GRAVETTE -- The Gravette School District hosted a legislative discussion regarding vocational opportunities for students in Northwest Arkansas on Aug. 18. School representatives and officials met to discuss the districts' efforts to provide vocational opportunities that will benefit the students in the future and provide them with job-skills training to better equip them for employment following high school. The topics included funding for career of vocational trade programs and how the Workforce Initiative Act will help serve small schools in the rural parts of Arkansas.
Leaders joined together to discuss the vision of schools in the Northwest Arkansas community and gain a better understanding of their roadblocks, as well as industry and area demands.
The state's economy is on a positive upward trend as reflected by the state's 6.3 percent unemployment rate, and other economic indicators continue to improve, according to data from Walton College's Center for Business and Economic Research.
Those in attendance included: Richard Page, superintendent of Gravette schools; Charles Cudney, director of the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative; Michael Poore, Bentonville superintendent of schools; Jeff Gravette, Decatur superintendent of schools; Randy Barrett, Gentry superintendent of schools; State Senator Jim Hendren; State Representative Dan Douglas; Jay Oliphant, president of the Gravette School Board; Jay Chalk, Gravette High School principal; Bill Hayford, business manager for the Gravette School District; Brae Harper, Gentry High School principal; and Judy Winslett, assistant superintendent of Gentry schools.
General News on 08/26/2015