Board Of Education

All legal authority for the operation and management of the school program in the Van Buren School District (VBSD) is vested by law in the Board of Education. The seven member board makes all major decisions regarding school district priorities, policies, expenditures and growth. The nonpartisan board members are elected to serve, without compensation, for a term of four years. State law does not limit the number of terms a member may serve. Selection of school board members is conducted at the annual school election held on the third Tuesday in September.

The VBSD Board of Education meets the second Tuesday of each month. The meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. and are held in the Administration Building at 2221 Pointer Trail East or at individual school sites. Special meetings of the Board are called by the President as needed.


2023-2024 Board Meeting Dates and Locations.pdf

School Board Member Zones

School Board Documents

Board Members

Bob Freeman, President

Image title

Bob graduated from Van Buren High School in 1973 and attended the University of Oklahoma on a ROTC scholarship. Commissioned as an artillery lieutenant in the United States Army in 1977, he retired as a Lt. Colonel after 20 years of service. While in the Army, he earned his Master’s from the Florida Institute of Technology. Bob and his family moved back to Van Buren in 1997. He enjoyed a successful career at Citizens Bank & Trust Company, before being elected Mayor of Van Buren in November 2006. He served as leader of the city for 12 years. Bob is married to his high school sweetheart, Terry, and they have two adult children, Sarah and David.







Jacob Howell, Vice-President

Image title

Jacob Howell is the Founding Pastor of Merge Church in Van Buren. He is also a licensed attorney and operated the Howell Law Firm in Van Buren before transitioning to full-time ministry. Upon graduating from VBHS, he attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Howell graduated with his Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa College of Law and returned to practice law in his hometown. He and his wife Kristen live in Van Buren with their three children.







Theresa Bell, Secretary 

Image title

Theresa is a 1990 graduate of Van Buren High School. She and her husband Kenny have five children: Christopher, Samantha, Tori, Devin, and Eliza. Theresa is a therapist at Relationship Solutions in Van Buren. She serves as President of the GFWC-Women’s League of Van Buren and is a member of Merge Church.








Kevin Bell

Image title

Kevin and his wife, Edie, have three children, all graduates of Van Buren. He is a 1988 graduate of Van Buren High School and is a 1992 graduate of the University of Arkansas. Kevin is the President of Jimmy Bell Real Estate Company. He serves on the Board of Directors of Citizens Bank & Trust Company and is a board member of the Van Buren Education Foundation. Kevin and his family are members of First Baptist Church in Van Buren.








Lance Lanier

Image title

Lance and his wife, Laura, have three children who each have attended Van Buren High School. Lance serves as the Executive Vice President of Citizens Bank & Trust Company where he has worked since 1986. He is a 1985 graduate of the University of Arkansas and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He is also a graduate of Southern Methodist University Southwest School of Banking.









Christy Mayo

Image titleChristy and her husband, Robert, have two children, Erik and Rachel. Erik is a 2010 VBHS graduate and graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 2014. He holds a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, and a Master’s in Counseling from the University of Arkansas. He is now a licensed mental health counselor in Northwest Arkansas. Rachel is a 2013 VBHS graduate and a 2017 University of Central Arkansas alum. She earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and Psychology and an MD from the UAMS College of Medicine. She is currently a Resident Physician at UAMS and Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. Christy and Robert are both graduates of Arkansas Tech University. Christy is a retired CPA and Robert is a CPA employed by Stryten Manufacturing.







Carman Young

Image title

Carman and her husband Todd have been fortunate to call Van Buren home since 1999. They have three children who each attended the Van Buren School District. Carman received a B.S. in Biology/Chemistry from UALR, but now works from home and serves as a community volunteer. 










Contact:

Robert Freeman: bob.freeman@vbsd.us 

Jacob Howell: jacob.howell@vbsd.us

Theresa Bell: theresa.bell@vbsd.us

Kevin Bell: kbell@vbsd.us

Lance Lanier: lance.lanier@vbsd.us  

Christy Mayo: christy.mayo@vbsd.us

Carman Young: carman.young@vbsd.us


 

School Year 2023-2024

Board Minutes 071123.pdf

Board Minutes 080823.pdf

Board Minutes 091223.doc.pdf

Board Minutes 101023.pdf

Board Minutes 111423.pdf

Board Minutes 121223.pdf

School Year 2022-2023

Special Called Board Minutes 071922.pdf

Board Minutes 080922.pdf

Board Minutes 091322.pdf

Board Minutes 101122.pdf

Special Board Minutes 102722.pdf

Board Minutes 110822.pdf

Special Board Minutes 111722.pdf

Board Minutes 121322.pdf

Board Minutes 011023.pdf

Board Minutes 021423.pdf

Board Minutes 031423.pdf

Board Minutes 041123.pdf

Special Board Minutes 042523.pdf

Board Minutes 050923.pdf

Special Board Minutes 060123.pdf

Board Minutes 061323.pdf

School Year 2021-2022

SPECIAL Board Minutes 072221.pdf

Board Minutes 081021.pdf

Board Minutes 091421.pdf

Special Board Minutes 092021.pdf

Board Minutes 101221.pdf

Board Minutes 110921.pdf

Board Minutes 121421.pdf

Board Minutes 011122.pdf

Board Minutes 020822.pdf

Special Board Minutes 022222.pdf

Board Minutes 030822.pdf

Board Minutes 041222.pdf

Special Board Minutes 050322.pdf

Board Minutes 051022.pdf

Board Minutes 061422.pdf


School Year 2020-2021

Special Board Minutes 072820.pdf

Board Minutes 081120.pdf

Special Board Minutes 082520.pdf

Board Minutes 090820.pdf

Board Minutes 101320.pdf

Board Minutes 111020.pdf

Board Minutes 120820.pdf

Board Minutes 011221.pdf

Board Minutes 020921.pdf

Board Minutes 030921.pdf

Special Board Minutes 033021.pdf

Board Minutes 041321.pdf

Special Board Minutes 050421.pdf

Board Minutes 051121.pdf

SPECIAL Board Minutes 052521.pdf

Board minutes 6-8-21.pdf

School Year 2019-2020

Special Board Minutes 072219.pdf

Board Minutes 081319.pdf

Board Minutes 091019.pdf

Board Minutes 100819.pdf

Board Minutes 111219.pdf

Board Minutes 121019.pdf

Board Minutes 011420.pdf

Board Minutes 021120.pdf

Special Board Minutes 022020.pdf

Board Minutes 031020.pdf

Board Minutes 041420.pdf

Board Minutes 051220.pdf

Board Minutes 060920.pdf

Special Board Minutes 062520.pdf