BENTONVILLE — The Arkansas Board of Education placed four Bentonville schools on probation last week for exceeding class size limits.
The violations occurred in music and art classes at Bentonville High School, Old High Middle School, Ruth Hale Barker Middle School and Bright Field Middle School, according to Superintendent Michael Poore.
The classes were supposed to have no more than 28 students, Poore said, but the schools at times exceeded the limit by no more than two students.
“We did not think we were doing anything wrong,” Poore said. “This year the state pointed out we were in the wrong. We adjusted as quickly as we could.”
The practice had been going on for at least the past four years, Poore said. Poore became superintendent in July 2011.
The state Board of Education put 26 other schools on probation Monday for violations of various standards. Those schools remain accredited but could face more serious sanctions if they are found in violation of accreditation standards during the next school year.
In those cases the state Board of Education must take one of eight actions against the school. Those actions include removing the district superintendent and merging the school with another one.