School board rehires certified staff

— The Gravette School Board, at its meeting March 15, completed re-employment of certified personnel and heard committee reports, including one fromthe superintendent search committee.

Re-hired were Zane Vanderpool, principal of Glenn Duffy Elementary; Jay Ensor, principal of Gravette Upper Elementary; and Duane Thomas, principal of Gravette Middle School.

A replacement for retiring high school principal JoEllen Hastings will not be made until the position of superintendent of schools is filled.

Also rehired were all members of the certified instruc-tion staffs as recommended by building principals.

Resignations by seventh grade math teacher Gary Affolter; Judie Dollar, sixth grade English; and kindergarten teacher Ashley Casey were accepted.

The above staff decisions were made in open session following an executive session.

Superintendent Search

In earlier open session, the board heard from the Superintendent Search Committee, which has recommended three candidates for that position. John Edwards chairs that committee, with members Danny Alsup, Jim Singleton and Jack Skillett. All four are current board members.

Edwards said the three selected from 26 applicants for the superintendent’s position being vacated by Andrea Kelly, whose resignation becomes effective June 30, are: Dr. Richard Page, R5 District, Neosho, Mo.; Eddie Johnson, Hartsbluff Independent District, Mt. Pleasant, Texas; and D.B. Merrill,Hilldale District, Muskogee, Okla.

The three will be interviewed by the entire board and meetings will be conducted with building principals, certified and classified staff and with selected members of the community during, the first week in April, Edwards said.

The board is expected to make its final decision April 9, with an announcement the following day.

Other Board Action

At its Thursday meeting, the board also heard from the Facilities Committee, which is involved with the middle school and ball fields upcoming construction projects.

That committee and the board are deliberating cost estimates to retain the existing connecting link between the proposed middle school addition and the middle school music complex or to replace it with a covered walkway.

Retaining the present connecting hallway was in the original plan, but discussion involves removing that structure when the old original high school is removed, to be replaced with a new connecting wing to the middle school.

News, Pages 1 on 03/21/2012