Board rehires Barrett

GENTRY — School board members on Monday renewed the superintendent’s contract for the next school year after reviewing and evaluating his performance.

Following a lengthy executive session, board members voted 5-1 to renew the contract of Gentry Public Schools’ superintendent Randy Barrett. Jim Barnes, Coye Cripps, Dani Cypert, Gary Dunlap and Scott Mc-Collum voted in favor of the contract renewal. David Williamson opposed it and Ted Dorn was absent at the Monday night meeting.

Barrett was evaluated on the basis of the following goals set by the board a year ago: 1. Improve ACT (test) scores in comparison to other 4A schools in Benton and Washington Counties;2. Maintain a 10 percent carryover balance in school funds; 3. Collaborate with the board and strive to execute the intent of the board, and be willing to accept constructive criticism; 4. Staff evaluations to accurately reflect teacher performance and allow for reassignment/dismissal of ineffective teachers; and 5. Improvement in extra-curricular activities, whether it be to reassign or dismiss ineffective performers.

Barrett’s contract was renewed by a 5-2 vote last year.

Other administrative contracts will also be reviewed by the board in the upcoming months.

In other business, the board approved on their second reading policy revisions regarding bids and on the addition of a $2,000 stipend for teachers obtaining National Board Certification.

Barrett reported that the school district remains in good financial standing, with more than $3.65 million in the unrestricted operating fund and more than $4.5 million in the total operating fund. He explained that the district still had a bond payment to make and teacher summer salaries to pay, but the balance is $41,000 more than last year at the same time.

Federal curriculum coordinator Judy Winslett continued a presentation on upcoming changes in education as the schools move toward national goals and standards. She explained the goals and results of the school district’s use of PLAN testing in the 10th grade. Test results reveal Gentry 10th grade students performing slightly higher than the national average, according to Winslett.