School board approves concession stand location

GENTRY - School board members, at their July 15 meeting, approved a location for a new concession stand at the Gentry High School football field.

A number of possible locations were suggested as options by the school district’s engineering firm, Hight-Jackson. A site on the northest corner of the track was selected as the most suitable based on the location of utilities and proximity to the new multipurpose athletic facility.

The site was chosen because it would not require the relocation of utilities and would likely afford the placement of a ticket booth on the corner of the building along a proposed walkway on the south side of the multi-purpose facility.

Other proposed sites included the northwest corner of the football stadium, adjacent to the east side of the grandstands, and on the south and southeast corners of the football field and track.

In order to allow enough room between the stand and the track - especially should the track be updated with another lane to a regulation track - the location was shifted a few more feet away from the track’s edge.

Randy Barrett, superintendent of Gentry School District, recommended location Number 3 so the district wouldn’t have to pay the additional cost to move utilities for the stand. Mark Haguewood, of Hight-Jackson, also called the location the “most economical and practical.”

Mike Spaeth, of Hight-Jackson, said he saw the possibility of a major walkway from the east parking lot passing between the new multi-purpose facility and the concession stand and the possible location of a ticket booth at the corner of the concession stand.

The possible use of the concession stand as a kitchen to feed the football team in the new hospitality room (in the multi-purpose building) was also suggested, making the location ideal.

Design of the stand was also discussed with the suggestion that orders could be placed at windows to the front and picked up at windows to the side of the stand.

“People can order in front and pick up their orders (at pickup windows) on the sides and keep things moving,” board member Randall Bolinger said.

Judy Winslett, federal curriculum coordinator for the school district, told board members that installation of the new security camera system is expected to be complete by the end of this week. The board earlier approved the purchase of the system for all campuses to improve security at the schools.

Barrett reported that the district was on target with its ending balance for the 2012-2013 school year, with a balance of $1,481,261 at the close of Period 13 (a period to reconcile all incoming revenue and expenditures for the school year just ended). The district has tried to maintain a closing balance of approximately $1.5 million and not show a continued declining balance for three years to avoid the possibility of being considered as in “fiscal distress” by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Barrett reported “minor concerns” over losses in the school district’s lunch program which he said won’t be considered “minor” if the pattern continues. He said the district had to subsidize $4,010 this past year. He said the district would, this year, “call it the cost of doing business.” Barrett said the loss was related to not as many students eating in the lunch program this past school year.

In other business, the board approved two student transfer requests and hired the following: Leslie White to teach math at Gentry High School; Theresa Flesner and Rachelle “Susan” Pollard to teach first grade; Justin Ledbetter to teach oral communications and coach baseball, bowling and assist with senior high football and junior high football; Chandra Sooter as a migrant aide; and William Catron as a maintenance/transportation helper. The board approved the transfers of Juli Jordan from first grade to Title 1 RTI and Melissa Wilson from first grade to second grade.

Barrett informed the board of a lawsuit against the district by Elizabeth Newlun (over her termination) and said he had turned the matter over to Mr. Spence, the school attorney.

Spaeth reported that the multi-purpose athletic facility construction was going well, with masonry work almost done. He said the main structure was up, with wall panels going up. He said the construction crew was pushing hard to finish in September.

He said the high school roof project was about half done and should be done by Aug. 16 or before.

Barrett said there was discussion of a possibility of building a sidewalk on west side of Pioneer Lane, including a bike lane. He said he had been waiting on fence repairs in the event the fence needs to be moved back.

Barrett said he had a gentleman’s agreement with the mayor and believes it will work out between school and city to have school resource officer full time to improve school security. The school would pay the officer’s full salary in exchange for the city providing additional law enforcement officers to help cover games and events at the schools during hours when the SRO was off duty.

The board approved a resolution to not have school election polling place but allow voting by absentee ballot because the only items on the ballot will be two school board posts in which current board members are running unopposed. Not opening the polls will save the district money, and the two unopposed candidates only need a single vote to be elected. Running unopposed are David Williams and Randall Bolinger.

News, Pages 4 on 07/24/2013