WESTSIDE -- Middle schools in both Gentry and Gravette were among those in northwest Arkansas and throughout the state which were recognized recently by the Arkansas School Recognition and Reward Program. With the notification came award money, according to the Arkansas Department of Education.

An estimated $7 million of state General Improvement Funds were earmarked by Gov. Mike Beebe to reward schools which received high levels of academic performance. Gentry and Gravette placed in the top 20 percent for their scores on the 2013 Benchmark exams.

Gravette Middle School received a $20,225 award. Gentry's award was for $15,602.

Elsewhere in Benton County, Pea Ridge Middle, Intermediate and Primary schools and Siloam Springs Middle school also were recognized. Several schools in the Bentonville and Rogers systems also received recognition.

The reward money can be spent in several ways, such as a one-time bonus for faculty and staff, for nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment, or for material to assist in maintaining or improving student performance.

A committee, made up of the principal, a teacher elected by the faculty and a parent representative selected by the Parent Teacher Organization determined how the funds will be spent.

Members of the Gravette committee were Principal Duane Thomas; Randall Reynolds, faculty representative; and Linda Jarvis, parent representative. According to Thomas it was determined that the funds should be equally divided and distributed as a stipend with regard to the number of hours an individual teaches at GMS. Some staff would get a prorated amount, and the funds would be allocated to both certified instructional staff members and other non-certified staff members.

"We are very proud of our staff, students and parents at Gravette Middle School," Thomas said.

The Gentry committee was comprised of Principal Larry Cozens; Terri Swicegood, faculty member; and Carol Swinney, parent representative. Their decision was to purchase 28 "Chrome Books," similar to a laptop, a storage cabinet and charging equipment.

The program is an initiative of the Arkansas General Assembly to provide performance-based incentives such as high student performance, student academic growth and, in secondary schools, high graduation rates. This was the second time awards have been given, the first time being in 2010.