Mena School Board Meeting
October 20th, 2026
The Mena School Board held their October meeting on Tuesday in the district administration building.
The Meeting began with the Superintendent’s Report. Dr. Lee Smith recognized Athletic Director Craig Bentley, who shared an update on athletics covering tennis, cross country, volleyball, junior high football, and golf. Bentley said tennis had a solid, young roster with growth and no seniors; court repair is underway at Tapley Park. Cross country has over 35 participants preparing for regionals and state. Volleyball finished strong, reached regionals, and the school is hosting a multi-school regional tournament. Junior high football had a strong finish. Coach Dover then spoke to the board on the golf season. Boys were conference champions, individual golfers qualified for state, and a few freshmen showed notable rapid improvement. Bentley concluded by mentioning that Senior Night is this Friday prior to the Mena/Dover game at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
Next, Assistant Superintendent Bridget Buckley shared an academic update. Buckley informed the board that Mena had received a high-impact tutoring grant awarded for targeted literacy support. The district received $65,851.13 as a 70/30 matching grant to provide focused reading instruction to approximately 75 middle and high school students identified from the bottom quartile of growth data. Two certified instructors (one current staff member and one retired teacher) will deliver interventions, using targeted instruction and progress monitoring. Students served include those with 504 plans, dyslexia, special education status, and other struggling readers (mostly level 1, some level 2 depending on prior growth).
The board then approved the 2027 election resolution. New legislation allows the board to designate a "qualified elector" from among board members to cast the district's vote on behalf of all voters for the 2027 election, avoiding annual ballot polling expenses. The board elected Ty Plunkett as the qualified elector.
The Board also elected Calvin Cummins to serve as a delegate to the Arkansas School Board Association delegate assembly.
Next, Dr. Smith proposed adopting a resolution for the district to join an existing class action lawsuit against Meta. Smith explained that they had considered timing and observed other similar districts joining and noted relationships with two law firms—Beckett Billingsley and Keys and Motley Rice—and recommended using Beckett Billingsley and Keys with Motley Rice handling correspondence. The board approved.
District Maintenance Supervisor Danny Minton then updated the board on projects. Minton highlighted improvements from past renovations and current issues at specific schools. The speaker reported reduced work orders after prior renovations but noted increasing maintenance needs at the high school as it ages. Progress at the middle school for drainage improvements was described as slow but near completion due to favorable weather. A priority item discussed was replacing doors at Holly Harshman Elementary. The purchase required board action since it exceeded an administrative threshold. Minton also stated that the district’s overall campus upkeep received positive inspections from the state.
The board approved the most recent financial report, and the meeting was adjourned.