Bentonville presenters highlight Paxton Patterson Career Labs and $85,000 state grant for Gateway and Fulbright programs

District staff and external presenters told the board on April 20 about plans to expand Paxton Patterson Career Labs to Fulbright Junior High and the Gateway Alternative Learning Center for the 2026–27 school year.

Melinda Bunyard introduced the agenda item and Lindsay Hardy, a career and technical education director, explained the benefit of immersive labs that let students experience culinary arts, emergency and fire management simulations, child development, and forestry management. Bane Floyd, a CTE teacher, described popular lab experiences such as culinary courses and CPR/first‑aid training and said the labs give students early exposure to career pathways.

Callie Sanchez, principal at Fulbright Junior High, said the district will integrate the lab into the state‑required eighth‑grade career development course; every eighth grader will engage in career exploration as part of that curriculum. Gateway staff described a required nine‑week course for ninth and new students, aimed at re‑engaging students and creating pathways back to the main campus.

Funding: presenters said the district received an $85,000 state grant to pay for one lab at Gateway, supplemented by Perkins and federal funding. The district also receives about $155,000 per year in Perkins funds for its CTE programs; staff explained Perkins rules and spending restrictions.

Board members asked about enrollment, course requests, and how families find pathway information; staff pointed to student success planning, counseling, and the district website and said Parent University and counselors will help families access pathways.

Staff characterized the expansion as a way to provide hands‑on learning that leads to employability or further CTE coursework in high school.