GRAVETTE — Gravette’s school board meeting Dec. 17 began when Chairman John Edwards called for a moment of silence in respect for the children and teachers who died in the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
Winners of the district’s Christmas card art work contest were then introduced, second grader Joslyn Hendren, fourth grader Aubrey Gebhart and seventh grader Chloe Walker. Each was presented a packet of cards which featured her design.
The meeting primarily approved bids for various items. A primary action was approval of closing documents for issuanceof bonds to finance the projects now under construction - the middle school addition and two ball fields.
Final closing of the bids will take place on Jan. 10. The bonds will pay off 2007 bonds issued at 4.11 percent by issuing $1,780,000 at 2.81 percent.
Second lien bonds in the amount of $1,500,000 at 2.44 percent are also being issued.
The board approved purchase of a 71 passenger school bus at the low bid of $88,600 by Merl’s Bus Sales of Van Buren. The only other bid was in the amount of $99,480.
A low bid of $15,063 by NWA Tech of Rogers was approved. It will pay to bury optic cable, presently overhead.
Low bids were approved for baseball/softball equipment: $9,858 for tarps, $9,274 for field equipment and $4,340 for protective padding.
The board also purchased a special Grasshopper “athletic mower” for maintenance of the school’s ball fields. Additional equipment for the mower includes a blower, a sprayer attachment and a vacuum collector. The total package costs $22,337.
The board voted to advertise for bids for furnishings for the new middle school addition, discussed non-exclusive use of the school’s Lion logo and looked at drawings for remodeling the annex building just south of the administrative office. That building at various times has served as a cafeteria, music room and special education classroom.
News, Pages 1 on 12/26/2012