spotlight some of the wonderful activities that our scholars are accomplishing all throughout the state. And it's, you know, it's that time of year where it's becoming the end of the school year. And I always like to remind all our students and teachers and everybody to not count down days, but make every day count. But this is the time of year where um seasons are ending, projects are coming across the finish line, and it seems like every time um we start looking in the news at headlines, Arkansas students are doing amazing things. So, we have quite a few spotlights. So, you have to be patient with me because um we we want to recognize these students. Uh that is so welld deserved and um we're just all so proud of them and just
003so glad that they're able to be here today and and they look wonderful. So, we're so excited to meet and hear from you and learn a little bit about you. But the first student I'm going to call up is our state spelling be champion. Right. So, how many of you we were at an event this morning and they were it was a a celebration for Arkansas America 250 and they used this term called semiquincentennial. That's what we're celebrating. And I was like, how many of us can spell semi-quincentellia? But I guarantee caric get can get this across the finish line. Um, he's a sixth grade student at East Hills Middle School in Greenwood and is a 2026 Sebastian County Spelling Bee Champion, winning with the word, and I'm not even going to try to pronounce
004it and I'm going to let him tell us all about it, but there's a lot of letters and syllables in this word. And um as he's been winning, he's advanced through a competitive field of more than 85,000 students across 430 schools statewide. He's currently prepping for the scripts national spelling be which will be in Washington DC and I think some of us have seen that on ESPN and is studying for over 4,000 words to know their meeting and um how to spell them. So as we recognize him, we would like to call Karthy Dolly up to the podium and learn a little bit more about that. [applause] >> All right. So the first thing you have to do is tell us what word you want the spelling be on. >> So the word that I
005won my spelling be was paratactic and it's spelled P A R A T A C T I C. >> Excellent. [applause] So, what's ne what does this mean to be the spelling be champion? So, what's next for you? And how do you prep? Are you hitting the gym every day or how do we get ready to win this? >> I guess I'm going to a mental gym every day. >> But it's truly an honor to have the title as the state spell and be champion and I'm excited to go to this trip's national spelling be in a few weeks. >> Awesome. How many words did you have to spell to become the champion? I had to spell about 4,500 words. >> Wow. >> Is what I studied to become the champion. >> Awesome. Do you
006want to try and spell what is it? Semi >> semiquincentennial. >> Semiquincent. >> We'll not judge you too hard because [laughter] none of us know how to do it either. >> I'll I'll have no problem. >> I don't know either. [laughter] >> I'll we'll see. >> Okay. Well, we'll have you come back after you win in DC for us. So, we're >> Does anybody have any comments? No. >> Well, so you're going in May, is that right? You're taking your parents. Yes. With you. That's awesome. How many people will be there to compete? >> Um, I believe it's 247 people. >> That's wonderful. Thank you. Well, could we come get a picture with you? >> Yes, absolutely. >> Yeah, let's go and do that. You're part of the journey. Congratulations. [applause] I don't know. >>
007All right. The next uh group of students we want to recognize has uh started a a a podcast series which is I think is phenomenal to hear that our young students are interested in podcasts and and in fact the the series originally launched during the pandemic to help keep families informed and has grown into a fully studentrun storytelling media platform and it's the Tiger Talk student podcast team and these are led and created by fourth and fifth grade East students at John Tyson Elementary School of Innovation in Springdale. So when I say that it's student led, they lead all aspects of the production. They write the scripts. They book guests. They do interviews. Maybe one of y'all might be a target. >> I was going to ask for you because I I know you do
008podcasting. [laughter] >> We want a good podcast for these students. and they um they actually have reached now a global audience with listeners on every con continent except for Antarctica. So, we're gonna field trip, right? Like maybe maybe if we can get out there and spread the news in person, like we we can get that across the finish line. And they were the winner of top kids and family podcast at the Arkansas Podcast Collaborative Awards. And they were named best education podcast at the Ark East, the Arch East Awards. And in the current season, they have Heroes Save Heroes, which highlights organizations supporting veterans. So, there's a bunch of student hosts um that that I'm going to try to see if we can call up and there may be more students with them, but I
009know we have um some fifth graders Janet Perez and Rodereak Jello and fourth graders Uretti Arua Aruo and writer Spencer and their facilitators Jennifer Bogart and principal Dr. Poge. So, I maybe we can invite them up and hear a little bit more about how to get booked on this great show. [applause] >> Good afternoon. My name is Jennifer Bogart. Thank you for inviting the host of Tiger Talk from East at John Tyson Elementary School of Innovation in Springdale, Arkansas to join you today. It is an honor to be with the Secretary of Education and distinguished members of the Arkansas State Board of Education. The first episode of Tiger Talk was published in February of 2020. What began with Dr. Shelley Pogue's vision, four microphones, and a great deal of determination has grown into a powerful
010studentled podcast. Tiger Talk has allowed these fourth and fifth grade East students to share meaningful stories about our school, the community that we live in, the Arkansas Department of Education's Guide for Life, Five Principles for Personal Success, the rich history of John Tyson Elementary School in celebration of our 50th anniversary, our school's learner qualities, Arkansas festivals, and finally, veteran organizations. To date, Tiger Talk has produced 101 episodes with over 6,000 downloads and has reached listeners on every continent except for Antarctica. So, somebody please go to Antarctica and listen to Tiger Talk. Yeah, [laughter] >> it's an incredible achievement for elementary studentled podcast. As you can agree, these episodes reflect not only academic learning but also student voice, creativity, and connection to the world around them. In addition, the hosts have led multiple podcast workshops for
011peers so that others can share their stories, too. As it was mentioned earlier, Tiger Talk has been recognized by the Arkansas Podcast Collaborative, earning multiple awards while competing alongside adult creators, not just kids. And notably, Rodri Rodri became the first Marshal individual to receive an Arcast award, marking an important and inspiring milestone. I would like to introduce the host of Tiger Talk who are dedicated to highlighting organizations that help veterans in Northwest Arkansas. We'll start with our fourth graders Witten Spencer Ajo and our fifth graders Janet Perez and Rodri Jello who has renamed himself broadcaster >> hashtag right. We have a huge cheering section here today, including their proud principal, Dr. Shelley Pogue, family members Hope Perez, Melissa Jello, Carlos Ajo, and Charlie Smith. We brought a community partner, Mrs. Dorothy Cardiel from the VFW
012Post 2952 auxiliary. And we have representatives from East Initiative, Mrs. Tammy Baker, Mrs. Renda Hall, and Mr. Jason Blake. The hosts select a theme for each season and according to Witten, we have a lot more work to do on this topic. You can listen to Tiger Talk on any platform that you use for listening to podcasts. So, look forward to hearing more episodes about heroes serving heroes. Thank you. >> That's wonderful. I'd love to know from each of you what your favorite episode is that you've seen so far. broadcast. >> Start with >> like we can remember that. We got to start with him. >> My favorite episode was Bose's Blessings. >> Those blessings. Okay. >> Because it helps um it helps. It helps with veterans what they need and what they need help with.
013My favorite episode was Heroes on the Water because it helps veterans let it helps veterans calm be calm by getting them on the water and >> that's [laughter] perfect. Thank you. >> My favorite episode is also Heroes Underwater because it also helps uh veterans calm down by kaying and fishing. I don't have a favorite episode. I love all of them. >> Great. >> All of them are super important and serve a very dignified purpose. >> Is that Is that an official Tiger Talk jacket? Is that Is that part of your uniform? Because I I might come do that podcast. We can get one of those. >> We all need one of those, don't we? >> Exactly. >> I will say if you ever if you ever are interested in a state board, there is a
014there is one of my colleagues who's from Springdale. So, >> well, I was wondering >> and we noticed that you have a veteran on the board, too. Indeed. Thank you for your service. >> I was going to thank y'all for picking that topic. Both my wife and I were in the military, so I realized how important it is that that we have those conversations. So, thank you for that. >> Thank you for your service. >> Being from Springdale, I just subscribed on Spotify. So, you have you have a new follower on Spotify. I will listen at least one on the way home. I promise you. Well, I was wondering, there's a lot more that goes into a podcast than just talking about a topic. There's a lot of behind the scene things, produc, you know,
015production and uh editing. Tell me, do you guys have a role in that or do you get to help the adults do it? Tell me about that part. >> Go for it. What do you do in order to produce it? >> So, what we do is we pick the new host of Tiger Talks and we come we collaborate to pick the topic about what we're going to talk about and we start we start writing the script and we interview the organization that helps the veterans. the technology that we use. We use the Roadcaster Pro which is like you can it will like it will record the podcast and then there's these buttons that you can make to push like to make like sound effects and we've actually made a song from AI generated and we
016made it and we play it in the beginning and the end of the vid of the podcast. It's amazing. So, you guys are doing your own production. That's impressive. >> It's very inspiring. U I too have a special spot in my heart for veterans. My question is what influenced how did you get involved with podcasting? What was the determining factor? >> The reason I wanted to be on Tiger Talk is because my sister Sophia Perez was on Tiger Talk. The reason I joined Tiger Talk is because I always been interested in podcasting. The reason I joined Tiger Talk is because I love what they do. They spread um different podcasts, different topics to everyone and I really love that. I joined Tiger Talk because um because I love talking to everybody around the world. [laughter]
017>> Wonderful. >> Thank you. So great. >> How do you pick the topics? Do you look at current events or how do you pick the topics that you want to cover? >> I'll answer that for you. Who want to answer? So the community partner that we brought with us, Dorothy Cardiel, has been influential in um connecting the students with different organizations. And so they do some research and learn about the organization and then determine if they would like to interview a representative from the organization. So they have selected multiple organizations this year that really have touched their hearts. They talked about Bose's Blessings and I don't think there was a dry eye in the the room after they interviewed the um founder of Bose Blessings and they loved talking with the gentleman who is the
018organizer of Heroes on the Water and learning about how the water just helps the um veterans calm down as they've all talked about. Do you want to add anything to that? >> Well, two quick things. My son is taking a podcast summer camp and um I didn't even know where to begin to get him ready and now I know exactly where to begin. So you're gonna have two new listeners as of this afternoon. Um and also I'm so impressed with your educator because she is serving in the role of facilitator or catalyst. She's not doing the work for you. She's stepping back even just watching her today. Would you like to answer and kind of giving tips but letting you take the wheel which is very impressive. So thank you. Thank you. We are super
019proud of you. We're gonna We want to get a picture with you. We're going to go through these other two and then we'll have you guys come back up. Does that work? >> Awesome. We're proud of you. Good job. >> [applause] >> So, the next two spotlights and we're going to introduce them separately, but it's they're both from Lisa Academy West Middle Schools and um their students are here and we're going to recognize their science olympia team and their school NASA tech rise team. So, first I'll start with the Olympia team for science and it is their premier STEM uh competition with a format similar to an academic track meet. So, that's kind of the the mindset that we're putting in and it's a group of students from Lee Academy West and they were named
020first place at the Arkansas State Science Olympiate Championships this past March and they're here with their coaches Mr. Hardle and Miss Pectus and they qualified to represent Arkansas at the Science Olympiad National Tournament. So, they're gearing up for that and it's at uh it's actually coming up in a few days at the University of Southern California. And they're going to compete um in 23 events, everything from biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, and engineering. It's teamwork, problem solving, hands-on. and uh these young scholars uh in a few days we'll be re recognizing or representing Arkansas on a national stage. So I'd like to invite the coaches to come up and maybe if your students are with you, you can uh introduce them or tell us a little bit about what this means to to I like
021that analogy. It's like a it's like a science track meet. Got lots of competitions, lots of divisions and and lots of things going on. So congratulations and thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> [applause] >> So as you said they they compete in 23 different events. Uh they do it in pairs. So usually two students work together. Some of the events are just paper pencil tests. Some of them they have to build and create some kind of vehicle or um something to do a particular task. So these are our champions from Arkansas. >> That's awesome. >> So um maybe is there a captain who maybe we can ask the captain the captain? Hello captain. Um, maybe you can come over and and tell us what it means to be the captain of of a
022science Olympiad team. And um, how did you fundra for California? How do you prepare? How do you study? Are you hitting the gym like we're doing in the spelling be or how does this work? What does this mean? >> Um, for like what I did as a captain, it's more like they all like work on their own topics. I just like kind of help organize things. Like for some topics like you need to choose time slots and stuff like that. I'll do stuff like that, but they all work really hard on their topics and they're all doing their part as well. >> So, do they know the topics ahead of time or >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You like you like do like each person has like three or four topics and then you just
023like like study for those. >> So, when will we know if you're the national champions? >> I think 23rd evening. >> Okay. Well, we'll be watching a room for you and I heard the international champions might be in Antarctica. We might need you to qualify and help promote a podcast, but I'm not sure. >> That's excellent. >> Anybody have any questions? >> Okay. Well, so let me um while we're here introduce um some of the folks that participated or were selected for the NASA Tech Rice Student Challenge, which is a national STEM competition coached by Miss Julie Hardle and it provides students an opportunity to design experiments for high altitude or suborbital flight. and the projected titled uh Alter Violet selected from 100 submissions nationwide only one winning project from Arkansas. Their experiment will be
024tested on a NASA subordinable flight this summer and the research focuses on how sunscreen performs at high altitudes. It's going to measure the effectiveness and different SPF levels and it's goes along with scientific thinking, creativity, and real world applications. So, um, we want to hear about this project and thank you for doing stuff with sunscreen because I definitely need to use that out in the sun. >> Now, I'm Julie Hardle and I'm the gifted and talented coordinator for Lisa Academy. And, um, at each of our schools, we have several different GT coordinators. And at each of our schools, we encourage students to enter a variety of contests and to try lots of different things. Most of these kids are in multiple different outside endeavors or clubs. So we have kids in here who are in
025quizzible and who have competed in numerous state competitions. Um this particular group of girls I suggested at one of our GT meetings in middle school that this is something they might be interested in and four of the girls immediately came to me and said we're working on it today. Um, so they began working on it and the impressive thing is that they immediately wrote a proposal. Um, I said, you know, I have a former student who's a biomedical engineer. Let's just kind of check in and see what she thinks. And she said, I don't think this is going to work. And they said, no problem. We'll fix it. So they immediately rewrote their proposal. We submitted it. And in December, a representative from NASA called me and said, "You won." and we were thrilled, of
026course, and really excited. They've been working since late January. Um, we started out working just a few hours a week. The last month we've been working about 10 hours a week after school and during school. Um, our administrators have been really flexible and helpful with us and they have a very complex experiment and they work closely with engineers. Um, and the engineers when they look at the parts, it's extremely technical and they constantly say, "Yes, that's right. Yes, that looks correct. Try this." Um, and the girls are really flexible with their thinking and and being led and guided to do other things, but then they come back and work for hours on their own. Um, so I'll let them tell you a little bit more about those pieces and let you ask them questions. Um
027the engineers have told us this is an exceptionally brilliant group of girls. Um I am really proud of them because they've learned to be really grateful to everyone who's helped them and I think that those soft skills um to be really they're already very coachable but to also really appreciate everyone who's spent time with them. I think that's really important. So I'm really proud of them. We'd love to hear about it and if if your project needs a chaperone flight this summer, I'm sure we can find some volunteers. >> So, um test that sunscreen. >> Yeah, I can help test it. >> Suborbital flight. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> So, um our project originally had our proposal had UV sensors in it to te to detect um the UV rays coming in after they were filtered
028by the sunscreen. Um, then we added temperature sensors and like on Monday I think there has been there were some technical issues with it and like Mrs. Hardle was saying, we've all been working really hard. Like after we get back to school, I think we're going right back to working actually because we have to test it. They gave us like flight code and things so we have to test what the flight code and it there's like coding sections and there's soldering where you like melt metal onto different metal and then you have to like heat the metal and it's really scary. I don't like doing that. [laughter] >> What grade are you in? >> I'm in eighth grade. We're all in eighth grade. All three of us. >> Okay. Wow. >> How did you decide
029on this as your project? >> Um, it's a So, actually, it's from kind of from our science Olympiad because I do meteorology for science Olympiad and Anya does anatomy and physiology. So, we kind of combined it and it Yeah, it was really interesting. >> That's awesome. >> Well, you guys are far smarter than I ever will be. So, thank you guys so much for using your skills and your knowledge. We're really proud of you. >> Thank you. >> Should we have them? >> Yeah. I was gonna have them all do stand here and then we'll swap out. Yes. >> So, why don't you all come up here? We'd love to get a picture with you. >> Yeah. Just Yeah. Everybody come up here in this area. We'll face this way. Thank you. [clears throat] two.
030>> [music] >> One, two, and three. Where is All of you pretty good. the delegates, right? >> Oh, yeah. >> Dr. Pride, can you tell us about a delegate? >> Yes. Good afternoon, Kimney Pride, assistant commissioner of learning services, and I am elated to be here again today to recognize our second delegate for United States Senate Youth Program. I want to say a special thank you before I start to our humanities team who keeps us on track. We don't miss any deadlines related to this because it's very important. If y'all just wave your hand, they're right there. They never take credit, but they do an awesome job making sure that the delegates get here to be celebrated. So, thank you to them. Again, we're here to present the uh the USS delegate. Senate resolution 324
031established the United States Senate Youth Program. It has been sponsored by the Senate and funded by the Hurst F fund foundation since its inception in 1962. The focus is to increase young Americans understanding of the inter relationships among the three branches of government. It exam they examine the qualifications and duties of nationally elected and appointed officials and they emphasize the vital importance of democratic decision-making for America and people worldwide. Arkansas's two delegates joined Senator John Boseman and Senator Tom Cotton in representing the state during the 64th annual USYP Washington Week held March 7th through the 14th, 2026. Our delegates were selected from the state's top student leaders to join the delegation of 104 outstanding high school students. Each delegate receives a $10,000 scholarship of for undergraduate studies with encouragement to continue their coursework in government
032history and public affairs. We want to recognize Arkansas's 2026 United States Senate Youth Program delegate Miss Manvita Naras Simhan. I hope I did that a little justice and she can tell us. Um I tried it. Secretary Leva this time of Bentonville. [laughter] Uh, Manvita is a senior of Bentonville High School. She's achieved the following honors and positions. District student advisory board member for Bentonville Public Schools. She's a member of Senator John Boseman's congressional youth cabinet, national merit scholarship semi-finalist, candidate for the international balorate diploma program, delegate and president of um Arkansas girl state for the senate. um vice president of Arkansas DECA actually uh we were both celebrating. Oh, that's one of your students. U Ross was saying um that is leading in CTE and then a recipient of the Arkansas seal of biiteracy for
033French Arkansas all state orchestra violinist in 2025. She's the captain of the Bentonville High School debate team. Manvita intends to pursue a dual major in political science and business before attending law school. She aspires to serve Arkansas as a legislator and ultimately in the United States Senate, expanding educational opportunities and strengthening civic participation across the nation. We are delighted to present this deserving student as one of the Arkansas 2026 USSP delegates and she has her father and grandfather with her today. Welcome. Right, you come on up. [applause] Welcome. Tell us a little bit about yourself. >> I said I think the first thing is how do you keep your calendar so organized being like the leader of so many wonderful things? >> Um Google calendar and a lot of caffeine I would say. >> Yes.
034>> Um yeah it was honestly just the best thing I think I've ever done. Um throughout the week we got to meet with a lot of national level officials. So, we met um Pete Haggath, Secretary of War, um Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Katani Brown Jackson, um both of our senators from this state, and then a lot of other US senators. And I just think it was so fascinating to be able to hear all of these perspectives from across the political aisle. Um and the speaker lineup was incredible, but I think the best part were the other delegates who were there because I think what really elevates being able to hear from a guest speaker and being able to understand what they're saying is like the conversations afterwards. And so just getting to go
035over what was said and have arguments over, you know, the validity of this argument or hearing about current events and getting to debate them in real time with students who are equally as politically engaged was truly just life-changing. Um especially coming from like a school where um a lot of my friends don't like to talk about politics as much. And so I thought that was a really fascinating experience. Um and so I really wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm so grateful that I got to go to Washington Week and yeah, it was just incredible. >> I love that. Where do you want to go to school? >> Um, I'm attending Vanderbilt with a dual major in political science and human organizational development. >> Excellent. >> They have a competitive bowling team. So, [laughter] I
036don't know if you want to add that to your resume. >> In her spare time. >> Oh, yeah. I've had my eye on that one. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Hey, you got my vote. >> I will help run your campaign. Do you know where you'd want to go to law school? >> Not yet. Um, I'm hoping college can help me figure that out. >> Okay. >> Excellent. Any comments? >> Did you have any preconceived ideas about the national political arena when you went up there that might have changed or what was your impression? >> No. Yeah. Um, I definitely think that walking into Washington Week, I kind of viewed a lot of our nation's leaders as like a little bit disconnected from the rest of the populace, which I think is easy to do because
037a lot of us are so used to seeing these people as like figures on the screen. Um, people that other people talk about rather than as humans themselves. But, I don't know, hearing political figures talk about like their families or like the values that they bring into their roles or the considerations that they take into account when making every decision, it really just helped like humanize these people. Um, and it made me a little bit more capable of viewing political decisions as things that take into account a lot more factors than I would have originally thought of. Um, especially hearing today's leaders reference like memes or like current events um, and just answer our questions. I thought that was just so like interesting to hear about. I really realized that these are real people um,
038just like you and I. And I thought that was really it shouldn't have been surprising, but it was. >> You're exactly right. The caricature that is portrayed on TV is often so very different than the human behind the name. And the same is true for state leaders. So no matter what you hear about Secretary Levy, he's fabulous. [laughter] >> Josh, make sure you quote that article, if you don't mind. O L I B A. [laughter] >> We are so very proud of you and we can't wait to see what you do and always remember Arkansas and come back and you can serve as maybe our future governor. We would love that. >> Can we come get a picture with you? >> Yeah, of course. A lot of points. You can do this. We need One,
039two, Congratulations. >> I'm just gonna say it. Yeah, that's what I was looking for. We are taking 8.7. >> Make sure we get that. >> All right. So, is that that's all the recognitions? We're going to move on into the action agenda. I do have one quick change. Item 8.7, the report for a waiver has been pulled. So, we will not go over that. Um, but we can start with Mr. White. I'll take care of you. >> Wasn't sure if she was using those slides today. >> Cool. >> Well, good afternoon. Ross White, director for the Division of Career and Technical Education. Um, as we discussed yesterday in our work session today, we're going to uh present these standards for approval. So, if you don't mind that next slide for me. >> There's no >>
040I do think the slides are in our binder if you want to keep going. >> Look at that. Thanks. Appreciate that. Found it. Um, so as a reminder, um, obviously these, >> you know, that's that may be considered discovery if that was [laughter] wrong. Just want to make sure we're keeping it. >> Oh my. [laughter] >> Uh, so these standards here are obviously um where we're ensuring our students are ready for the three E of enlistment, enrollment, employment. Um, this work has been done to align our pathways to meet our labor market information for our state by reviewing our occupational codes and our instructional program codes that we use. Um all of these revisions are um guided by the learns act and us making sure that our students have those durable and technical skills to
041meet industry standards but also lead to those high wage high demand careers. Um here you can kind of see our process. Um, as I mentioned yesterday, this has been about a year and a half process as we've been working through the reviewing of pathways, then identifying the wage and pathways, updating those pathways, which includes merging some, creating new ones, and then also deleting some of those pathways that were um, seemed to not fit a workforce need in our state. Um, we did presentations throughout the state, and then from that formed our committees. And so we had committees for all of our standards we reviewed. If you recall back in November, we brought um quite a few standards in front of you for approval. This is just the next batch. Um within that, those committees made
042up of about 72 individuals uh 35 K12 educators, 16 post-secondary partners, and 21 business and industry partners to the specific 19 standards um that are in front of you today. Um there is a bit of the timeline of what that looks like. And then of course, you all have the standards in front of you. Uh these are the sets that are with you today grouped um by the pathway they are. So Agra business agriculture power structural and technical animal systems the Arkansas tourism recreation aviation our career pathway standards and then plant systems. So with that I'll take any questions you have. >> Anybody have any questions? >> I did have a procedural question. Do we need to take each one of these individually or can we just approve them as a batch? >> It's a
043great question. >> As a batch. >> Excellent. Perfect. Thank you. >> All right. Then I will need a motion to approve all of the revised standards for the 19 courses that we went over yesterday. >> Make that motion. >> I have a motion to uh approve by Mr. Brag. Do I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Henderson. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Hearing none. Motion passes. >> Thank you for all your work on this. This was incredible. >> All right. Moving forward on that, Miss Smith. >> Music. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> The woman of the hour. >> That's right. Stacy Smith, deputy commissioner. [laughter] >> All right. Good afternoon. jump over that trap door. >> That's right. I had to watch for you. [laughter] All right.
044So, yesterday we talked about these four sets of rules um during our work session. And so, today um we're going to kind of hit them quickly. Um today, three of the rules are just being all four of the rules are being released for public comment. One of them does have an emergency clause on it. So, when we get to that one, I'll I'll note that for you. Um again the process for this is state board releases them for public comment. They go out for 30 days for public comment. If there's any kind of substantial change it would go back out again for public comment. If not it comes back to this board for final approval. Once you approve it for final approval it then goes to the Arkansas Legislative Council for review. All right. So
045today all of the rules today are in that first batch of going out for public comment. Um this first one here was rules governing overnight travel and the use of laboratories. This was previous rules that had some amendment in legislation. We gave clarification to athletic event and athletic personnel and it also amended it so that athletic personnel could enter um if they were supervising or treating or addressing student athletes um during an event. So if there are no questions about this one, I would ask for a motion to release this one for public comment. >> Do have any questions? >> If not, I need a motion to approve to release for public comment. I move release them for public comment. >> I have a motion by Dr. Abbott. Do I have a second? >> Second.
046Second by Miss Keener. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Hearing? None. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Second set of rules. This is one we talked about quite a bit um yesterday was rules governing grading and course credit. Again, this is really um making some of the adjustments to the rules really centered around um what happened in access and as a state us moving to a mindset of acceleration first instead of remediation first, right? And so this is creating some pathways strengthening the current pathways that we have um and actually making some courses that may have been looked at before as not important important including some of our CTE courses that we recognize as being um rigorous. So, I would ask the board for um a motion to release these for public comment. Do
047>> I have any questions? >> If not, I need a motion to release for public comment. >> I have a motion by Mr. Peacock. Do I have a second? >> Second by Dr. Abbott. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? >> Hearing none, motion passes. this next set of rules. Um, this has an emergency rule with it today. So, I'm asking you one to release it as an emergency rule at the same time releasing it for public comment. Um, these rules were amended to um in response to act 919 of 2025. Um and it expands access to the cons consolidation and um annexation incentive funding for school districts that are having a detachment because of previously being consolidated with an isolated school. So this is providing access to those funds to kind of keep
048everybody fiscally neutral as that's moving forward. So two things happening here with your vote today. You're allowing it to go for as an emergency rule so the process can get started, but you're also at the same time releasing it for public comment. Courtney, under emergency rule, how many how long is it good for you to >> Four months. >> So, we don't need to bifurcate the rule. Correct. We don't need two different motions. >> No, you can do it all in one motion, but you need to do both. >> Okay. So, I need a motion to approve the emergency rules as well as release for public comment. If there are no questions, >> I move we approve the emergency rule >> and release for public comment. All right. I have a motion by Mr. Bragg.
049Do I have a second? >> A second. >> I have a second by Mr. Henderson. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion passes. >> All right. And the last set of rules that we discussed yesterday had to do with rules governing course choice. This is a new set of rules. This is um came out of um the learns legislation and so this is expanding access to quality high quality courses throughout the state for our students in grades 6 through 12. So I would ask for a motion for this rule to be set for um public comment. >> I move >> I have a motion by Dr. Abbott to release for public comment. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Mr. Peacock. All in favor
050say I. >> Any opposed? >> Hearing none, motion passes. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it. [laughter] >> All right. Uh the next matter we have is the professional licensure standards board case number 25-293. Miss James. >> Good afternoon. This is a state board review at the request of the educator regarding Derek Cook. Just a quick reminder of the hearing procedures. Uh first, the chair will swear in the educator or anyone who's testifying, which it really is only going to be uh the educator. Then the educator will have 10 minutes to make an argument followed by the PLSB. 10 minutes. >> Is the educator here? Would you please stand and I'll swear you in. >> Can you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to
051give to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Thank you. Go ahead and proceed. Mr. Key, >> the board, this is the best mood I've ever seen y'all in. So hopefully that bodess well for Mr. Cook. I can't get a gauge on Mr. Wood. He's the one I'm really always worried about, but I I saw him smile a few times. Um, >> we fed him. He's in a good mood. >> Good. [snorts] Well, I'll try to start coming back in the afternoons. Then we're asking for a review on behalf of uh Mr. Cook who is a 34 veteran educator. He was an administrator in the Mississippi school system um and then began teaching at Lakeside Lake Village. Dr. Billy Adams is a superintendent there. A couple of key things to
052note here. We're not disputing an ethics violation. Uh that is is clear. It is the the punishment essentially. The initial committee recommended suspension and we asked for a hearing because we felt the more appropriate uh remedy or the mo more appropriate discipline would have been probation and uh things obviously didn't go so great for us in that hearing because we came out with a revocation. And you know I have some thoughts on that but I don't know if it's really germanine for what I'm what we're doing here today. What we're asking for is for you to take a look at this in the totality and see that Mr. Cook is not a danger to students. He's still employed. He's still a science teacher there. In fact, he shared with me earlier that um he is
053the middle school teacher of the year this year at the middle school. And based on the testing that was just received, he had the most growth in the middle school um of all teachers. And so um I know he has the support of the superintendent, Dr. Billy Adams. Um you'll see that in the record. He had his principal speak on behalf of him. So a very unfortunate, unprofessional, and we would say unethical uh reaction to a student, but he was allowed to come back to work and the student remained in his class this year. So obviously the relationship with the student and the parent was mended because he remained in his classroom. And so given his 34 years of experience, this is the first ethics issue at all, given his support of his um administration
054that he's still employed there. That revocation would essentially be under the rule, he would not be able to teach, substitute, teach, volunteer for 10 years. And and so that would essentially end his career. Um there was some things about a malreatment was the finding. DHS investigated and they determined that there was no malreatment. I know it's different standards. I just want to make sure you know that the DHS finding was no malreatment. Um, and so I thought there was a little bit of confusion or the panel came away saying that there was malreatment. That's a legal term and that was not there. And so we would ask in light of all of this that a more appropriate sanction would be probation um with training all of those various things. And we want to ensure that
055you know I know the concern is um if we put you back in the classroom will there be the the propensity or the likelihood that another student and I just don't see that here. The track record doesn't show that and the fact that he's had a year since because this was March of 24, excuse me, March of 25. So since there's been a year with no incident coupled with the 34 years, I don't think that's a concern. Um, and so did you want to say anything, Mr. Cook? Just uh for the board's sake, then they may have some questions for us. Uh, I've been in education over over half of my life. And I've dedicated to helping young children to um better themselves, become a better person in society. And I got into education in
056l of going into medicine. so that I could have an impact on their determination on which way to go in life. And the incident that occurred, I'm not going to go over it with you, but um I just, you know, is just saw it ever happened. I never seen it coming. Um I apologize to the kid. The kid apologized to me. Talk with the parent, you know, mended everything. I don't want to go out on a blemish where we look at mistakes that been made because I'm quite sure everyone has made mistakes but have recover from those mistakes and like you said my track record I've never had anything like this never been written up anything like this maybe for a lesson plan or two that's about all but um otherwise I love children that's
057why I'm here in education to help children and being named teacher of the year this year, you know, is I'm just I'm here instead of, you know, matter of fact, it's today where I get recognized, but I'm I chose to be here because it's important to me that uh I have the opportunity to continue to help children, you know, show them the way, help them. >> Okay, Miss James. Yes, ma'am. Good afternoon. Uh, Mr. Derek Cook is a veteran educator with over 34 years of experience and he holds a teaching license and an administrator's license. We are here today because on March the 12th of 2025, a middle school student slapped Mr. Cook in the face. This was the first time that had happened in Mr. Cook's career. That's the first time he had experienced
058that, but you will see how he responded and hopefully you had a chance to watch the video. Um, after he had time to cool off, as he said, he went into the classroom and sought out the student so he could take him to the office. But what happened was more of a confrontation and essentially an assault on the student. Again, this was after Mr. Cook had the opportunity to, as he said, cool down. Uh he said he was going to take the student into the office, but when it became clear the student wasn't going to cooperate and the student hid from him and avoided him, he continued to engage with the student. There is video evidence of him throwing the student to the ground, grabbing the student, kicking the student, and striking the student repeatedly
059with a yard stick. Of note, prior to the evidentiary hearing, he only admitted that he waved the yard stick over the student. That is simply not true. Uh Mr. Cook has consistently downplayed, minimized, and mischaracterized what happened. He did seem to initially express remorse, but when interviewed by the PLSB, he gave a version of events that was quite different from what was on the video. Uh, this board is not bound by the decision of DHS and it is not bound by the decision of the district to continue to employ him following this. Um, and we have today an educator who lost his temper and rather than handle the situation in a professional ethical manner or involve administrators, he engaged with the student unprofessionally and unethically. He clearly and without a doubt violated the code of
060ethics. We had a lengthy evidentiary hearing. It was about eight hours long. Uh, we heard from the educator. Uh, we heard from his witnesses and our witnesses. And this does not happen very often, but the hearing panel found that the conduct was so egregious that they raised the sanction from suspension to revocation and it was unanimous. That very rarely happens, but that was based on eight hours of testimony, a very long day, very long hearing, watching the video I don't know how many times. Uh we argue that the recommendation of revocation should be upheld. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, I'll start to my left. Mr. Peacock, do you have any questions? Not at this time. >> Dr. Abbott. >> Not. >> Uh, no questions. Mr. Henderson. >> Yes. Uh, when the altercation took
061place, were there other witnesses, students that was uh around? I was >> Can you come up here and verbally answer? Yes sir, they were. >> Um, what was the timeline as far as the incident and time to cool off before going back to what was the timeline there? >> Me it was about uh give or take 10 15 minutes. >> We was outside moved to the inside got kids under control and got my classroom covered. I don't know if I can ask this question. U regards to the student. Do you have any documentation of prior or previous misconduct before the altercation? >> Prior to that, the student was um had several suspensions and I'm under oath. So, he had several suspensions. I was his mentor. I still am his mentor. And he um he was
062in trouble with the law, threatening probation. And so that's one reason I gave consideration not to involve the administration head off because I know that's breaking the law. Immediately that would have been, you know, he'd have been uh arrested for striking a teacher. Um, since then, uh, he was placed back in my class because he had to go to summer school because of grades and he got kicked out of summer school which caused him to fail and return back to my school. We have a small school district. So, he returned back to school back in my room and the teacher and the uh, well, the principal and superintendent asked could I said, "Yeah, I have no problem. We have no problem. We're fine. The mom's fine, you know, no problem." and we were he was
063passing my class but other things in other classes he um did some things he eventually got uh several suspensions several absentes and was placed in AL alternative learning you know he was kicked out and also um I'm not going to speak on anything I've heard I just want to speak what I know but um several fights uh he got caught with several vaping in the classroom room and um uh got in an altercation, verbal altercation with another teacher which uh she threatened to leave and that's when I think he ended up in AL. So yes, >> beyond your mentorship, did the district uh seek uh help for the student listed se several different uh items? Yes, he had counseling uh school counseling and outside counselors um brought to him. Um given the opportunity, he was
064allow allowed to uh become part of a pro program that I'm with uh changing boys to me and he was he's currently well he was in that program until a le and um but you know I bring his home environment outside influence is greater than ours. So that's what it led to. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Bra, Mr. Wood, >> um I I'll just I'll just say Mr. Mr. Cook, in the number of years that I've had to be involved in these types of things, certified staff and classified staff, you'll you'll find me on the record supporting employees that are responding in a similar fashion in a in a defensive posture. The problem I see here is the passage of time between the two events. What the student did to you certainly
065offensive and wrong. >> Yes. >> But but the amount of time you had and coming back into the room. >> Can I address that? >> Well, sure. >> If you watch the film, you'll see I walked away. I to I attempted to go get him. He didn't want to go. So, I say, "Well, let me go on down to the office and do what I got to do." He walked behind me twice, using extreme profanity, requesting that we step outside and do what we do. And by time I turned around to see how close he was up on me, he was up on me and it was right back at, you know, But I do want to go on the record. I never kicked that kid. >> You what? >> I never kicked that kid.
066>> No. >> Well, the video is pretty bad. I I understand. >> Try to defend that. >> I understand. >> Um I'm not sure. I guess I guess someone could try to persuade me that that Mr. Cook's actions were defensive in nature, but the video that I've seen, they appear to be offensive in nature. >> But I was walking off. >> I'm sorry. >> I mean, what what did you say? >> I say I was walking off. I was trying to walk away from it. >> Well, explain that to me. >> Did I miss something? I I did not I do not see a video where you're walking away and you are assaulted and you respond. I I see a different video. Am I Am I wrong? >> I don't know that we had a
067video of you getting assaulted. I may be wrong. >> We don't have the one from the playground that that when I read the details. >> There wasn't a video from the playground. The only one that we have is the one that you saw. Yes, sir. that my perspective clearly the video is disturbing, right? Um but I I think the mistake was made that I think you were trying to do the right thing when you went back to take the student and and um follow the procedures. Um I think it got out of hand again and instead of walking away a second time, you reacted a second time. But I I do see it as a reaction as opposed to you going in there to grab the kid. Have you ever had any other issues in
068your teaching tenure? >> No, ma'am. 34 years in effort. >> This is difficult for me because clearly the video um shows you in an extremely bad light, right? And you earned the the um the reaction that everybody has to the video. I'm not going to discount that. Um, part of my concern is children can't learn in an environment that doesn't have discipline and good order and conduct. And clearly that did not exist in the room and clearly from what we I read um the student um contributed or created some of that environment. So my worry is how do how do the rest of our professional teachers react um to your mistake. You know, I I think that if I'm a teacher, I'm going to see that I'm like, I don't ever want to be on
069a video doing that, right? >> But I'm I'm worried that the pendulum will swing so far the other direction that they will allow kids to misbehave um and disrupt the learning of the rest of the children in the school um with dependent on the severity of the punishment. I think you need to be punished in some form. I think that we will get to that here in a little bit. My question is is um taking you out of teaching permanently um teacher of the year there's a there was a lot of things then written up there supported your activity. How do is that in the best interest overall or is there somewhere in between the doing nothing and a full fabrication and I don't know that there's a question in there that's I just wanted
070to share that's the question in my head right now >> and I would say that's what the point I wanted to Mr. B we'd be open to all that just maintain the ability to continue in the class and the board sees fit. We're He's open to that obviously and we recognize that the board would need those assurances. >> Yes, please. >> Um so, first and foremost, I want to thank you for coming here today and for being an adult and talking about this with regret and remorse and being willing to admit your mistakes. that doesn't always happen when folks come forward and um instead they spend their time defending their actions. Um I really appreciate that. I also believe that the final step in sort of those natural line of consequences is to accept the
071consequence rather than bite it. Um but before we get to that point, I I had two little questions. Well, three, I guess, one maybe for Miss James, but um you spoke a lot about the child and um behavior issues that were ongoing both historically and sort of in that immediate moment. And I wanted to know since I didn't have any sound on there, I don't know if maybe I didn't list it, but the um understanding your closeness with the student as a mentor, what led to what student behavior led to to you laying hands on the child. Was it sort of the culmination? Was it the immediate? Was it um I just wanted to hear from you and your thought process at that moment? >> I attempted to go back in the room. Mind was
072clear to go get him, bring him down to the office, talk with the administrators on hands. He ran from me. Um little child snatched his phone and gave me the phone. I say, "Okay, well, I'll take his phone. through the office. As I was leaving, he came up using some extreme profanity, threatening, you know, and as I turned around, he was right up on me and called me out, asking me, you know, step outside, do this, do that, and he was just too close, you know. >> What were you feeling in that moment? >> When I turned around, >> I thought he wanted to fight me. Yes, ma'am. That's how close he was. >> So I I guess what I was the correct answer there is that there is no behavior that a child can
073show historically in the immediate moment that ever means it's okay to put a hand on them especially as an educator especially as a mentor especially as someone who they should feel only care and love and um support from whether that includes discipline. Um, I think what led to it was your lack of control, your frustration. The only thing we can control is our own responses and our own behaviors. What I'm concerned about is in this you said you didn't see it coming. Help us feel better about the fact that if another situation arises, you're not going to have the same reaction. I admit I've took a more aggressive tone to help myself. I've been to my minister, you know, counseling to see why did it occur and how can I prevent it. [snorts] Um I
074know um it's just that my love for children, I try to put things in place so that things they won't things to allow that to happen because you know if it's not me it may be someone else and I try to uh teach them in such a fashion that they wouldn't consider doing that and but I have no control over them I have to control me so therefore I constantly constantly work on my patience and I think I got a lot of that but uh also to correct the error that I made >> you you know, and um talk with my colleagues as well because it could have been one of them that it could have happened to and I they like what happened what happened. always allow time to drain that energy out of
075you know I took about 15 minutes maybe I should have took 30 of the whole class period maybe the end of the day as as I look back now you know we can perfect history you know but um only thing I can say is that um my affinity to teach children and to care for them And I can't see it. I'd rather walk off and leave the job than uh cause a child pain, hurt, physical or emotional. You know, I'd rather do that than than have that take place ever again. I have children of my own grandchildren and I even thought about what if that was my child that did that and the adult reacted like that, you know, and um it just put me in a bad place in my mind where um it's
076just difficult. I can't say what what if it was you. I can't even say that. What if it was you? You know, you wouldn't want your childhood like that. And I think in the adult be that >> well and I'll remind you that the the greatest example we can set for children isn't perfection. >> It is making mistakes and working through it and showing them that there's the other side at the end. And so doing exactly what you did instead of walking away, but remaining connected to that student um handling it in a way that shows them you can come back from this but also >> learn from it and don't do it again, right? And so I applaud you for that and that is um a better lesson than >> than this moment. Um
077my question for Miss James and I may have missed it. Um, was there injury? Was there a reported injury? Was there um I saw a lot about the witnesses, but I didn't notice. Maybe I just missed it. >> I don't believe that there was any evidence of injury um to the student, but I also don't think he went to the nurse to be examined. And I believe that was in the rationale. >> Okay. >> I have a quick question trying to reconcile two two different things. I think I heard it and I maybe just kind of misard something but at one point I think you said that you didn't want to take the student to the office because you of some some back his background you were afraid what might happen to him but then
078>> not that I didn't want to take him to the office I didn't want to write him up then it becomes official whereas he would have to get arrested >> okay but does taking him to the office does that does a write up not automatically happen at that point >> I would have asked it for leniency Okay. >> So, >> on him, >> right? You you didn't want to take him to the but Well, you didn't want to write him up. Okay. >> Right. Right. >> And and so when you had started to walk out of the room, >> your intention was to go to the office. What you were going to go to the office to ask for leniency for him at that moment or >> No, I was going to go ahead and
079let it take place because I would had given him the opportunity to come with me and let's talk this out. Let's see what's happen. We can make right out of this room, >> right? >> But he chose not to. >> Okay. >> So, I was like, well, you know, I got to do what I got to do. >> And that's when I started to walk off. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Did you get arrested? >> No. >> You haven't been prosecuted for this? >> No. >> They did call from the state police and stuff, but they didn't see evidence where I had, you know, Let me clarify you um the hearing that you're talking about is in conjunction with this. It's not. It wasn't a criminal proceeding. >> There there was no trial or >>
080you didn't get arrested or anything. I think that your answer sort of muddied the waters a little bit from >> understands is the only DHS investigury. So the student didn't go to the nurse. Did the student have I'm guessing had the opportunity to go to the >> wies. There's no other comments. You can sit down. Right. She had the opportunity to but she chose not to. >> And we get on to this day. She >> see. Perfect. Miss James, remind me we have to find there was a violation of the statement of ethics. >> Yes, ma'am. >> We have to find a motion for the punishment and then also the rationale. >> That's just three motions. >> Yes, ma'am. That is correct. And if if you need a um reminder regarding what the rationale was
081or what either of the previous sanctions were, I can provide that for you. >> Excellent. Okay. I'll find out what the colleagues are thinking. I do I was just pulling up the PLSB sanctioning guideline for those that haven't pulled it out. If you look at physical contact with a student resulting in injury, we automatically go to suspension. Physical contact resulting in no injury is probation. Whether he was injured is still kind of gray. And then the last page is your potential mitigating and aggravating factors. >> And that's just just suggestions to add all of your Yes, ma'am. >> Wanted to make sure everybody had this. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, we can have further discussion or if somebody would like to present a motion. >> Do we need a motion if they're not contesting the
082statement of ethics, the violation of the code of ethics? >> It would just be a motion that there was that there was a violation. Yes, ma'am. >> And the standards that were violated. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, I'll make a motion that we find there was a violation of standard 1A, 1B, 2 A, and 2B. All right. So, I have a motion by Miss Keener to find that there was a violation of the code of ethics 1 A, 1 B, 2 A, and 2 B. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. Second by Mr. Bra. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion passes. As far as the consequences, >> I'll make a motion that the punishment is probation. >> Is there a length of time? >> I'm sorry. >> The
083length of time >> um What's the What's the range that we're >> I would the suggested was two years pulling up his license. His license is valid from 25 until December 31st 29. >> So I would >> the the duration of his license >> of his current license at which point they'll look at everything else. >> Okay. So have probation for a term of I think three years. Um, do you want to add any sort of course recommendations that he take? Do you want to defer to the department or just probation? >> This is getting more complicated. >> I know it does. There's a lot. >> That's why everybody was waiting. >> Um, I do think that he needs that there's that it's in his interest and the school and the students interest that he
084that he has some type of formal counseling going forward. >> Okay. Um I can tell you that the recommended training and courseworks were creating a culture that connects the code of ethics part four which is professional responsibilities a code of ethics part seven and educators influence and then a written explanation of how you will apply each training to your practice and a completion of an anger management course. >> Okay. >> So keep those in addition to their Okay. >> So recommended coursework >> and also if you want to assess the fine let me know. I'm not. >> No. Okay. So, I have a motion by Mr. Peacock for the probation for a term of three years and to also commended um continue with the recommended training, coursework, and monitor progress, anger management, and then all
085of the code of ethics. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Oh, second by Mr. Henderson. Okay, I'm going to do a roll call. Mr. Mr. Peacock, >> I vote for that. >> Okay. >> Dr. Abbott, >> yes. >> Miss Kener, >> yes. Mr. Henderson, >> yes. >> Mr. Bragg, >> yes. >> Mr. Wood, >> no. >> With four votes to approve and one no. The motion passes. So for pro probation for three years and the recommended coursework and now we need to adopt the rationale. >> Will you read the rationale? >> Yes ma'am. I will start with the rationale that the ethics subcommittee uh provided which is video footage showed physical contact occurred between the educator and S1. Video footage showed the educator striking S1 with a yard stick multiple times. Video footage
086showed the educator throwing S1 to the ground by grabbing his hoodie. The educator acknowledged his actions were wrong and expressed remorse. The educator initially had a DHS true finding but was overturned upon appeal. The educator reportedly maintained a positive relationship following the incident. Witnesses described S1 as having a history of behavioral challenges. S1 did not sustain injuries in the encounter. The incident happened in front of other students. The duration of the incident was approximately three minutes. Does anybody want to adopt that in whole, add to or take away? >> I'll move that we adopt it in whole. Okay. I have a re a motion by Miss Kener to adopt the recommendation of the ethics subcommittee in whole. Yes. Have a second. >> Second by Dr. Abbott. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed hearing?
087None. Motion passes. Okay. We'll get an order ready for you. >> Thank you. >> Is it appropriate for me to make a comment? >> Yes, >> Mr. Cook. Um I think um you're very fortunate that it has turned out this way. I I think that we rec I recognize I won't speak for the whole board but I recognize the value you bring. Uh um part of this is u a recognition of that. Part of it is that excuse [clears throat] me the the environment that I think is important in schools and I don't want to send the wrong message. Um but please do not prove us wrong in our decision today. Please, >> I I'd also like to add to that u you know being from a rural area I do understand that sometimes there's
088some challenges with students that don't exist across the entire state but uh to u Mr. Peacock's point, uh, definitely look at this as an opportunity and, uh, take advantage of that counseling because things could be a lot different if all those things don't take place. >> Uh, that was four. >> Five, I'm sorry. Five. Sorry. Thank you. Good. You can >> correct. You can absolutely correct me. I am very fallible. So, five five votes for yes, one no. >> All right, moving on. We pulled the other one. So, next on the agenda is the nomination and election of the 2026 2027 state board officers. So, at this time, um, typically in the past, we've had it as a side meeting, but they decided to put it on the agenda and we can just have discussion
089here. I know from people that I have talked to, I know everybody seems open to the idea of being the vice chair. Not many people want to step up and be the chair. It's only like 40 hours a month. So, I'm just kidding. It's not that much. [laughter] >> Like, girl, I mean, you know, It's basically you work with Courtney and Kelsey um and they do a good job and will do whatever you need them to or they will let you do what you want to do. Um they're always a quick text or phone call away. So before we say anything, I want to express my gratitude to you um coming in and um really taking the reigns and setting a great example. Um, unfortunately, I've already asked and she can't serve again, but >>
090um, I do appreciate your work. I appreciate that. It was I stepped into big shoes from Dr. Moore from those of you that remember her. So, >> um, I don't know that I lived up to them, but I really appreciate the faith you guys put in me this year. So, with that, we are open for discussion if anybody wants to make a nomination. Um, I have gotten a feedback from Miss Hunter and from Dr. Arnold. So, are there any What's the um timelinewise? Um I know this your term is ending very shortly. Who is the next um I know traditionally we shouldn't do things just because that's the way they've always ended, but traditionally the year before you leave is the year you serve as chair. But >> um I I wouldn't say that because
091Sarah served two years and then we had a year way before y'all's time. Sharice served for a year and then she was still a member for a year when we took over. So we do not have to go by length of time. >> I will say the only people that are not eligible are Dr. Abbott and Mr. Peacock because they've just not served a long enough time. >> So that leaves >> bummer. I know that leaves Miss Hunter, Dr. Arnold, Miss Kenir, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Bragg, and Mr. Wood available. >> I don't think I'm eligible either. [laughter] >> I looked at that. There's that trap door that you need right at that moment. >> Can Can we just ask is like is anyone interested in it? Like >> that's a great question. >> And no
092one's going to >> This is the response that I get. I'm like anybody >> did you >> Randy, will you turn it down if nominated? >> I'm probably the most busiest board member. What did you just say? Sorry. >> He said he's the busiest. >> It's Yes, they will. >> Okay. >> I know Lisa has said that she would serve as vice chair again. >> She's our current vice chair. Yes. And she would serve again if you want her. Um I know Dr. Arnold has said he would be open to vice chair. Anybody else on this board? everybody else on this board. But [laughter] >> everybody but you guys. >> That's okay. >> Mr. Bragg interested in vice chair. >> I mean, >> so I was saying that Miss Hunter is willing to serve as
093vice chair. Dr. Arnold has said he would be open if he was nominated for vice chair. I want to open that up to you because I know you're on here. >> Arnold. >> Dr. Arnold. Okay. >> Really? I look forward to um you know you gentlemen breaking the glass ceiling. I've had nothing but female leadership. So that'll be [laughter] >> true. [snorts] >> Okay. So it sounds like I have a nomination for Mr. Henderson and he has tenatively accepted >> begrudgingly. >> It's true. Nobody grudging me the nomination. >> I will nominate Mr. Henderson to be board chair. >> Randy, I very much appreciate your service on this board. You are a great public servant. You reg you go all over the state. You represent our board quite well. You represent your industry quite well.
094And your friends might give you a hard time back at the office for sleeping through meetings, but you don't. And that's not fair. and uh you you are a very hard worker and I I look forward to you having the opportunity to to gave us in and run the meetings and and and >> and lead our board. >> I would just also like to echo that I think you're one of our strongest, quietest leaders on this board and that cannot be understated or overstated enough. So >> I would love to pass the gavl to you. >> You're gonna have to speak up when the timer hits three minutes though. I'm gonna try and I'll elbow you until you do. [laughter] >> I'll second that motion. Um and uh look forward to working with you. >>
095All right. So, I have a nomination for Mr. Henderson to become the chair of the 2026 2027 state board. I have a second by Miss Keenir. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Hearing none. Congratulations. [laughter] Congratulations. Um, was there a nomination for vice chair? I thought Doc. Yeah. So, Mr. Bragg has nominated Mr. Arnold as vice chair. Second by Dr. Abbott. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Hearing none. >> Motion passes. >> All right. >> Congrats. >> All right. Then last thing. Did you have a report? >> Then we will move on to public comment. Do you mind sticking around just for a few minutes? This is Okay, great. All right, Mr. Wright. >> Good afternoon, Secretary Olivia, Chair Andrean Woods, all other board members
096and others present. I am Julius Wright, Pine Bluff School District stakeholder. I am present today because of the unfortunate incident that was reported to our local school board on April 27th. Then an alleged cyber theft occurred in December 2025 during the time our superintendent was interviewing for a position in Conway. Our superintendent was on the air with Delta Plex Radio in March 2026 and at a conclusion of the broadcast that school districts are victims of cyber theft and it raised our concern because it was not related to their dialogue. As concerned stakeholders, we initiated freedom of information requests regarding whether our district had been a victim of cyber theft and if so, how much and if our funds had been recovered. Our superintendent responded no responsive documents. Within a twoe period after her response, our
097superintendent notified our board and the community that our district had been a victim of alleged cyber theft of 3.2 $2 million and perhaps we would be able to recover most of our funds within 30 90 days. There has been over 120 days. We have not recovered our funds. We are deeply concerned that the state appointed superintendent that you as a board allowed to remain after our return to local control was exploring the Arkansas Cyber Response Board for no cost assistance after the alleged attacks instead of being proactive. This district does not have cyber theft security safeguards mandated by the state which concerns us. Why did the wire transfer authorizations occur? Our superintendent was not transparent until April 2026, 120 plus days after the incident and within two weeks of our freedom of information record. Again,
098we feel that we should be held accountable and are concerned if she contacted and reported to the Arkansas Division Information System for no cost assistance to the state legislative auditor, FBI, local law and state enforcement. Again, the leadership does not believe in transparency and accountability. In closing, we are deeply concerned if the 3.2 2 million incident would be precurer for another potential fiscal distress warranting another state takeover due to the state appointed superintendent that you allowed to remain failed to follow established before confirming the wire transfer to prior to authorization. Thank you for allowing me to have public comments. >> Thank you, Mr. Wright. Miss Right. >> Good afternoon, Secretary Oliva, Chair Adrien Woods, all other board members and others present. As you know, I am Charlene Wright, a Pine Bluff School District stakeholder. I
099am here today because of the unfortunate circumstances con concerning our local control governance. Reviewing the published 2020 state board of education governance and act 633 for return to local control. I still am perplexed as to how the implementation of the Pineel School District's local control governance in 2023 defied the state board of education governance as well as act 633 for the sake of continuity supported by the state appointed superintendent and the former appointed local board president. It is still disheartening when Secretary Oliva in his own words stated that no state appointed superintendent has turned around the school district. To hear the organized performance of chance in November 2025 that we were moving on up prior to receiving a letter grade of an F has driven me to continually advocate for our district. I know we
100have been denied the complete return to local control with a democratically hired turnaround superintendent due to the not advertising vetting and hiring by a democratically elected board. We have suffered academically by a student appoint stateapp appointed superintendent who was not reassigned to the office of coordinated support with a letter grade of F. Now with an alleged loss of $3.2 2 million and could and could have been a loss of another $398,874 of checks in December 2026 that went unaccounted for four months. And who knows what else is missing and unaccounted for that could warrant another fiscal distress for our district. We pray that our situation is not one that is intentional within our district. In closing, Chair Andrea Woods, we appreciate your service and thank you for allowing me to have public comments. >> Thank
101you. >> Mr. Mayfield, >> good afternoon. I want to say before I start my time, you all look more pleasing in person than you do on the computer. [laughter] Excellent. >> Only computer is like I feel sorry for the people that stand up here at times when I'm watching from home. >> Good afternoon, members of the Arkansas Department of Education and State Board. My name is Eric Mayfield and I'm here today because the people of Pine Bluff are tired. Tired of the secrecy, tired of the favoritism, tired of watching our school district continue to decline while the same people who helped create the mess continue acting like nothing has never happened. The Pine Bluff School District did not get here overnight. Many of many of the problems we see today were allowed and cultivated during
102state control under AD oversight. And now the community is left trying to clean up the damage. Our superintendent was placed in Pineluff while employed through AD supposedly helped stabilize the district. But from what from where taxpayers sit, all we have seen is increase in spending, questionable hiring practices, questionable salary placement, low morale, loss of employees, and a complete breakdown of trust within this community. We have seen positions created that many believe were tailored for personal relationship relationship instead of district necessities. Including a director of grounds position connected to the superintendent husband. Taxpayers are paying taxpayer are asking since we does not cut since when does cutting grass require a degree and an administration level position? We have allegations of salary scale manipulation placing individuals at 25 years experience for pay purposes when recordedly shows only
103three years of experience which that position should require $84,000. Meanwhile, we are a district of roughly 3,000 students but topheavy in administration. district vehicles purchased for assistant superintendent and the s superintendent herself. While classrooms and school schools continue struggling, one administration is only out at the schools. The other administrator, assistant superintendent, is sitting in the office ordering online and playing casino games. And now the cyber theft scandal involving millions of taxpayer dollars intended for our children's. It was said that AD was assisting during this investigation, so the public deserve answers. Did AD advise the superintendent not to immediately inform the school board? Did AD advise her not to inform taxpayers whose tax dollars increased because of the millage? And let's be honest, it was said on record in this very room, board president to the
104former to the former board president to give her what she want. Meanwhile, district board president >> Mr. Mayfield, your time is up, so if you could wrap it up. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Wow. Do I wrap it up now? >> Like five seconds. >> Okay. 5 seconds. Thank you. I told you it's very scary up here. And taxpayers like myself has been harassed simply for speaking out. On April the 13th, our superintendent personally made it her business to report to my job, attempted to get me fired because of submitting foyer requests during what she assumed work hours, but after review it was on my lunch break and during my 15minute break. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayfield. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Check it one more time. No comment. I just
105um thank you for participating this morning in the celebrating American 250 and um for celebrating teachers last week. I know we did a lot about teacher appreciation week, but not just teachers, our entire educational family that are in the process of wrapping up a wonderful school year. And I keep seeing all these reports and um get invited to graduations and festivities and I I feel like this has just been another incredible school year and it's because of the hardworking folks making it special for each and every single day. So, thank you and thank you to this board for being a part of that. >> Thank you all so much. Um, so next month is my last month and I'm bringing my children. So if we want to make it like bring your kid to state
106board day, I will be fine with that. So [laughter] >> it's in June, so kids are out for school. Just saying we can make it happen. Okay. Well, if there's nothing else, then we will adjourn.