Springdale Public Schools

The School Board celebrated the Springdale High School cheer team, who took home bronze in the Medium Coed Game Day Division of the 2025 National Cheerleaders Association High School National Cheerleading Championships.

The competition was featured Jan. 24–26 in Dallas, Texas, where the Bulldogs competed against some 1,750 teams to become third in the nation. The Bulldogs also took home awards for the Best Sideline Spirit and Best Mascot Performance!

The School Board also congratulated the Har-Ber High School Silver Stars dance team, who stepped into the history books by taking second in High Kick Division 1 Large Group at the 2025 Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Championship.

The competition took place Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., and featured 374 teams.

The championship is a competition that celebrates school spirit, talent and athleticism. Teams compete in a variety of dance styles, to include hip hop, jazz, pom and high kick.

Springdale Schools will host the 6A State Basketball Tournament March 4-8 at Springdale High School.

“We are elated to host in our new SHS Arena and welcome the state into our wonderful community," said Superintendent Dr. Jared Cleveland.

The 6A State Basketball Tournament will feature 24 teams from locations throughout Arkansas, with 10,000 possible fans in attendance.

EAST facilitator Jamie Cavitt was excited to share that Smith Elementary School students took first and second place for the region in the national stock market competition.

First-place students Sekai Sullivan and Urijah Gibson turned a hypothetical $100,000 investment into a gain of more than $14,000, 24%, while the second-place team of Genesis Rivas and Annabelle Van Lear gained almost $7,000, 22%, from September to December.

Sekai and Urijah were recognized at a statewide luncheon, where they were given $125 award to share.

The SIFMA Foundation Stock Market Game is an online simulation of the global capital markets that engages students in grades 4-12 in economics, investing and personal finance, according to the Stock Market Game website. The game has prepared about 20 million students for financially independent futures.

The School Board congratulated Jamie Ramsey of Jim D. Rollins School of Innovation, who was recognized as the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching awardee for K-6 Mathematics.

Each awardee receives a certificate signed by the President of the United States, a $10,000 award from NSF and an all-expenses paid trip to an award ceremony. In addition, awardees join a national cohort of award-winning teachers, providing opportunities to impact teaching on a state and national scale.

The PAEMST are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and/or computer science teaching. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of STEM education.

Kelly Middle School gifted and talented teacher Alyssa Henley was honored by the School Board as the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education Curriculum Award recipient.

The award highlights the importance of differentiated curriculum and recognizes outstanding curriculum units. AGATE is an independent organization promoting excellence in education, particularly as it relates to gifted and talented Arkansas students.

AGATE works to educate its members and the Arkansas community on the nature and needs of gifted and talented students and to develop a community that recognizes, nurtures and rewards the fulfillment of the unique individual potential of each child.

The school district is piloting the OPENGATE Weapons Detection System at district athletic events.

The system uses low-intensity electromagnetic fields to detect barrels and blades, but ignores everyday items like cell phones, water bottles and keys.

The system is safe for all medical devices and will alert on items such as computers, e-tablets, three-ring binders, umbrellas, inhalers, lipstick, eyeliner, wads of ink pens, eyeglass cases, cans of hairspray, soda cans and steel-toe boots.

The system will be used at the following upcoming district athletic events:

• Springdale High School vs. Fayetteville High School Basketball Game at Springdale on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

• Regional Wrestling Tournament at Har-Ber High School on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m.

• Har-Ber High School vs. Springdale High School Basketball Game at Har-Ber on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

• State 6A Basketball Tournament at Springdale from Monday-Saturday, March 4-8

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Student Services Director Damon Donnell shared the district was informed Jan. 28 that it will receive more than $1.1 million as part of the 2025 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education School Safety Grant.

The district is in the process of filling out the survey/grant application to assess the district's progress in meeting the requirements in the LEARNS Act and the school safety grant priorities.

The grant will allow Springdale Schools to start, continue or complete school safety projects.

The survey/grant application must be completed and submitted by Feb. 28, and the deadline to request reimbursements is June 30, 2025.

The funds cannot be used to reimburse expenditures occurring prior to July 1, 2024.

The School Board voted 7-0 to approve Calendar A as the 2025-26 academic calendar.

Cassie Kautzer, district Personnel Policy Committee chairperson, presented the Board with the two proposed calendars.

District staff voted on the calendar options Jan. 31 to Feb. 7, with some 75% of the approximately 1,700 respondents voting in support of Calendar A.

Option A

The School Board unanimously approved a $375,000 purchase of about one acre of land at 17273 East Highway 412.

A home and some small buildings are currently located on the property, which is just north of Sonora Elementary School.

Purchasing the property will help the district round out its acreage and will allow the district to speak into what may be developed on the busy corner, said Dr. Jared Cleveland, Springdale Public Schools superintendent.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Marcia Smith shared district information on the Every Student Succeeds Act.

ESSA is the main education law for public schools in the United States. The law holds schools accountable for how students learn and achieve and aims to provide an equal opportunity for disadvantaged students, including those who get special education.

Paul Miller, district technology director, provided an update to the School Board on cybersecurity and privacy laws, which included details on Acts 504, 510, 754 and 846 of 2023.

Kendra Clay, Springdale Schools' general counsel, provided the School Board with information concerning legislative updates that impact the district.