Arkansas School Boards Association

The June 2026 issue of Report Card, the journal of the Arkansas School Boards Association, is now available.

Inside this issue:
• AA Degrees at an A-Rated District – See how Greenbrier is helping students earn associate degrees before graduation, with nearly 11% of this year's senior class completing the milestone on campus.
• Oliva Pushes "Accelerated Mindset" – Arkansas' Secretary of Education challenges schools to expand opportunities for advanced learners and increase associate degree attainment.
• What to Do About "The Big Shrink" – District leaders discuss enrollment declines, school choice, and strategies for navigating a changing educational landscape.
• Parham: "We Work as a Team" – ASBA's president shares key lessons for newly elected board members on governance, leadership, and student-focused decision-making.
• Six Receive ASBA Scholarships – Meet the students recognized by the ASBA Educational Foundation for their academic achievement and future plans in education and beyond.

This and previous issues of Report Card are available online at arsba.org/page/report-card-magazine.

Thank you for staying connected with ASBA!

Two sessions next week! Don't miss the opportunity to attend this valuable training - only 3 training dates remain.

ASBA invites you to join Cody Kees of Bequette, Billingsley and Kees for an in-person training:
The School Leader’s Legal Playbook: Employment Law in Arkansas

This interactive workshop features real-life scenarios and practical guidance for school leaders, supervisors, and board members. Topics include federal discrimination laws, Arkansas employment laws, and LEARNS Act updates to help you navigate personnel decisions and stay compliant.

📅 Choose your date:
May 28 | June 3 | June 15 | June 17 (📍 ASBA Office, 523 S. Ringo St., Little Rock)
*𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱!
July 6 (📍 Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative, 4 N Double Springs Rd, Farmington)

🕘 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
🎓 5 hours training credit
💲 $205 early registration | $225 standard
🍽 Lunch provided

Learn more: https://www.arsba.org/article/2812363
Register: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect

It's time to get registered for the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, taking place 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟗–𝟐𝟏 at the 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 in beautiful 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬!

This year’s theme, 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮’𝙨 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨, brings together school board members, superintendents, and education leaders from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi for a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences.

💡 High-impact sessions
🤝 Meaningful networking
🎯 Practical strategies you can use immediately

𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Rex Nelson - “From State of Disaster to State of Excellence”

𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Dr. Rochelle Redus - "Meeting the Moment: Leading through Hard Decisions with Clarity and Unity"

𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: https://aptg.co/ZYTdb8

Walk away inspired, informed, and ready to lead with clarity and purpose.

💲 Early Bird Workshop: $175
💲 Full Conference: $545
💲 Guest Meal Ticket: $199
*Please note this is an in-person only conference.

Make plans to be there. This is one you don’t want to miss!

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞: https://www.arsba.org/page/2026-southern-region-leadership-conference
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect

Join the Arkansas School Boards Association and representatives from Simbli on Tuesday, June 16, at 11:30 a.m. for a second Lunch & Learn webinar focused on the ASBA Policy Service's transition to Simbli.

This session will provide an overview of the Simbli Policy Module, explain how districts can access ASBA model policies on the new platform—with or without a Simbli subscription—and answer questions about navigating the system. The session will be most beneficial to school personnel responsible for maintaining district policies.

As a reminder, ASBA will complete its transition to the Simbli Policy Module on July 1. This training is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with the platform and get your questions answered before the transition is complete.

A recording of the webinar will be available after the live session; however, attending live is strongly encouraged to ensure you have the opportunity to ask questions and receive real-time support.

📅 Date: Tuesday, June 16
🕦 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Register (FREE): https://bit.ly/asbasimbli2

To learn more about ASBA's transition to the Simbli policy module and how to access your new Simbli account, visit https://www.arsba.org/page/model-policies-updates.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝟲/𝟭 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗥𝗟𝗖!

As a final reminder, ASBA is accepting presentation proposals for the 2026 Southern Region Leadership Conference, July 19–21 in Hot Springs!

This year’s theme—Meeting the Moment: Strategic Leadership for Today’s Schools—focuses on real challenges and practical solutions for today’s school leaders. We are looking for sessions that offer fresh perspectives, proven strategies, and ideas that help boards lead effectively and improve student outcomes.

Have a strategy that’s working or insight worth sharing? Submit a proposal for a 60-minute session. School board member participation on presenting teams is encouraged.

🗓 Deadline to submit: June 1, 2026
🔗 Submit your proposal: https://forms.gle/HjcyvYdrkWikHMwe8

ASBA offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, 2026.
Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend as we honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Cody Kees will begin his summer series, The School Leader's Legal Playbook, next week, on May 28.

Also, a new date and location have been added to the schedule! Cody will offer a training on July 6 at the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative, located at 4 North Double Springs Road, Farmington.

Don't miss this valuable training opportunity - get registered for your preferred date today!

Please note: These are not sequential sessions. The same training will be offered on multiple dates, and attendees only need to register for one session.

Learn more: https://arsba.org/article/2812363
Register: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect

ASBA invites you to join Cody Kees of Bequette, Billingsley and Kees for an in-person training:
The School Leader’s Legal Playbook: Employment Law in Arkansas

This interactive workshop features real-life scenarios and practical guidance for school leaders, supervisors, and board members. Topics include federal discrimination laws, Arkansas employment laws, and LEARNS Act updates to help you navigate personnel decisions and stay compliant.

📅 Choose your date:
May 28 | June 3 | June 15 | June 17 (📍 ASBA Office, 523 S. Ringo St., Little Rock)
*𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱!
July 6 (📍 Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative, 4 N Double Springs Rd, Farmington)

🕘 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
🎓 5 hours training credit
💲 $205 early registration | $225 standard
🍽 Lunch provided

Learn more: https://www.arsba.org/article/2812363
Register: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect

As a reminder, ASBA is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2026 Southern Region Leadership Conference. Deadline to submit: June 1!

𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Now accepting presentation proposals for the 2026 Southern Region Leadership Conference, July 19–21 in Hot Springs!

This year’s theme—Meeting the Moment: Strategic Leadership for Today’s Schools—focuses on real challenges and practical solutions for today’s school leaders. We are looking for sessions that offer fresh perspectives, proven strategies, and ideas that help boards lead effectively and improve student outcomes.

Have a strategy that’s working or insight worth sharing? Submit a proposal for a 60-minute session. School board member participation on presenting teams is encouraged.

🗓 Deadline to submit: June 1, 2026
🔗 Submit your proposal: https://forms.gle/HjcyvYdrkWikHMwe8

Cody Kees will begin his summer series, The School Leader's Legal Playbook, on May 28. Don't miss this valuable training opportunity - get registered for your preferred date today!

Please note: These are not sequential sessions. The same training will be offered on multiple dates, and attendees only need to register for one session.

ASBA invites you to join Cody Kees of Bequette, Billingsley and Kees for an in-person training:
The School Leader’s Legal Playbook: Employment Law in Arkansas

This interactive workshop features real-life scenarios and practical guidance for school leaders, supervisors, and board members. Topics include federal discrimination laws, Arkansas employment laws, and LEARNS Act updates to help you navigate personnel decisions and stay compliant.

📅 Choose your date:
May 28 | June 3 | June 15 | June 17 (📍 ASBA Office, 523 S. Ringo St., Little Rock)
*𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱!
July 6 (📍 Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative, 4 N Double Springs Rd, Farmington)

🕘 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
🎓 5 hours training credit
💲 $205 early registration | $225 standard
🍽 Lunch provided

Learn more: https://www.arsba.org/article/2812363
Register: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect

𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 – 𝐉.𝐊. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

We are proud to recognize the 2026 ASBA Educational Foundation J.K. Williams Scholarship recipient, Jordan Smith. This $2,500 scholarship is awarded to a college junior or higher who is pursuing a degree in education.

Jordan is currently attending Arkansas State University, where he is studying to become a teacher. A non-traditional student, he balances college coursework with full-time work as a pest control technician while also serving on the Des Arc School Board and on his church’s elder board.

A husband and father of three, Jordan shared that his family inspired him to pursue a path he once thought was out of reach. He now aims to become “the kind of educator I wished every student could have,” particularly in rural communities.

Congratulations, Jordan!