Arkansas Code Annotated 6-13-631 requires the zoning of school boards when a school district has a 10% or greater minority population and sets forth the procedures on establishing a zoned board.
After recent census data reflecting a 10% or greater minority population, Bald Knob School District has been required to establish a zoned school board. The school board will now have zoned positions which will require school board members to reside within the zone from which they are elected.
The district hired an independent company, EFS GeoTechnologies, to review the census data and develop zones.
The five newly zoned positions will be on the November 8, 2022, ballot.
All current board members are eligible to run in the zone in which they currently reside.
BKPS Redistricting Timeline
July 2021
The Bald Knob School Board passed a resolution stating its intent to hold the 2022 school board elections during the general election in November.
September 2021
EFS GeoTechnolgies secured to review the released data and draw zones for the Bald Knob School District.
March 3, 2022
The district received three initial options for maps from EFS GeoTechnologies for consideration with the current school board members' residences taken into consideration. The maps were provided to board members for their review.
March 17, 2022
EFS GeoTechnologies presented the initial three options for zoning board positions at a special board meeting. The board requested an option that was as unbiased as possible without the current board members’ residences taken into account to provide a zone option that maximizes the intent of the law: (1) compact zones, (2) contiguous, and (3) substantially equal with a standard deviation of 5% or less. In addition, a board member requested an additional option to be drawn up with traditional townships taken into consideration.
March 21, 2022
EFS GeoTechnologies provided the board with two additional options as requested for the board’s review.
March 28, 2022
The board voted to approve Option 4 as developed by EFS GeoTechnologies.
April 2022
Submitted Option 4 maps to the White County Election Commission for approval.
Submitted approved maps and data to the White County Clerk, Arkansas Secretary of State and Geographic Information Systems Office.
August 3, 2022
School board candidate filing period begins.
August 10, 2022
School board candidate filing period ends.
November 2022
School board elections (Zones 1-5) held on November 8, 2022.
After the 2022 election, the newly established board members must draw lots to stagger terms.
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