Heber Springs school chief admits campaign-law error

The superintendent of the Heber Springs School District, Alan Stauffacher, agreed to receive a public letter of caution in a settlement of an ethics complaint filed against him, according to Arkansas Ethics Commission records released this week.

The commission conducted an investigation into whether Stauffacher violated Arkansas Code Annotated 7-1-103 (a) (3) (A) by using any office or room furnished at public expense to distribute campaign materials, or by using for campaign purposes any item of personal property provided with public funds, then-commission Chairman Sharon Trusty said in a letter dated Jan. 12 to Stauffacher.

Stauffacher subsequently signed a written settlement offer in which it was agreed that the commission would make a finding that he violated state law in connection with the distribution of campaign materials during a school open house. The materials supported a proposed millage increase in a Sept. 19 election, according to Trusty’s letter to Stauffacher.

“You are advised not to engage in the same activity again,” the letter stated.

Stauffacher said Tuesday that “it was just a mistake. It was a human error. It happened and we will make sure that it will never happen again.”

In the Sept. 19 election, voters in the Heber Springs School District rejected a 3.6-mill property tax increase, from 32.8 mills to 36.4 mills, that would have gone toward teacher salaries and benefits.