New Bus Route Approved For Rural Special

The Rural Special School Board has voted to move forward with establishing a new bus route, and to pursue bids on a small bus for that route. Board members also added personnel, adopted a School Resource Officer Policy, approved a revised salary schedule and approved purchase of a new school sign at its June 11 meeting.

School superintendent, Dr. Delena Thompson, told the board that there are enough new students to justify a new bus route, and that many of these students are concentrated in one area. She proposed a route that would start near Mountain View and pick up children at designated places along Highway 9. The board voted to add a route, and pursue bids on a bus for that route.

The board approved requests from 13 new students who had filed school choice requests to join the district, and seven requests from students who wished to attend other schools. Thompson said that all of the seven students transferring away were already attending the schools of their choice, and simply needed approval to continue to attend their chosen schools.

Renee Carr, school board president, said that the district has 23 new students who have selected Rural Special through school choice, and 41 returning students.

The board approved a set of policies and procedures that would allow them to create their own law enforcement agency, and hire a school resource officer in the school district.

The board heard from Thompson about a revised quote for $29,900 received for a new digital sign for the front of the school, which would replace the current manually lettered sign.

“I’ll be honest, you’re not going to find it at this cost ever again,” Thompson told the board. She said the vendor is a member of a program that does the bidding process for schools, and added that the school has $10,000 a year for special projects from First Service Bank. She also said that Dustin Stewart has been collecting items for a raffle, and that money could be used toward a sign.

After consideration, the board voted to replace the sign that is currently in front of the school with a new digital sign.

After an executive session, the board voted to hire Kevin Kennedy as technology coordinator for 2.5 days a week. Kennedy will split his time between Rural Special and Timbo. Thompson said the arrangement has been made to take on Kennedy as a full-time employee of Rural Special, and invoice Timbo.

The board also voted to hire Todd Hudspeth as school resource officer, as well as transportation coordinator and the driver for the potential new bus route.

In other business, the board:

• approved a revised salary schedule for both certified and classified personnel.

• approved a policy to pay for initial background checks upon employment, and have the employees continue to pay for their renewals.

• approved board policies related to what qualifies a student as a resident of the district, entrance requirements for students transferring to the school, and compulsory attendance requirements.

• approved a policy on internet safety.

• approved two purchase service agreements: Deb Swink as LEA (Local Education Agency) supervisor, to be in charge of special education and federal programs at the school level; and Brittany Whitener as school psychologist.

• approved adding assignments to existing personnel as follows: food service administrator as well as dean of students to Heather Berry; LEA supervisor assistant and 504 plan coordinator to Jennifer Linville; federal programs administrator to Tanya Stewart; and dyslexia, Title 6, Title 9, and test coordinator to Cindy Osburn.

• approved a contract with Tammy Stewart as bookkeeper for the 2026-2027 school year, for 2.5 days a week, adjusted down from three days a week in the current contract.

• renewed the interim contract with Dr. Delena Thompson, adjusting the contract from three days a week to four days a week.

• heard from principal Tanya Stewart that five staff members had attended FINS (Fishing in the Natural State) training with Arkansas Game and Fish on Tuesday. She said that as part of the program Game and Fish would set up a stream team, and that several different classes would be a part of the program.

• reviewed the financial report.

• was updated on the walk-through of the facilities by facilities coordinator Aliza Jones. Thompson presented the board with notes about what the board might want to consider. Among those notes was the recommendation that the board pursue funding from the state to add a minimum of six classrooms. This would be done in 2029 when the next round of funding is available.