Official will retire after 43-year stint
Jim Boardman, the Arkansas Department of Education’s assistant commissioner for research and technology, is retiring after working at the state agency for 43 years.
Boardman, 69, was recognized by Arkansas Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell and the Arkansas Board of Education last week for his years of service that began in July 1970.
In that time, Boardman worked in different divisions within the department.
Among his accomplishments, he spearheaded the department’s production of school and school district “report cards” that provided parents with statistics about student achievement at their child’s school.
He was instrumental in the early efforts to connect every Arkansas school district to the Internet.
And he was a leader in expanding the Environmental Spatial and Technology program, commonly known as EAST Lab, to schools throughout the state.
Most recently, Boardman supervised the collection of data, statistical analysis and technology, according to the Education Department.
Arkansas is routinely recognized for being at the nation’s forefront in collectingand disseminating high-quality educational data for improving student achievement, according to annual studies by the national Data Quality Campaign.
Boardman is a native of Heber Springs and has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. He was once a teacher in Monett, Mo.
Education Board altering meetings
The Arkansas Board of Education is altering its monthly meeting schedule.
The board traditionally has met at 9 a.m. on the second Monday of every month. Occasionally, the board has also had an informal work session on the preceding Sunday.
Beginning in January, the nine-member board will meet over the course of two weekdays, starting at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month and the next Friday.
In most cases, the Thursday meeting will be the board’s regular business meeting during which members vote on matters before them. The Friday sessions will be reserved for more in-depth information anddiscussion of issues.
However, that order of business will be flipped in January. The board will deal with its action agenda, including hearings on two charter school applications, on Jan. 10.
Arkansas, Pages 18 on 12/22/2013