The Springdale Public Schools School Board met Feb. 9, 2025.
Regular monthly School Board meetings are held at 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the District Administration Building at 804 W. Johnson Ave.
Meetings are livestreamed HERE monthly.
Student Spotlight
Thanking Kevin Ownbey
The School Board honored Kevin Ownbey at the February meeting, his last as a voting member of the Board.
Ownbey has served on the Springdale School Board since 2011, currently representing Zone 1. Throughout his tenure, which includes a successful initial election in 2011 and an unopposed re-election in 2016, he has been part of a seven-person voluntary board responsible for the district's oversight and culture.
Ownbey shared his experience of serving on the School Board for 15 years, emphasizing the importance of school.
“Serving created a real purpose and ignited a real connection for me to Springdale and the community,” he said. “This helped me realize how critically important the school connections are to our city government, local businesses and industry partners.”
Superintendent Dr. Jared Cleveland and Ownbey’s fellow Board members commented on his stewardship and his willingness to ask hard questions.
“You’ve directed the district and been strong and had quality service and provided a sail when the wind was blowing in the right direction, and, quite frankly, a wind block when the wind was blowing in the wrong direction,” Cleveland said. “From my perspective, you’ve been a quality steward for the district finances, and you've been a steward to me as a personal friend and guide.”
Ownbey encouraged the current board, administration and patrons to remain focused on student, staff and team member safety and to weigh decisions on student and community benefits.
“I want to challenge our current board administration and patrons of the district. I would love for you to continue to remain focused on our students, staff and team member safety,” he said. “I think that's critically important when making decisions.
“Always weigh the outcome on student, staff and community benefits,” he continued. “Think outside of the box, ask the hard questions, challenge our legislators on the status quo. Public education is changing. We must maintain our leadership role and never forget ‘all’ really means all.”
Ownbey was joined at the meeting by his wife, Holly, his children and grandchildren.
The following video was played to celebrate Ownbey at the meeting. The video was produced by the district Communications Office and featured a song written by Dr. Cleveland.
WATCH: Honoring Kevin Ownbey Video
2026-27 School Calendar
Certified Personnel Policy Committee Chair Cassie Kautzer provided two proposed calendars for the 2026-27 school year for the Board’s feedback following a comprehensive development process.
The process involved gathering data from 763 respondents in fall 2025 and analyzing calendar trends from neighboring districts like Bentonville, Rogers, and Fayetteville.
Stakeholders identified several top priorities, including a full five-day Thanksgiving break, ensuring students and teachers are out before Memorial Day, and maximizing instructional days prior to state testing.
The PPC Calendar Committee met throughout January to refine these options, and two primary drafts were presented to district staff for a final vote.
The two options, Draft A and Draft B, both offer 178 instructional days totaling approximately 1,092.8 hours, which includes four designated "catch-up" days.
Draft A proposes an earlier start and end date, with students beginning on Aug. 10 and finishing on May 20. In contrast, Draft B starts students on Aug. 11 and concludes the student year on May 21.
While both calendars share identical dates for Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks, they differ slightly in their semester splits and quarter end dates. For instance, Draft A features an 87-day first semester, while Draft B’s first semester is 86 days.
Following a district-wide staff vote held from Feb. 3-5, a clear preference emerged among the 1,582 respondents. Calendar A received 57.7% of the vote, while Calendar B received 42.3%. Both drafts include integrated Professional Development and "Flex" days throughout the year, as well as designated make-up snow days in late May and early June to ensure all state and district non-negotiables are met.
The School Board will vote on the finalized calendar at the March School Board meeting.
National Career and Technical Education Month
February is National Career and Technical Education Month, a time to celebrate the programs that prepare our students for high-wage, high-demand careers.
Far beyond traditional vocational training, today’s CTE encompasses everything from health sciences and cybersecurity to engineering and digital media. Springdale Public Schools is proud to offer pathways that allow students to earn industry-recognized certifications and college credit while still in high school.
This month, we recognize the hard work of our CTE students and the dedicated teachers who connect classroom learning to real-world impact. Join us in celebrating the skills that build the future workforce!
Students from Tessa Bunch’s class from Har-Ber High School and from Ryan Kelly’s Don Tyson School of Innovation class shared information with the Board about some of the clubs and programs that inspire them, to include the Technology Student Association, Health Occupations Students of America, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and Family Consumer Sciences.
English Language Learners Data
WATCH: The February School Board Meeting
