GRAVETTE -- A reception was held preceding the Oct. 21 Gravette School Board meeting to honor retiring board member Danny Alsup.
Alsup has just completed a year as board president and had also served as president in 2005-06. He had been a member of the board for 10 years. Board vice-president Jack Skillett presented Alsup with a framed photograph of the Gravette schools campus and thanked him for his years of service. He praised Alsup as a "friend to the schools and a friend to the community."
Alsup replied that he was happy to have been a part of the great progress the school district had shown and said he looked for even greater strides in the future.
"The greatest experience is the friends I've made," Alsup said.
Golf coach Taos Jones and members of the Lady Lions golf team were introduced and Coach Jones recognized their accomplishments during the year. The golf team led in the Pledge of Allegiance to open the meeting.
In a comment period at the beginning of the meeting, Amanda Teis spoke to the board members about the special education program at Gravette schools. She has had a son in the program for two years and had some concerns about issues she felt had not been addressed. She concluded by proposing that the board consider adding a wing to the upper elementary school for special education students.
Ty Russell also spoke to the board and asked them to use reason and caution as the board reorganized and elected new officers.
Jack Skillett asked retiring president Alsup to conduct the election of new officers, and he agreed to entertain motions for the office of president. Jack Skillett and Jay Oliphant were nominated for president. Oliphant was elected as the new board president and conducted the rest of the election. Other new officers are Jim Singleton, vice president; Susan Santos, secretary; Tracy Moorman, primary disbursing officer; and John Edwards, secondary disbursing officer. All were elected unanimously.
The financial report for the month of September was presented, with a statement of assets, liabilities and fund balances for the period.
Superintendent Richard Page gave the Oct. 1 enrollment report, showing a total of 1,926 students in Gravette schools, up 27 students from last year's enrollment. There are 1,878 students without counting preschool students. He also gave the school choice and transfer report and commented that it speaks well of the district that more students want to come in than go out.
Superintendent Page presented the school's current policy on head lice, which follows Arkansas Department of Health recommendations. Students with live lice are sent home, but those with nits are allowed to stay. Glenn Duffy Elementary and Upper Elementary principals discussed the procedures followed at each school. School nurses try to educate parents by sending home information about methods of removal, and cases are getting fewer and fewer. Board member Yates recommended changing the policy and the board agreed to review the policy at a planning session scheduled for Wed., Nov. 5, at 3 p.m.
Superintendent Page also presented the information he had received from the two firms submitting bids to do a salary study. The salary study proposal will also be discussed at the Nov. 3 planning session.
Stephanie Summerford presented the 1014-15 Annual Report to the Public and it was approved by the board. The annual report shows Gravette Schools as a "needs improvement" district. Glenn Duffy Elementary and Upper Elementary are designated "achieving" schools and Gravette Middle School and High School as "needs improvement" schools. The report is available for viewing on the school website. Summerford also presented the 2014-15 minority report to the board and it was approved. The report showed a minority student population of 7.2 percent.
The board approved a school transfer request allowing two students to remain in the Gravette School District. Their mother has moved to Bentonville but the students wish to remain in Gravette schools.
Superintendent Page presented the special education report to the board and it was approved. Special education director Sharla Heltzel spoke briefly and said she felt the district was doing all it could to meet the needs of special education students. There are 249 special education students in Gravette schools, up from 227 last year, but the special education budget is the same. Board member Susan Santos noted, however, that putting more money into the program does not necessarily guarantee results. Heltzel commented that many are designated special education students because of poverty and some will never be able to exit the program.
Transportation director Richard Carver discussed a proposal to add a bus route in Bella Vista. He has been revising routes in an attempt to get bus rider times down to 60 minutes on all routes, but three routes still have a rider time of 70 minutes. Adding a route would help reduce rider time, and Carver said he believes an additional route is feasible but it would depend on whether he could hire an additional driver.
"We don't exactly have potential bus drivers standing in line," he said.
A discussion was held before voting on an additional route, and board members decided to table the issue until after the Nov. 5 board planning session.
Board member John Edwards commended Carver for the excellent job the school grounds keepers do in keeping the appearance of the school grounds attractive. "Your people do a super job," he said.
Approval was given to accepting a bid from Telecomp of Bentonville for purchase of 70 laptops and docking stations at a cost of $63,178, to be paid from technology operating funds. This means each teacher in high school will have a new instructional personal computer. Some of the older computers may be reused by students or have new operating systems installed. It was noted that perhaps the EAST lab could use them.
After an executive session, Carla Hicks and Karen Tolle were approved as senior sponsors for the 2014-15 school year.
General News on 10/29/2014