Teachers, staff receive increase

GRAVETTE - The Gravette School Board at its recent meeting approved a salary schedule for district employees, increased the school lunch price, okayed laptop purchase and approved remodeling a building on the downtown campus for multipurpose use.

Now called the “annex building,” it has served many functions since it was constructed umpteen years ago: high school cafeteria, music and choir rooms and home economics department, to name a few.

Benchmark Construction of Fayetteville was awarded the $497,000 contract to convert the building into three divisions. It will house the alternative learning center, will serve as the district’s tech hub and a portion will serve as a warehouse for the food services department. Benchmark submitted the low bid for the project.

Other action taken by the board included approving a 10-cent increase in school lunch prices. Effective in August, the price will be $1.85.

◊Approved a $90,040 bid for purchase of 160 Hewlett-Packard laptops to replace computers that have been in service five years.

◊Approved a district salary schedule. Certified staff members will receive a $600 raise to their base salary. As an example, the $39,500 starting salary for a teacher will be $40,100. The district salary scale is based on years of experience and other factors. Classified employees will receive the same percentage increase to their present salaries. A copy of the district salary scale is available in the administrative office.

◊Approved expulsion of an eighth grade male student for the remainder of this school year and the first semester in August.

◊Approved first reading of the district school choice policy.

◊Okayed a summer credit recovery course for students who wish to take the make-up class. Information is available at the high school, 787-4180.

◊Discussed improvement of the middle school teacher’s lounge but no action was taken.

◊Okayed a field trip request for Angie Scott’s medical class.

Staff Changes

The board has accepted resignations from the following: Bob Ford, ALE instructor; Pat Hastings, curriculum coordinator; Donna Rush, reading specialist; Diane Turvey, Spanish teacher; Michael Knoedl, social studies teacher; and Debbie Mc-Guire, bus driver.

◊Approved Gena Camp’s transfer from fourth grade to middle/upper tech reading instructor.

◊Approved employment contracts for Judy Payne, special education teacher; Traci Rutledge, second grade; Dean Huffstetler, middle school science; Jessica Call, middle school English; Michelle Payne, fourth grade; and Denisa Douthit, parent facilitator.