Little Rock, AR – The Arkansas State Senate passed legislation that would revise the election schedule for all Arkansas school boards. Authored by Representative Brit McKenzie (R) and supported by the Freedom Foundation, HB1724 passed by a vote of 65-19.
The bill introduces a process for initially staggering board member terms, so that, as nearly as possible, an equal number of positions are filled during each school board election. Elections are to be held on the primary date in even years or the second Tuesday in odd years, with current terms set to expire in even years and reset.
Another important provision of the bill designates school board member positions as nonpartisan offices, ensuring that candidates are elected based on their qualifications and not political affiliation. The bill will foster stronger candidates who are focused on improving local schools rather than radical left teacher unions.
“This bill ensures that unions in Arkansas won’t be able to leverage small-turnout elections to appoint their activists,” said Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe. “By streamlining school board elections, it also not only reduces taxpayer costs but also offers voters a clearer, more consistent process for engaging with their local school systems.”
The Freedom Foundation supports legislation like this that promotes the responsible use of taxpayer funds and strengthens the democratic process, ensuring that elected school board members remain accountable to the communities they serve.
