Former Hot Springs Mayor Melinda Baran remembers how various government and civic groups joined forces to win the competition for the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts after its creation in 1991.
She was there after Hot Springs was chosen as the school’s host in 1992, speaking out as mayor for the city to raise the funding through a special election to cover what it promised the state for the facilities through a special election.
Now 25 years after school opened its doors for its charter class of students, Baran is once again leading the charge for ASMSA. She announced a planned gift for the school during the ASMSA Silver Gala, a special event on March 27 which celebrated the school’s 25-year anniversary. Baran said she has established a trust that would leave the remainder of her estate to ASMSA, possibly resulting in a seven-figure gift or more to the school in the future.
Baran, who now resides in Cary, N.C., said she decided to include ASMSA in her estate trust after visiting ASMSA earlier this school year. It was the first time she had been back on campus since a 1994 campus dedication ceremony. She was invited to tour the campus by Director Corey Alderdice, who she met while on a trip celebrating the 25-year anniversary of Hot Springs’ Sister City relationship with Hanamaki, Japan.
Once back in the United States in September 2018, Baran made an appearance on the Talk of the Town radio show on 1340 KZNG with longtime host Dick Antoine. During the interview, Antoine asked Baran what was the most important accomplishment or change that took place during her tenure. She said the most important was getting the form of government changed from a mayor/alderman system to a city manager/board system in the late 1980s. Second was Hot Springs winning the bid to serve as host city for ASMSA.
“At that time, [ASMSA] was the crown jewel achievement of the city in the 1990s. Now that it’s such a success, it’s obviously the crown jewel today. And I certainly expect it will be the crown jewel for the remainder of the future for our city,” Baran said.
“What you’re doing here is making our future. These young people who are brilliant deserve not only the financial support of the state of Arkansas through the Legislature, but they also need the personal support of the people of Hot Springs because parents put them in the hands of the school staff, but once they go out the doors, they’re on the streets of Hot Springs.”
After the campus tour, she was discussing how impressed she was with the quality of the school with her partner, Steve Rebach, Ph.D., a former college educator who also was on the tour. He suggested that perhaps she should include the school in her estate trust. Baran decided it was a good suggestion.
Now she hopes her announcement will lead others to follow her example.
“There are so many people who have no children or family for whatever reason who could see this and these young people as their legacy because I certainly see them as mine,” Baran said.
In recognition for her gift, Baran was awarded a limited-edition “Razorback Scratch,” a bronze hog sculpture by Dr. Jon Ruehle, a biology instructor at ASMSA. Ruehle is an internationally recognized wildlife artist. The bronze sculpture is presented to individuals who are members of the ASMSA Foundation Founder’s Society — donors who have given at least $50,000 in gifts to ASMSA.
“ASMSA's community of learning is humbled by former Mayor Baran's trust commitment,” said ASMSA Director Corey Alderdice. “The past and present students of ASMSA are the beneficiaries of her original vision for the school and global partnerships with Hanamaki, Japan. Through this legacy pledge as part of the Founder's Society, future ASMSA students will continue to enjoy access to opportunities to promote economic development, cultivate their talents within the arts, and explore the world.”