Rogers Board of Education Meeting for 7/21/2026

July Board of Education Meeting Overview

Opening Remarks

• The meeting begins with a welcome from the president, expressing gratitude to Amy for managing the previous meeting.

• All board members are present; no public comments are made.

Staff Recognition

• Jeremy Yates is recognized as a master principal for his exceptional leadership at Kirksey School.

• Bradley Weber explains the rigorous process Yates underwent, including professional development and achieving top quartile student growth in Arkansas.

• Only 43 master principals have been designated since 2001, highlighting Yates' significant achievement.

Principal's Acceptance Speech

• Yates expresses gratitude towards his staff and the district, emphasizing teamwork and community support.

Academic Updates: ESOL Department

ESOL Department Overview

• An update on the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department is presented, focusing on historical data regarding English learners in services.

Student Progress and Changes

• A decline in students receiving services is noted due to successful exits from monitoring after passing assessments.

• Nearly 500 students were fully exited from services this year, indicating effective support strategies implemented by schools.

Diversity in Student Population

• Over 6,000 students speak another language at home; there are 27 different languages represented within Rogers Public Schools.

Department Goals and Initiatives

Task Force Development

• A task force was created to ensure consistency across K-12 buildings regarding ESOL rules and processes.

New Documentation System

• The new documentation system called Elevation aims to streamline processes compared to previous methods using Google spreadsheets.

Support Services for English Learners

Enrollment Process

• Students enrolling must complete a home language survey; those speaking non-English languages undergo an ELPA21 screener assessment.

Instructional Strategies

• Two essential services provided include English language development classes and access to core content instruction tailored for English learners.

Sheltered Instruction Focus

Definition of Sheltered Instruction

• Sheltered instruction courses provide specialized support for English learners while maintaining grade-level content standards.

Professional Development

• Training is provided for teachers leading sheltered instruction classes to enhance their effectiveness in supporting language development alongside content learning.

Academic Performance Data

Assessment Results

• Recent testing shows improvements: only 10% scored as emerging compared to last year's 16%, indicating progress among students exiting services.

ESL Program Highlights

ESL Services Comparison

• Rogers Public Schools serves 28% of its population with ESL services compared to the state average of 9%, showcasing a commitment to inclusivity.

Questions & Comparisons with Peer District

Academic Comparisons

• Discussion arises about comparing academic performance with peer districts like Springdale; further data will be gathered on this topic.

Staffing Concerns in ESOL

Teacher Retention

• There’s confidence that teachers passionate about ESOL remain committed despite changes in state endorsement requirements.

Understanding Sheltered Instruction Further

Clarification on Teaching Methods

• Sheltered instruction does not involve translators but focuses on teaching strategies specifically designed for English learners within general education settings.

Overview of Strength and Conditioning Initiatives

Collaboration with Coaches

• The speaker met with strength conditioning coaches multiple times, expressing gratitude for their welcoming attitude and support.

• Observations included cross country teams discussing recovery and soreness, indicating a professional approach to training.

Growth of Tournaments

• A focus on expanding tournaments was highlighted, aiming to attract families to Rogers by showcasing facilities.

• Basketball tournaments increased from 12 to 16 teams, while the spring baseball tournament grew to 15 teams.

Ethical Recruitment Strategies

Community Engagement

• The speaker emphasized ethical recruitment through showcasing facilities rather than aggressive tactics.

• Plans for introducing middle school soccer were discussed, including staffing and purchasing needs.

Future Vision and Next Steps

Strategic Planning

• The speaker mentioned sharing a strategic plan with key stakeholders for future implementation.

• Current soccer programs include boys' and girls' teams at various levels; an additional staff member is requested due to high competition levels.

Expansion of Sports Programs

Middle School Wrestling Consideration

• Reintroduction of middle school wrestling was proposed as a potential addition to sports offerings.

Field Turfing Initiative

• Discussion about turfing practice fields at middle schools was initiated, highlighting community contributions for field improvements.

Compliance with State Regulations

Locker Room Audio Installation

• Upcoming state law requires microphones in locker rooms for safety reasons related to harassment prevention (Eli's Law).

Professional Development Initiatives

District Coaches PD Day

• A professional development day scheduled for district coaches aims to prepare them for the upcoming fall season.

Heritage High School Participation in Tournaments

Clarification on Tournament Involvement

• Heritage High School's participation in out-of-state tournaments was clarified; they are not involved in local spring baseball tournaments but have their own events.

Facility Improvements

New Turf Installations

• New turf has been installed at Rogers High School’s indoor and outdoor facilities, enhancing the overall appearance and functionality.

Alumni Engagement Efforts

Class of 1986 Recognition

• Plans were shared regarding special recognition during games for the class of 1986 alumni returning to engage with current students.

Middle School Soccer Program Details

Implementation Plan

• Initial plans indicate that seventh and eighth graders will participate in the new middle school soccer program, depending on enrollment numbers.

Lacrosse as a Future Sport Option

Club Sport Status

• Lacrosse currently operates as a club sport without sanctioning from the Arkansas Activities Association; growth is noted but no official movement towards team status yet.

Importance of Extracurricular Activities

Community Impact

• Emphasis placed on athletics being central to community engagement; efforts are made towards increasing student participation rates across all activities.

Website Redesign Overview

Objectives of Redesign

• The website redesign aims at improving user experience by making information easier to find across all platforms.

Accessibility Focus

• Enhancements include better accessibility features catering specifically to individuals with vision impairments.

Consistency Across Platforms

• A consistent structure across all school websites is intended for intuitive navigation regardless of which site visitors access.

Staff Training Initiatives

• Training sessions planned for staff members designated by principals will ensure effective management and upkeep of updated content on websites.

Marketing Support

• The redesigned website supports marketing strategies aimed at improving communication with current families while attracting prospective ones through enhanced digital presence.

Acceptance of Consent Agenda

Motion to Accept

• The board entertained a motion to accept the consent agenda, which was moved by David and seconded by Suzanne.

• The motion passed with six votes in favor and one against.

Appointment of Designee for Co-op

Annual Appointment

• Discussion on appointing Dr. Perry as the designee for the Northwest Arkansas co-op, which is typically filled by the superintendent.

• This appointment is an annual commitment, lasting two years, and Dr. Perry expressed willingness to take on this role.

Property Insurance Update

New Insurance Program

• Introduction of a new captive insurance program mandated by the state, necessary for eligibility in partnership funding.

• Despite awaiting $6 million from a tornado claim, there will be savings of $217,000 compared to last year's premium.

Approval of Insurance Recommendation

Motion for Approval

• A recommendation was made to approve participation in the new insurance program; Amy motioned and David seconded.

• The motion passed unanimously.

Social Media Harm Litigation Discussion

Class Action Suit

• The board revisited discussions about joining a class action lawsuit regarding social media's impact on bullying.

• Legal counsel indicated limited liability for participation; costs are contingent upon winning.

Participation in Litigation

Board Decision

• Request made for board approval to participate in litigation; Nathan motioned and Curtis seconded.

• Motion passed with no opposition.

Contract Food Service Discussion

RFP Process Preparation

• Mr. Lockhart requested discussion on contract food service; preparations are underway for mandatory fall training related to RFP issuance later this year.

Support for RFP Pursuit

Administration's Position

• Clarification that administration supports pursuing an RFP as part of due diligence without binding commitments at this stage.

Student IDs Implementation

Pilot Program

• Rogers High School will pilot student ID implementation while another school has opted out; monitoring progress is planned.

School Safety Officers Recruitment

Hiring Progress

• Efforts ongoing to hire school safety officers with three already hired and more interviews scheduled soon.

Importance of Quality Candidates

Security Concerns

• Emphasis placed on hiring quality candidates due to recent events affecting district safety; concerns about potential issues if unqualified individuals are hired.

Millage Extension Proposal

Future Planning

• Discussion around extending an expiring millage set for 2035 without increasing taxes; planning aims not to conflict with city elections scheduled earlier.

Community Engagement Strategy

Campaign Assistance

• Collaboration with First Security and Beardsley discussed for campaign support regarding millage extension communication efforts.

Responsible Financial Management

Taxation Context

• Assurance given that current tax rates remain low compared to neighboring districts while maintaining responsible financial practices highlighted as key points during discussions.

Acknowledgment of Community Challenges

Supportive Environment

• Recognition of families facing difficulties within the district emphasized importance of community support during challenging times before moving into executive session.