RISON, Ark. — The Cleveland County School Board approved transferring $906,000 from the district’s general fund to its building fund during Monday night’s meeting after ending the fiscal year with a record budget surplus.
Superintendent Davy King told board members the district collected nearly $395,000 more in property tax revenue than anticipated. While district officials initially believed the increase was tied to the voter-approved millage increase, county officials indicated the additional revenue was unrelated because those taxes were collected before the November election.
The transfer leaves the district’s general fund balance at approximately the same level it began the fiscal year, a common practice that helps school districts maintain financial stability and comply with state monitoring requirements. The district opened the year with about $905,000 in its general fund and finished with roughly $1.8 million. It marks the third consecutive year Cleveland County has transferred a year-end surplus to its building fund.
The board also received an update on construction of the new gymnasium. Delays caused by rain, broken water lines and a damaged fiber-optic cable have slowed work on a temporary bus drive that will serve the elementary school during construction. District officials said the project is expected to be completed close to the start of the Aug. 12 school year.
Board members approved revisions to the 2026-27 student handbooks for both Rison Elementary and Rison High School, including attendance, dress code and student conduct updates that align with recommendations from the Arkansas School Boards Association.
In other business, the board approved the purchase of two used 77-passenger school buses for $60,000 each, authorized a new public address system for the football stadium at a cost of $9,690, recognized Kevin and Amber Hornaday as the district’s 2025-26 Volunteers of the Year, approved several personnel recommendations, and adopted cost-of-living raises for Head Start employees.
