Springdale School District officials announced the district has been awarded a Walton Family Foundation grant to fund new "empowerment teams" across its high schools.

Dr. Lyons, who presented the award announcement to the board on Nov. 11, said, "It is a 2 year grant for $749,000," and that the funds will support three full-time positions—one at each high school—an enrollment lead, plus stipends for points of contact at middle and junior high schools and grant-funded materials for two years. The initiative is intended to help students with course planning, college and scholarship applications, test-prep workshops and family engagement nights.

The district described the grant's focus as the "3 E's": enlistment, enrollment and employment. The enrollment lead will work with CTE contacts and enlistment coordinators, and coordinate workshops and parent nights. The funding also covers capacity-building stipends at feeder schools to ensure information flows to staff, students and families.

School leaders said the grant aligns with ongoing college- and career-focused work and the new Professional Development Center, which administrators credited with helping increase postsecondary and workforce pathways for students.

The district plans to use Walton funding to hire and place staff and to distribute materials during the two-year grant period. No implementation timeline beyond the two-year funding window was specified.