No raises authorized for Gravette teachers

School board accepts bids on two major projects and gives nod to credit recovery course for the summer

— The Gravette School Board at its last meeting accepted bids on two major improvement projects, okayed a credit recovery program for students, approved out of state summer trips for student organizations and voted to continue the English as a Second Language Program. Also approved was a salary schedule for classified employees.

Following an executive session, the board approved making the special education director a fulltime job. The junior high band director slot was also increased to full-time status.

A bid of $33,400 by Built-Well Construction was approved to remodel interior walls in the Glenn Duffy Elementary building. DECCO Paving Contractors of Rogers was approved for parking lot projects. Their low bid was $92,569.

The remodeling job will be financed with Recovery Act (stimulus) funds; the paving project will be paid from the district’s building fund.

The credit recovery course will allow high school students to make up credit deficiencies in core subjects through the summer program. The program starts June 6 and involves 50 hours of classroom work. Information is available at the high school.

Out of state summer trips for Culinary Arts, FBLA and Skills USA student organizations were approved.

Salary Information

No raises were authorized for base salaries of classified staff. Step raises in the salary schedule will still be awarded. The bus driver salary scale was increased from $8.50 to $10.00 per hour. Similar salary guidelines for certified staff were approved at an earlier meeting.

The Gravette district has raised base salaries every year for the past five years. The current action is based on unknown revenue sources because of reassessment and state funding.

The board also approved a college tour plan in which bus tours may be arranged for students and parents to visit area universities. Information about the free program is available by contacting the high school at 787-4180.

News, Pages 7 on 06/01/2011