[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6295869,"mediaKeyId","2519057-f6f78008174a217beb3ba4dbabca3c08","parentId",2519057,"title","Votes at a glance: Alma School District board approves minutes, budget publication, calendars, contracts and personnel recommendations","audioSeconds",8147,"startMs",468000,"endMs",8615000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519057-f6f78008174a217beb3ba4dbabca3c08&start=468&end=8615","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519057-f6f78008174a217beb3ba4dbabca3c08/thumbnail_468000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6295869/Arkansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Alma-School-District-board-approves-minutes-budget-publication-calendars-contracts-and-personnel-recommendations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295869-7b2a4c68cd2e89230fb5bd15db602a60/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456996&Signature=eiEOcEStuDpzPIJ5vz8vNgRlPZUmYe-kSQC2IkZG6Q9tahm-vEMRxmLpYjlhbkRFHKEtvAKuet6L~W~32OFyBE5XrIi9~xWHjz9IE2duvrBf31wUsauufAq0tl~MKBiIWgWDksNkUJzeXO9kiwloQh-HJKjfEpOUJQwJ5PDST1mh9k~sg2Y~XHYjU32zp3e760BJgsd5x5WTd3hNJvTWhD2arj6qqTN9zUNXtnv1F2NawoTnhBB3fiogj8F2heKsjbcH3duQPh7ePZVaP3k36p9-lviQBblXTee82-ZwoLpcyl4Kmc3EJX6XmK4T2AfkUX9BAEIzvZut2VaaMDYDFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alma School Board","date","2025-02-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Alma School District board took several routine actions and personnel votes during the meeting. Board members recorded unanimous voice approvals on procedural items, the budget publication for the November election, adoption of two school‑calendar options, a superintendent contract extension and multiple employment recommendations.

Minutes and consent agenda
The board approved minutes from January meetings and carried the consent agenda by voice vote. “All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries,” the chair said when calling the vote.

Budget publication
Trustees approved the required single‑publication budget notice for the November election as presented.

School calendars
The board adopted two calendar options — the district’s alternate hourly calendar and a traditional 178‑day calendar — and authorized the district to implement the calendar permitted by final state law. A trustee noted a typographical date error in the draft calendar and the superintendent said it would be corrected before publication.

Superintendent contract extension
After returning from executive session, trustees approved an extension of the superintendent’s contract through June 30, 2028. A motion to approve the contract extension was made and seconded; the chair called for the voice vote and said, “Aye.” The motion carried.

Personnel and hires
The board approved offers of employment for administration and district support staff and accepted recommendations to hire multiple certificated staff, including the district’s listed hires for athletic coaching and classroom positions. These personnel approvals were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Ending: The board adjourned following the approvals. Meeting minutes and the district personnel packet were referenced for specific hire names and contract language.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 2025 School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Alma School District board unanimously approved routine minutes, a budget publication notice, two school‑calendar options, a superintendent contract extension and personnel recommendations during its meeting; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the public audio.","taxTitle","ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, Arkansas","taxId",64867,"location","Arkansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6295874,"Board hears state legislative proposals on classroom cell‑phone limits and fetal‑development video requirement",204,3367000,3571000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519057-f6f78008174a217beb3ba4dbabca3c08&start=3367&end=3571","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519057-f6f78008174a217beb3ba4dbabca3c08/thumbnail_3367000.jpg","/articles/6295874/Arkansas/Board-hears-state-legislative-proposals-on-classroom-cellphone-limits-and-fetaldevelopment-video-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295874-9432d32968254538db0d7bc9b63ae5e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456996&Signature=jt6jA5zuCGp9t-qSdmfFrJR63S3iWawS2P0YNiZ1ufjEs1dkLY-MRK2JBSosQrkq954aUZqpuIr59zRx-wnABVkwiFyvkhe8v4iysRKKLi-rv8P6giGEpz1t7heyM3FD9mPf2~lVmgNR3h3FcfHYjA80es5ysxy8-CTlaBDOdr7mWDC1VO2-lSAmwJn3Yv670JNDuXiGmN1Adrokgp~NunT-xODsI1BtJ-jQb8JLhPesrIZMeyUkmf1q6sX3T9JWwfJ3MWwM1KV4sYCpkIEfp2Ihitq-4HsnHWHuRNDibNGVg0PLtIZsjOWpiJhiM9E9hH605cZm8o3SCSPbQDXOUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alma School District board received an update on pending state legislation that, if enacted, would affect classroom instruction and school‑level device policies.

Doctor Wood, the district superintendent, told trustees about two bills that are receiving attention at the state capitol. One, introduced in the House and amended in the Senate, would require inclusion of a specific fetal‑development video in health and safety classes beginning as early as fifth grade, with related material in later grades. “People debate whether fifth grade is too young,” Wood said, summarizing testimony and committee discussion. Wood said the proposal had passed the House and was pending in the Senate at the time of the meeting.

The superintendent also discussed a governor‑backed cellphone bill described in the meeting as a “bell‑to‑bell” prohibition on phone use during the school day. “Veil to bell — no cell is what it’s called right now,” Wood said. He summarized the bill’s expected provisions: districts would be required to adopt policies that keep phones away from use between the morning and afternoon bells, with limited exceptions for after‑school activities and emergencies. Wood said the bill as discussed included an exemption for medically necessary devices — for instance, a glucose monitor — that would be reflected in a student’s IEP or 504 plan.

Wood described practical concerns for implementation, including how districts and families use phones for quick notifications and how schools would accommodate medical exceptions. He said the department of education (DESE) would likely require districts to submit policies and that guidance was still pending. “Implementation could be problematic at least initially,” Wood said, urging interested parents and staff to contact their legislators while the bills are under consideration.

Ending: The board did not take a policy vote at the meeting; Wood said he would share further guidance as final legislative language and DESE rules are published.","Superintendent Doctor Wood briefed the Alma School District board on two pending state bills: one would require schools to show a fetal‑development video in certain health classes; the other would require districts to adopt 'bell‑to‑bell' limits on student cellphone use with narrow medical and IEP exceptions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6295879,"Alma students, teachers spotlight career and technical education; district cites new grants and equipment",1857,786000,2643000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519057-f6f78008174a217beb3ba4dbabca3c08&start=786&end=2643","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519057-f6f78008174a217beb3ba4dbabca3c08/thumbnail_786000.jpg","/articles/6295879/Arkansas/Alma-students-teachers-spotlight-career-and-technical-education-district-cites-new-grants-and-equipment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295879-38e2a54a9e3e432da0d103c24b4e3172/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456996&Signature=CDjFl~5Ndv7VXhVuOPeP6FSc0RUGMnG6XAsdqlCYUJA8MAP7WCe3vkWRiUmHjhB8HhJiwHt97N7RNdJA5Se5EE46Ysfev~uyKkRDh7VzGUqt2GL8rTH5KODE5gvdmDOxALCNv82lNyYcrDiFG5wcPACLor-AwXqyL4ywIzmo3UloEXASrWpiIAFNieBpccJRxlPZ9zMXqsLBSi9Oa2vUOfdN10zH5KPHgH3goR84IDFDuGvdsnxiRFQES7CXNw8QBwXaPMQRtoBXieIYnW-WXWY7rlN8v3O7LV134QNu2iXalV7MEnj4ufK68tCO5bmvyTZMAf-R~h9vPLkPKr~emw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Alma School District school board meeting, students and staff presented a showcase of Career and Technical Education programs and board leaders described recent grants and planned equipment purchases to expand hands‑on learning and internships.

Board members heard students and staff describe pathways in agriculture, engineering, technology and business, and officials summarized grants and equipment purchases that the district said will support those programs.

Miss Parker, the district’s CTE coordinator, told the board that February is National CTE Month and explained that Alma High School tracks student participation through pathway “concentrator” and “completer” status. “If they take three courses in a pathway, they become what is a completer,” Parker said. She asked the board to note that many students cross pathways and that the district is building a culture of combined CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) activity, including community service projects such as Valentine’s Day cards for a nursing home.

Students representing chapter organizations gave brief descriptions of their programs. Mason Collins, Alma FFA chapter parliamentarian, described FFA activities and leadership and noted the organization’s national scale. Xavier Herzig, serving as a TSA state officer, said about 87 Alma students will represent the school at the Arkansas Technology Student Association state competition in Little Rock. “TSA actually pushed me to pursue a leadership role,” Herzig said.

District leaders described investments and grants intended to support the pathways Parker and the students outlined. Doctor Wood identified a pre‑engineering grant that paid for 30 new computers loaded with specialized software. Wood said the district has also bought welding equipment and a plasma cutter for agricultural and career‑tech instruction, and has ordered a tractor simulator that district staff estimated at about $150,000 for multi‑equipment training. “We did get that grant partially funded this year,” Wood said of the pre‑engineering award.

Jason Rutherford, the district’s transportation director, told the board the district won a separate federal or state award that he said nets the district $352,000 tied to electric school buses, which Rutherford characterized as equivalent to eight free buses under the program’s terms. “He chased that down,” Wood said, thanking Rutherford for securing the funds.

Wood also described plans to expand work‑based learning, saying state guidance is shifting toward internships and career practicums that align with local industry needs. The superintendent said the state is prioritizing “high demand/high wage” pathways and that the district is working with the regional cooperative to apply for funding and internships.

The board was also invited to a CTE showcase on Feb. 19 at 11:15 a.m., an event Wood described as a chance to see program demonstrations and meet students involved in CTSOs.

Ending: Board members thanked the students and staff. Several trustees noted that students’ public speaking and leadership skills were evident in the presentations and praised CTE staff for grant work and program development.","Students and staff from Alma High School outlined Career and Technical Education pathways and competitions at an Alma School District board meeting, while district leaders described recent grants and planned equipment purchases that officials say will expand hands‑on instruction and internship opportunities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Alma School District board approves minutes, budget publication, calendars, contracts and personnel recommendations

Board hears state legislative proposals on classroom cell‑phone limits and fetal‑development video requirement

Alma students, teachers spotlight career and technical education; district cites new grants and equipment