GRAVETTE -- The monthly meeting of the Gravette Public School Board on July 22 began with a moment of silence to honor the memory of Angela Scott, Gravette teacher and HOSA sponsor killed in a recent car accident.
In new business, approval was given to investigating the possibility of a special display case honoring Angela Scott and displaying the medals won by her HOSA students. Board members also voted to consider a bronze plaque honoring Scott to be placed in a special display area at the high school.
Parents Natalie Morrison and Lori Russell spoke to the board in support of the HOSA program. They reported the Gravette HOSA program has a reputation as the best in the state and has sent one or more students to national competition every year. HOSA students have earned numerous medals and they urged the board to create a display case for them at the school.
Stephanie Summerford gave the federal program report. Services funded by the federal funds include a literacy and writing program, accelerated reader program, English language learner program, migrant teacher and a professional development fund which will provide 2 1/2 days of training the first five days teachers are back at school.
Superintendent Richard Page gave the home-school report. He reported a total of 150 home-school students in the Gravette district, 58 in grades K - 5, 31 in grades 6 - 8 and 61 in grades 9 - 12.
Superintendent Page reported the city was applying for a COPS grant to fund an additional school resource officer but an additional officer was on hold for now as the city did not have an extra car for him.
Page told the board that new teachers would come to school Aug. 6, all other teachers and staff would return Aug. 11 and students' first day of school would be Aug. 18. "Meet the Teacher" nights are scheduled Aug. 12 at Glenn Duffy Elementary and Gravette Middle School and Aug. 14 at Gravette Upper Elementary and Gravette High School.
Jake Haak presented the district financial report and said he was pleased with the way the district was ending the year financially. The 2013-2014 year will be officially closed on Aug. 30. He presented the preliminary budget for the 2014-2015 school year. He noted the district was budgeting for a new elementary school and furnishings for a high school addition from the student growth fund. Approval of the budget was tabled until the August meeting.
Board members voted unanimously to clear a number of outdated checks the district has written. These monies will be sent to the Arkansas State Treasure Hunt.
Richard Carver presented a plan for upgrading the school security cameras. He reported the present system was installed in 2007. There is no interior surveillance camera in the upper elementary and no cameras in part of the old middle school. More cameras are needed to properly monitor the hallways. Board members voted unanimously to accept a bid of $20,803.70 from Fleming Network and Security Services to complete the project.
One student from Decatur was approved to transfer from the Gravette school system back to Decatur.
A motion to approve student handbooks for all schools and the 2014-2015 athletic participation handbook was passed unanimously. It was noted that the new student handbooks were smaller and "more student and parent friendly."
Board member Jack Skillett reported that several meetings had been held to work out the school board report and decision calendar for the upcoming school year. Several changes in wording were suggested by board member Jim Singleton. Approval of the calendar was tabled until the next meeting.
After an executive session of about 45 minutes, board members returned and voted unanimously to approve the resignations of Gordon Fisher, Dustin Peters, Julie Evans, Ada Lewis, Shannon Sherman and Jake Haak.
Unanimous approval was given to transfer Denisa Douthit from Gravette Upper Elementary and Gravette Middle School keyboarding/Title I teacher to Gravette High School A.L.E.
In other staffing decisions, board members voted unanimously to offer employment contracts to Breanna Clark, Gravette Middle School/Gravette High School choir director; Craig Fisher, bus technician; Greg White, GHS health/PE teacher and boys basketball coach; Taos Jones, head golf coach; Cory Briggs, assistant baseball coach; and Mindy Becker, upper elementary/middle school keyboarding/Title I teacher.
General News on 07/30/2014