GRAVETTE — The Gravette School Board has approved issuance of bonds to finance construction of the new middle school addition and construction of two new ball fields on the high school campus.
The $9,990,000 in bonds involves only $1.2 million in new bonds. It involves the recall and re-issuance of bonds issued in 2004 and 2006 for the remaining amount.
The 3.8 percent interest rate for the new issuance is considered low and very good, according to Morgan-Keegan, the district’s financial firm. The action was taken during a lengthy meeting last Monday nightat which the board also reviewed certified and classified salary and stipend schedules for fiscal 2013.
The board recommended that three additional steps be added to both the bachelor’s and master’s certified salaries from the current 20 years for bachelor’s degrees and 25 years for master’s degrees. This recommendation will put the district in line with the step increase structure of many other districts.
The Gravette district is rated in the top 10 in the state - sixth in teacher starting salaries - an enviable position the district has maintained for the past five years.
The board okayed the pre-scheduled step increases but did not increase the base salary structure. Discussion centered on issuance of bonuses later in the year, a practice the board followed last year. The recommendation has been forwarded to the policy committee for review and will be addressed at the May meeting of the board.
During the lengthy meeting, the board approved trips and stipends for the following student groups to attend national competitions: HOSA, $3,400; Culinary Arts, $300; SkillsUSA, $100; DECA, $800; and FBLA, $200.
The board also approved purchase of 30 iPads for the Glenn Duffy Elementary School and 30 MacBooks for Upper Elementary. The $65,238 in funds will come from the Title I account.
Other action included approving continuing the Seamless Summer Feeding Program funded by Child Nutrition Funds; approving $13,011 for software for the district’s food service department paid through the same fund; okaying the annual asbestos abatement contract; approving recommended district custodial service; and approving $9,985 for the installation of additional security cameras in the high school hallways and on two light poles in the parking lot.
Also approved were acceptance of the 2010-2011 Legislative Audit report and a contract with Arvest Bank.
Following a short executive session, the board approved resignations of Donna Cramer, food service; and June Murray, Upper Elementary teacher.
Re-employment of classified administration and staff and classified staff as recommended were also approved by the board.
News, Pages 11 on 04/25/2012