The Administrator Newsletter - December/January 2023/24

VOLUME 49 • ISSUE 6 DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024

THE

ADMINISTRATOR

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dr. Hernandez examines the importance of communicating needs and demands.

CHRISTMAS WISH FOR ARKANSAS ADMINISTRATORS

President’s Perspective • P. 4

Dr. Neathery sends her holiday well-wishes.

CoSN Update • P. 4

Executive Viewpoint

President’s Perspective

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

Page 3

Page 4

Executive Viewpoint • P. 3

Asked & Answered • P. 5 Compliance Connection • P. 5

ADMINISTRATOR SPOTLIGHT: VALERIE KING In the Spotlight this month is Valerie King, Director of Academic Support and Gifted Programs for the Siloam Springs School District.

Page 7

Awards • P. 6 Administrator Spotlight • P. 7 Upcoming Events • P. 9 Salary Survey • P. 11 Job Openings • P. 14 Publication Sneak Peek • P. 15

AAEA Staff

2023-2024 Calendar of Events

Dr. Mike Hernandez Executive Director m.hernandez@theaaea.org

January

Mike Mertens Assistant Executive Director m.mertens@theaaea.org

Lenett Thrasher Director of Learning Services & Operations l.thrasher@theaaea.org Sharon Chuculate Fiscal Services Coordinator s.chuculate@theaaea.org

Sarah Shamburger Business Manager s.shamburger@theaaea.org Alyse Mattox Communications & Technology Specialist a.mattox@theaaea.org Melanie Thrasher Business Analyst m.thrasher@theaaea.org

Lana Webb Administrative Specialist l.webb@theaaea.org

Rachel Blocker Administrative Assistant r.blocker@theaaea.org

1

AASA Superintendent Symposium, January 10-11, 2024 DoubleTree Hotel, Little Rock AACIA Conference, January 23, 2024 Benton Event Center TEL-AR Conference, January 31 - February 1, 2024 Wyndham Riverfront, North Little Rock

February AASBO Conference, February 7-8, 2024 Hot Springs Convention Center ArkASPA Spring Conference, February 22, 2024 Wyndham Riverfront, North Little Rock

April Women in Leadership Conference, April 3-4, 2024 Robinson Center & Doubletree Hotel, Little Rock CASBO Certification Classes, April 23-24, 2024 DoubleTree Hotel, Little Rock

May AAFC Spring Conference, May 1-3, 2024 Hot Springs Convention Center AAEA/ASBA Joint Conference, May 7, 2024 Wyndham Riverfront, North Little Rock

June AASEA Conference, June 10-11, 2024 Benton Event Center

For more information, visit theaaea.org/events.

2023-2024 AAEA Board of Directors Dr. Karla Neathery AAEA President Superintendent, Sheridan

Stacy DeFoor AAEA President-Elect Assistant Superintendent, Benton

Charles Warren AAEA Board Secretary Chief Financial Officer, Fort Smith

Brian Kirkendoll AAEA Past President Principal, Alma

Dr. Andrea Martin AASA President Superintendent, Greenland

Kelvin Gragg AASA President-Elect Assistant Superintendent, Pine Bluff

Dr. Debbie Bruick-Jones AASA Secretary Superintendent, Bentonville

Shawn Rose AAESP President Principal, Hillcrest

Steven Helmick AAESP President-Elect Principal, Little Rock

Carol Skiba AAESP Past President Principal, Cabot

Amy Marek AASSP President Principal, Hazen

Dr. Jason Reeves AASSP President-Elect Assistant Principal, Alma

Matt Ziegler AASSP Past President Principal, Riverside

Rebecca Rosburg ArkASPA President Assistant Superintendent for HR/Federal Programs, Hot Springs

Lisa Hotsenpiller AACTEA President Director of Career & Technical Education, Fayetteville

Dr. Dana Brown AAFC President Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, Mountain Home

Kelsey Bailey AASBO President Chief Financial Officer, Little Rock

Melody Crane AASBO Past President Business Manager/District Treasurer, Hector

Valerie King AAGEA President Director of Gifted Programs, Siloam Springs

Natalie Gosdin Ellen Phipps AASEA President AACIA President Director of Special Education, Curriculum Director, Ouachita Searcy

Craig Dupuy Greg Collins Jason Brunner ASPMA President (until Oct) ASPMA President (begin Oct) AAMLA President Assistant Superintendent, Maintenance/Facilities Assistant Principal, Bentonville Benton Supervisor, Dover Jarod Morrison TEL-AR President Director of Maintenance/ Technology, Farmington

Dr. Mike Hernandez AAEA Executive Director

2023 AAEA Corporate Sponsors Prestigious

American Fidelity Assurance Co. Cognia Coryell Roofing and Construction, Inc. Curriculum Associates Educational Benefits, Inc. GoSchoolBox Lifetouch National School Studios, Inc. NIET - National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Performance Services Pro Benefits Group, Inc. Renaissance Learning, Inc. School Responder Solution Tree, Inc.

Distinguished

Apptegy Capturing Kids’ Hearts Lexia Learning Pearson Virtual Schools

Diamond

Allovue Arkansas Public Safety Solutions Baldwin & Shell ClassWallet

Diamond (Continued)

Defined Learning Edmentum Education Elements Energy Systems Group ESS First Security Beardsley Imagine Learning Just Right Reader Middleton, Inc. OnToCollege SmartData Dashboard Stephens, Inc. Tanium White River Services and Solutions Winsor Learning

Platinum

AAMSCO Architecture Plus, Inc. C.R. Crawford Construction, LLC Cromwell Architects Engineers DotCom Therapy, Inc. Entegrity Energy Partners, LLC Legacy Construction Management Nabholz Construction Corp.

Platinum (Continued)

Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects Progressive Technologies TRANE US, Inc.

Gold

CDI Contractors Cynergy Rehab Group Goalbook Houghton Mifflin Harcourt IXL Learning Kinco Constructors, LLC Phoenix Contractors, LLC Red Comet TIPS - The Interlocal Purchasing System Zaner-Bloser

Silver Adleta American Bus Sales, Inc. Correll, Inc. French Architects, PA Hight-Jackson Associates, PA SEAS 2

Executive Viewpoint Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS The staff at AAEA are very grateful for all the work of our school administrators across the state and every teacher, bus driver, custodian, and many other staff members. These people make school happen for the over 476,000 students in our state. Anybody in a car traveling with me in December can tell you that I am not a massive fan of Christmas music. Still, my regular radio stations love to sneak one in occasionally. I then find myself singing along before I catch myself and quickly change the station.

Recently, I was accidentally listening to We Wish You A Merry Christmas. I never realized how demanding carolers were to get their "Figgy Pudding." Administrators often have many demands from staff, parents, community members, and other stakeholders. Sometimes, you may question their needs, just like I would question someone wanting to eat figgy pudding, but people want what they want. I am thankful that you rise to the occasion to meet the job's demands. Our state needs you, and our students need you!

Just like stakeholders have their demands, school leaders must make their demands known clearly and consistently to have their needs met as part of providing a quality education. Our city, county, state, and federal leaders must hear and understand the issues schools face daily. You must be able to communicate the problems in a way that compels them to want to listen and take action. You should also expect to provide solutions to each problem that is raised. The times between legislative sessions are excellent opportunities to invite leaders to your schools and build relationships. These are also great places to outline some of your key barriers to educating students. Many have done a great job of this during September and other encounters throughout the fall semester. Also, be sure to share these with AAEA so we can support your efforts.

Another essential action is promoting what your school district is doing to support students and the community. Social media is saturated with negative stories about almost any topic. In contrast, I love seeing all the positive reports from our schools. High ACT scores, school play performances, athletic accomplishments, highlighting staff and boards, and additional academic opportunities are a few examples. A positive story is how you push back on the narrative that schools are not doing what they need to do for students. If parents have wide-open choices, be sure you are always the top choice.

Consider adding student voices to the mix as you promote your school.

The next big legislative event will be the Fiscal Session which will start on April 10, 2024. Budget hearings begin in March. There may be some education-related items, such as dealing with cooperative purchasing codes, but nothing concrete has risen. The adequacy study will kick off in Joint Education in January. The study is where funding and expenditures will be reviewed to determine what funding levels will be provided in FY26 and FY27. A push to change the funding formula is being discussed. This may be modeled after the Tennessee TISA model. We are actively studying this model and advocating for legislators to include practitioners in any meetings or modeling of these changes. We hope that more will be included as we get into January. Changing the funding model without substantial input from all parties could be a difficult proposition for everyone. As you have local visits with your elected officials, remember to bring up the funding model changes and ask to be part of the process.

Thank you for everything you do for students. "Good tidings we bring to you and your kin. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

3

President’s Perspective Dr. Karla Neathery, AAEA Board President

CHRISTMAS WISH FOR ARKANSAS ADMINISTRATORS Dear Arkansas Administrators, Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, peace, and love.

I know that being an educational leader is a demanding job, and that you often put in long hours to make sure that the students and teachers of Arkansas are successful. I want to thank you for your dedication and commitment to our children.

You are more than just leaders. You are mentors, role models, and friends. You help our children to grow and learn, not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. You make a difference in their lives every single day.

This Christmas, I wish you all the best. I hope you have a chance to relax and recharge, and to spend time with your loved ones.

May the holiday season bring you joy, peace, and happiness.

Merry Christmas!

CoSN: Support for Technology Administrators CoSN is a great resource for school technology administrators. Check this page monthly for links to articles to assist technology leaders as they navigate through digital learning transformations.

Click Here to Read About This Month’s Topics • EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panel Broadcast Series • The EmpowerED Superintendent Toolkit • Critical Focus Area: Issue One-Pagers • Creating Effective Responsible Use Policies for Schools • Self-Assessments • Financing Technology Innovations - Strategies and Tools • CoSN 2024 Annual Conference, "Leading for Innovation: At Warp Speed" • CoSN Membership 4

Asked & Answered Mike Mertens, AAEA Assistant Executive Director

I frequently get questions regarding the ethics laws. This month was no exception. The question was whether or not a district could hire an administrator's son for a classified position. This is permissible if this is an employment contract, since the board would be approving the hire. If this is a purchased service where the administrator's son invoices the district for the work they did for the district, any $$ amount has to be approved by DESE. If a purchased service, the process of contract disclosure and board resolution applies. The rules governing Ethical Guidelines and Prohibitions for Educational Administrators, Employees, Board Members and Other Parties can be found HERE. Also, these rules include forms that can be used for contract disclosures and board resolutions.

If you have questions for Mike, email him at m.mertens@theaaea.org.

Compliance Connection Carryovers and Grace Periods: Avoid Losing Unused FSA Funds Submitted by Ginger Huff, Arkansas State Manager, American Fidelity Assurance Co. A flexible spending account (FSA) allows you to use tax-free money for eligible medical or dependent care expenses. While FSAs must adhere to the “useor-lose” rule, employers may offer one of two options to help you avoid having to forfeit your unused funds: • A grace period of up to 2.5 months (ex. January 1 to March 15) to spend the remaining funds • Carrying over a maximum of $610 of unused funds at the end of the year (as of 2023) The 2024 carryover maximum is $640 However, employers cannot offer both, and some plans may not allow either option. This is why it's important to plan carefully and not put more money in your FSA than you think you'll spend within a year.

Types of FSAs Let’s briefly review the three different types of FSAs and how they can be used: Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts (HCFSAs) allow you to use pre-tax dollars to pay 5

for eligible medical expenses, including dental and vision expenses.

Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Accounts (LPFSAs) are similar to HCFSAs, but they can only be used for eligible dental and vision expenses.

LPFSAs can be paired with a health savings account (HSA) to help cover additional medical costs.

Dependent Care Accounts (DCAs) are used to pay for eligible dependent care expenses. This includes care for children under 13, as well as elderly parents. It may also help pay for medical expenses for dependents with disabilities.

Carryovers are not allowed for DCAs, and some plan providers may not offer grace periods.

Things to consider before the end of the plan year Are you considering taking advantage of the grace period or carrying over your unused funds to the next year? Read the full the article here for tips and considerations to keep in mind.

Awards Kristen Barnett 2024 AAESP Assistant Principal of the Year Kristen Barnett, Assistant Principal at Greenbrier Eastside Elementary School in the Greenbrier School District, was recently named the 2024 Arkansas Association of Elementary School Principals (AAESP) Assistant Principal of the Year. Mike Mertens, AAEA Assistant Executive Director, Lenett Thrasher, AAEA Director of Learning Services and Operations, Scott Spainhour, Superintendent of Greenbrier Public Schools, and Dr. Kelli Martin, Deputy Superintendent of Greenbrier Public Schools, presented Mrs. Barnett with the award during Greenbrier Literacy Night on December 7.

Thomas Doppe 2024 AASSP Assistant Principal of the Year Thomas Doppe, Assistant Principal of Don Tyson School of Innovation in the Springdale School District, was recently named the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) Assistant Principal of the Year. Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director, presented Mr. Doppe with the award at his school on December 11, 2023.

Erin Hodges 2024 AAMLA Assistant Principal of the Year Erin Hodges, Assistant Principal at Douglas MacArthur Junior High in the Jonesboro School District, was recently named the Arkansas Association of Middle Level Administrators (AAMLA) Assistant Principal of the Year. Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director, Mike Mertens, AAEA Assistant Executive Director, Jason Brunner, AAMLA President, and Dr. Kim Wilbanks, Superintendent of Jonesboro Public Schools, presented Mrs. Hodges with the award on December 12, 2023.

Scholarships Available!

AAEA and our Constituent Groups are proud every year to offer a number of scholarships to students in Arkansas. Applications are available online at theaaea.org/page/scholarships.

66

Administrator Spotlight:

Valerie King

Director of Academic Support and Gifted Programs, Siloam Springs School District

Valerie King, Director of Academic Support and Gifted Programs for the Siloam Springs School District, says she loved everything about school as a child. As a result, she has always wanted to be an educator.

She says, "When I began my career, my husband was in the Marine Corps. We moved a lot, so I had the opportunity to teach in several different states. It was a great experience, but after our daughter was born, we decided to move back home to Arkansas." Upon coming home, she was hired as an elementary teacher in Siloam Springs by Dr. Pat Hastings, who was actually her teacher when she was in elementary school. She was an elementary teacher for several years, and then became a GT teacher. A few years later, she became the Director of Gifted Programs for the district.

"Eventually, with Dr. Hastings' encouragement, I obtained licensure in administration and became an assistant principal at our middle school. I worked in that capacity for several years while continuing the GT director role.

Currently, I serve as the Director of Academic Support and Gifted Programs for our district."

Valerie says her favorite part about her job has always been in building relationships with students and their families. "It brings me great joy to see former students who have grown up and have chosen to either stay in our community or come back to our community to live and raise their children." The most challenging part of her job is always feeling the urgent need to do more. "I want every student to achieve at high levels and to have options when they leave high school. Because of this, I’m always searching for better ways to support our administrators, teachers, and students."

To those considering a similar career, she counsels, "you must have a servant’s heart, you must like kids, and you must be willing to do hard things. Although this profession isn’t for the faint of heart, it is so rewarding to see the positive impact teachers can have on the lives of their students."

She also says it is important to network, even with people outside of your profession. "As someone who is more introverted than extroverted, I will forever be a work in progress in honing my networking skills." Valerie says of all the changes she's seen in education over her career, she loves the current focus in education on collaboration, stating "We work better together!"

7

with What might other administrators be surprised to know about you?

When I was in school I showed cattle at our county fair. I was raised on a dairy farm, so I love being outside around animals and gardening. I was also in a few local pageants growing up. Although I did pageants more for my mom than me, I learned how to interview in front of a panel of people about current topics. That interview experience was invaluable!

What’s something that amazes you?

The resilience in children never ceases to amaze me. There are so many children who go through incredibly difficult situations. They deserve our very best every single day.

What have you done that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my family. I’m blessed to have a family who is hard working, compassionate, and fun to be around.

What do you enjoy doing during your time off?

I love spending time searching for waterfalls. There is just something magnificent about waterfalls! I also love spending time with my family in any capacity. I have a one year old granddaughter that I absolutely adore. Whatever she wants to do is exactly what I want to do! Being a Mimi is the BEST thing ever!!

What is one of the things on your “Bucket List?”

I would love to visit all of the national parks!

When people look back at your life, how do you want to be remembered?

First and foremost, I would like to be remembered as being a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Someone who always made family a priority. Professionally, I would like to be remembered as someone who cared deeply about students and always tried to make decisions based on what was best for them.

What do you see as the biggest benefit of AAEA membership?

I believe that AAEA provides a fantastic opportunity to network, build relationships, and learn about the great things happening in education around our state. As educators we can get so busy in our own jobs and districts that we forget to “zoom out” and see the bigger picture of what is happening around the state. I would strongly encourage educators to join AAEA! 8

UPCOMING EVENTS | JAN

Superintendents!

Register Now! Curriculum & Instruction!

Register Now! 9

Register Now! Personnel Administrators!

UPCOMING EVENTS | JAN/FEB

Technology Leaders!

Register Now! 10

$$$$$$$$$$$$$ SALARY SURVEY School Year

Superintendent

High School Principal

Elementary Principal

1997-98

61,444

49,603

47,826

1998-99

63,523

51,136

49,353

1999-00

66,626

53,012

51,172

2000-01

69,827

55,248

53,567

2001-02

72,647

57,808

56,079

2002-03

75,067

59,525

57,817

2003-04

77,529

61,536

59,764

2004-05

87,180

67,869

65,407

2005-06

89,755

69,117

67,147

2006-07

94,514

70,622

65,095

2007-08

96,871

71,601

66,148

2008-09

98,794

74,178

72,187

2009-10

99,734

74,251

72,940

2010-11

102,783

75,120

73,904

2011-12

104,477

75,378

74,704

2012-13

106,502

76,205

75,940

2013-14

107,910

78,049

76,555

2014-15

109,499

78,087

76,370

2015-16

111,984

79,892

78,600

2016-17

113,712

81,303

80,122

2017-18

115,635

82,190

80,570

2018-19

116,668

83,463

81,146

2019-20

119,041

84,238

82542

2020-21

121,888

85,705

83,495

2021-22

124,603

86,924

84,494

2022-23

128,432

89,005

86,258

2023-24

132,482

92,294

89,862

2023

A total of 206 school districts participated in the annual AAEA survey of salaries for school administrators and classroom teachers for the 2023-24 school year. The survey was conducted September through December.

Data from 2022-23 is used for those districts that did not respond to AAEA’s request for current year data.

The average salaries for various categories of state school administrators and classroom teachers, grouped by school district size, are shown in the tables on page 12. National salary data comes from two sources: AASA (the School Superintendents Association) and NEA (National Education Association). AASA’s data on superintendent salaries represent a small sample of school districts nationwide.

Continued on next page 11

$$$$$$$$$$$$$ SALARY SURVEY

2023

Enrollment

Superintendent

Deputy/Asst.

Superintendent

Business Manager

High School Principal

Asst. HS Principal

Above 4,000

225,822

137,497

122,318

118,482

93,482

3,000-3,999

182,699

127,449

84,413

104,456

87,861

2,000-2,999

153,120

106,969

69,282

94,352

78,333

1,000-1,999

128,986

101,597

58,781

88,179

75,400

500-999

111,700

81,312

54,020

86,362

75,852

Below 500

101,402

-

48,294

76,776

65,444

State Average

132,482

119,851

65,047

92,294

86,352

Enrollment

Jr. High/ Middle Principal

Elementary Principal

Asst. Elem.

Principal

Special Ed. Supervisor

Classroom Teacher

Above 4,000

106,792

99,136

82,199

106,161

61,429

3,000-3,999

96,043

89,524

78,193

96,713

56,658

2,000-2,999

88,601

87,997

71,971

87,050

57,480

1,000-1,999

85,593

83,942

71,341

78,884

53,780

500-999

84,620

80,946

72,888

73,690

53,614

Below 500

80,000

78,267

71,960

66,968

51,951

State Average

95,159

89,862

78,980

83,245

57,590

State Salaries compiled by AAEA Research - December 2023 Continued on next page 12

$$$$$$$$$$$$$ SALARY SURVEY Superintendents • National median for districts less than 1,000 ADM - $125,000 • Districts 1,000-3,000 ADM - $150,000 • Districts 3,000-5,000 ADM $180,300 • Districts 5,000-10,000 ADM $200,000 • Districts 10,000-25,000 ADM $225,000 Source: AASA Partial Survey of Districts Nationwide

2023

Classroom Teachers Average salary increased from $53,275 in 2022-23 to $57,590 this year.

• National average for 2021-22 was $66,745 • Estimated national average for 2022-23 is $68,469 Source: NEA

Additional Information for 2022-2023 •

Average beginning hourly rate of pay for bus drivers: $21.78

•

Average salary for technology coordinators: $63,868

•

Average salary for federal coordinators: $88,435

•

Average beginning daily rate of pay for substitute teachers: $89.36

•

80% of districts responding to the survey reported they outsourced substitute teacher services.

•

32% of districts responding to the survey reported they outsourced cafeteria services, up from 28% last year.

•

56 districts responding to the survey reported they outsourced at least a portion of custodial services.

•

35 districts responding to the survey reported offering financial incentives for recruitment/retention of hard-to-fill positions.

•

Regarding unfilled positions, districts reported the following (state totals) NOTE: ALL OF THESE TOTALS ARE LESS THAN LAST YEAR: • Teachers - 184 • Custodians - 129 • Bus Drivers - 187 • Food Service - 105 • Paraprofessionals - 180

13

Visit arjobsined.schoolspring.com The AAEA Job Board is a calendar-year subscription that assists districts with the ever-increasing challenge of recruiting quality staff. It is a significant resource for educators, both in-state and outof-state, seeking employment in Arkansas schools.

Over 165 school districts are participating in the program, which has been extremely helpful to schools and educators over the years. The site is used year-round and is accessed extensively during the second semester. It is not unusual to see over 400 jobs posted on the Job Board at one time.

With an account, school districts may post unlimited job vacancies throughout the year.

To subscribe (by district) or to post job openings, contact Lana Webb, Administrative Specialist, at l.webb@theaaea.org or at 501-372-1691.

Job Openings District Name Arch Ford Ed Service Co-op Arkadelphia School District Bismark School District Bismark School District Cleveland County School District Fort Smith Public Schools Fountain Lake School District Gentry School District Hackett School District Harrisburg School District Jasper School District Jonesboro School District Jonesboro School District Little Rock School District Little Rock School District Little Rock School District Magnolia School District Manila School District Mountain Pine School District North Little Rock School District Osceola School District Russellville School District Southeast AR Educ Service Center Southeast AR Educ Service Center

Position Special Education Supervisor Middle School Principal Superintendent Middle School Principal Headstart Director Elementary Assistant Principal INTERIM MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL remainder of 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR Superintendent Superintendent Superintendent Technology Coordinator Assistant Athletic Director Elementary Assistant Principal Interim K-8 Assistant Principal Forest Heights STEM Academy LRSD Secondary School Principal Pool LRSD Elementary School Principal Pool Human Resource Coordinator Elementary P-6 Assistant Principal Superintendent Principal of Seventh Street Elementary Middle School Assistant Principal Crawford Elementary Assistant Principal Cooperative Director Assistant Cooperative Director/Teacher Center Coordinator 14

Publication Sneak Peek: Our Two Cents This segment features content from other AAEA publications. Our Two Cents is a monthly publication available to subscribing districts. The following excerpt comes from the November 2023 issue.

Department of Finance & Administration Revenue Report for October 2023 Arkansas' general revenue was down for the month of October compared to last year but exceeded the state's forecast. The state collected $659.9 million in general revenues in October, a $50.8 million decrease, or 7.1%, compared with the same month last year. However, October's general revenue beat the state's forecast by $16.3 million, or 2.5%. October's revenue report is similar to those from August and September, when revenue was down compared to the same time last year but still above the state's predictions.

Year-to-date revenues are also down compared to a year ago but continue to exceed the state's forecast. Year-todate net available revenue, four (4) months into this fiscal year, totaled $2.3 billion, which was 6.8% below levels from a year ago, but surpassed the state's projection by $115.8 million, or 5.3%.

In recent years, Arkansas has maintained budget surpluses due to federal stimulus dollars and a growing economy after the covid-19 pandemic. October's revenue report shows the state remains on track for a healthy surplus by the end of the fiscal year, unless the state’s current economic situation changes quickly.

Attorney General Opinion 2023-011 In Attorney General Opinion 2023-011 the AG responded to whether or not a custodian-of-records decision to release certain records under FOIA and to not release other records was consistent with the law. While not specifically related to public schools, the principles discussed in this opinion would apply. The Opinion included a discussion of the employee-evaluation exemption including the four-part test that has to be met to exempt the records from disclosure. The elements of this four-part test include (1) suspension or termination, (2) administrative finality, (3) relevance, and (4) compelling interest.

Attorney General Opinion 2023-067 In Attorney General Opinion 2023-067 the AG opined on three questions relating to the Arkansas Department of Education’s authority to sell or lease school district facilities or property, specifically in regards to the Pine Bluff School District. The three questions and the AG’s responses are as follows.

Question 1: Pursuant to Arkansas law, can the Arkansas Department of Education deem or declare any school district facilities/property as unused or underutilized?

Brief Answer: Yes, the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation has authority to determine whether certain property meets the definition of an “unused or underutilized public school facility.” If a school district disagrees, it may appeal that determination to the Commission for Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation.

Question 2: Pursuant to Arkansas law, can the Arkansas Department of Education, while in control of the school district, sell or lease any school district facilities or property deemed unused or underutilized to a public charter or private school?

Brief Response: The answer to this question depends on whether the State Board of Education has suspended or removed the public school district’s board of directors, who has assumed the school board’s authority, and the extent to which the State Board may have temporarily removed the school board’s powers and duties.

Question 3: Pursuant to Arkansas law, can the Arkansas Department of Education, after the school district has exited state control and is governed again by a duly elected school board, direct or dictate that any school district facilities or property be sold or leased to a public charter or private school?

Brief Response: No, the Arkansas Department of Education lacks the authority to direct or dictate the sale of school district facilities or property after the State Board has voted to return full local control to the district and the district has been removed from Level 5 — Intensive support.

Interested in more from Our Two Cents? Contact our office at 501-372-1691.

15

The AAEA Team

We are here to assist you!

Be a part of something BIGGER than an individual.

Voice

The The for School School Administrators Administrators for Training Training

Networking Networking

Mentoring Mentoring

Legal Services Services

Follow us on social media: 219 South Victory, Little Rock, AR 72201

Advocacy Advocacy

Iiiiiiiiii Iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiii

| 501.372.1691 | www.theaaea.org 16