BENTONVILLE — The Bentonville School Board will meet with at least three new board members in October.
Newcomer Wendi Cheatham won a seat during the school election on Tuesday. Rebecca Powers and Brent Leas, both new, ran uncontested.
A fourth new board member is a possibility. Grant Lightle will face incumbent Kim Mertes in a runoff Oct. 9.
The board will have to spend some time getting new board members up to speed, Travis Riggs, board vice president, said on Wednesday.
“We have so many huge decisions that are going to be before us real soon,” Riggs said. “Usually those decisions move ahead smoother when you know the history.”
Riggs has been on the board 10 years.
Discussions about how to relieve overcrowding at Bentonville High School are expected from the board in the next few months. Rezoning junior high attendance lines is another topic that will need attention.
Leas said he plans to spend a lot of time listening.
“I intend to put my listening ears on,” Leas said. “I believe we have two ears for a purpose and one mouth. I want to hear what has been said in the past and then step back and look at the real issue we need to take action on. Hopefully, we as a board can gel real quickly and work together to find the solutions we need.”
Cheatham plans on a learning curve despite the fact she has attended every board meeting in the past year.
“I feel like I know how things run enough to know that I don’t know everything,” Cheatham said.
She said it is important to hit the ground running so the board can come up with a plan for overcrowding.
Powers said a growth solution for the high school is the most important issue for the board.
“I think personally my focus is going to be on making a second high school option that makes everyone happy,” Powers said. “One that is fiscally responsible while not limiting services. I think that is what our voters want.”
Rudy Upshaw, an incumbent, also won Tuesday in a contested race. Upshaw was appointed to his seat in May following the resignation of Beth Haney. She resigned because her daughter planned to apply for a position with the district.
Board members Becky Koonce, Scott Passmore and Bryan Vernetti did not run for re-election.
The new board will meet for the first time Oct. 22, said Mary Ley, district communications director.