Marti Jo Hall

Interim Director of Communications

Arkansas Public School Resource Center

501-492-4300 | mhall@apsrc.net

Arkansas State Board of Education's February Meeting: Important Updates and Decisions

LITTLE ROCK, AR - On Thursday, February 13th, 2025, the Arkansas State Board of Education convened to address crucial items on the published agenda. The meeting, accessible through this link, featured various agenda items, with input from representatives and public commentators.

As the policy-making body for Arkansas's education system, the State Board of Education diligently considered and acted upon several essential agenda items during the meeting:

V. Action Agenda

V.1. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-135 - Candace Roberson

The board upheld the PCSB's finding of a violation of Code of Ethics Standards 1 & 2 and modified the recommended sanction to a one-year probation, with no suspension, while retaining required training coursework and a $250 fine.

V.2. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-129 - Evelyn James

The board upheld the PCSB's finding of a violation of Code of Ethics Standards 1 & 2 and approved the sanctions of a one-year suspension followed by one-year probation, required training coursework, and a reduced fine of $250.

V.3. Graduate Arkansas Charter, Cited Status Recommendation, Standard 1-C.1.1, Standards for Accreditation

The board approved placing Graduate Arkansas Charter High School in cited status for failing to meet the 95% assessment requirement for two consecutive years.

V.4. Premier High Schools of Arkansas, Cited Status Recommendation, Standard 1-C.1.1, Standards for Accreditation

The board denied the cited status recommendation for Premier High School Online, acknowledging its improvement in meeting the 95% assessment requirement.

VII. Consent Agenda 

The Board approved the consent agenda. Items included:

VII.1. Minutes

Approval of the draft minutes from the State Board Regular Meeting held on December 12, 2024.

VII.2. Board Member Stipend Amount for 2025

Approval of the stipend for 2025, set at $85.00 per day for each meeting, as outlined in Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-904.

VII.3. Report on Waivers to School Districts for Teachers Teaching Out of Area for Longer than Sixty (60) Days, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-309

Review of waivers granted to districts for teachers staffing classrooms beyond 60 days without proper licensure.

VII.4. Review of Loan and Bond Applications

Review and approval of commercial bond applications, including the second lien bond request, and authorization of bond issuance.

VII.5. Arkansas Educational Television Commission (AETN) Cash Letter

Approval of a request for additional cash appropriations from AETN for Fiscal Year 2025, totaling $2,440,420.

VII.6. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 25-034 Regan DeBlieux

Approval of placing Regan DeBlieux on probation for 1 year and assessing a $250 fine, with coursework and quarterly reports required.

VII.7. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-276 Cary Cossey

Approval of placing Cary Cossey on probation for 2 years and assessing a $250 fine, with required coursework and quarterly reports.

VII.8. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 25-049 Clifton Woodley

Approval of placing Clifton Woodley on probation for 1 year and assessing a $250 fine, with required coursework and reflections.

VII.9. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-175 Beth Vaccaro

Approval of placing Beth Vaccaro on probation for 2 years, assessing a $250 fine, and requiring coursework, reflections, and quarterly reports.

VII.10. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-246 Tyler Bevill

Approval of the permanent revocation of Tyler Bevill's teaching license and a $500 fine due to professional violations.

VII.11. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-275 Keith Cornett

Approval of placing Keith Cornett on probation for 2 years and assessing a $250 fine, with coursework and quarterly reports required.

VII.12. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 25-019 Tyson Davis

Approval of placing Tyson Davis on probation for 1 year and assessing a $250 fine, with required coursework and quarterly reports.

VII.13. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 25-045 Kody Williams

Approval of placing Kody Williams on probation for 2 years and assessing a $250 fine, including coursework and reports from the educator’s supervisor.

VII.14. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 25-055 Bakari Norman

Approval of the permanent revocation of Bakari Norman's teaching license and a $500 fine due to professional misconduct.

VII.15. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Cases 25-018 and 25-062 John Cameron

Approval of the permanent revocation of John Cameron's teaching license and a $500 fine.

VII.16. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 25-041 Billy Phelan

Approval of the permanent revocation of Billy Phelan's teaching license and a $500 fine due to violations of professional standards.

VII.17. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-293 Myka Hughes

Approval of the permanent revocation of Myka Hughes' teaching license and a $500 fine.

VII.18. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-279 Cynthia Murphy

Approval of placing Cynthia Murphy on probation for 1 year and assessing a $250 fine, with required coursework and quarterly reports.

VII.19. Consideration of Request for Approval of Nominated Member for the Professional Licensure Standards Board to Replace Member Whose Term Expires June 30, 2025

Approval of Dr. Charlotte Wright's nomination to replace Dr. Victoria Groves-Scott for the term ending June 30, 2025.

VIII. Reports 

VIII.1. Board Liaison Reports

VIII.1.a. Committee on Early Learning

SBE Leigh Keener provided an update on the LEARNS Act's impact, streamlining Early Childhood Education programs under the Department of Education while revealing data gaps in Medicaid-funded early interventions. She also highlighted challenges such as the decline in licensed family child care providers and the need for better teacher compensation.

VIII.2. ATOY Report 

Beau McCastlain, Arkansas Teacher of the Year 2024, shared highlights including delivering a commencement speech at SAU and attending state conferences with inspiring students. He also announced his selection for the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program, where he’ll develop work-based learning opportunities for students in rural Arkansas.

VIII.3. Commissioner's Report 

VIII.3.a. Legislative Report

Courtney Salas-Ford, Chief of Staff for the Office of Secretary Jacob Oliva provided a legislative update, highlighting the Governor's focus on education, including free meal programs and limiting cell phone use in schools. She discussed Senate Bill 59, which ensures free breakfast for all public school students, and other bills on literacy tutoring and workforce development. Before her report, she recognized SBE Members Ken Bragg and Gary Arnold, who commended Secretary Oliva for his recent presentation to the joint House and Senate Education Committees.

As part of its regular schedule, the State Board generally convenes on the second Thursday of each month to address issues impacting the educational landscape. Each meeting aims to consider, vote on, or generate orders related to agenda items.

For more information and to access the agenda and documents for this meeting, please click here.

State Board of Education

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