GRAVETTE -- A reception to honor new teachers was held in the commons at the Gravette High School preceding the August school board meeting. Richard Page, superintendent of schools, introduced each to those in attendance.
The meeting was held on the first day of school and Superintendent Page reported 1,774 students were in attendance on opening day. High school principal Jay Chalk said the year got off to an "awesome start."
Superintendent Page called on Chalk to report on the charter school application. Page said Chalk and school board president Jay Oliphant have been working for more than a year to improve opportunities for students who may not be going on to college and are doing "a terrific job." Revisions have been made in the application and it was reviewed by the team and submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education. Forty schools originally started the application process and the number has now dropped down to 10.
Chalk mentioned several features listed under Section C, innovations, on the application which should be favorable for Gravette. These included giving "value added" diplomas; two technical programs, HVAC and CNA, already in operation; and shared opportunities through cooperation with other schools, since Gravette has been working with Decatur and Gentry. Chalk said Gravette had applied for a waiver for class size in tech school classes, allowing for 180 students in a class rather than the usual 150.
Gravette schools hosted a meeting to discuss vocational opportunities for area students on Aug. 18, attended by the superintendents of Gravette, Decatur, Gentry and Bentonville schools, other school administrators, state legislators and the director of the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative.
Both Page and Chalk said the Gravette district is trying to develop a long-term vision for the vo-tech program. They feel a regional center is the best answer for area schools. Both agreed training is critical. Board president Oliphant praised Chalk and his team for taking the first step and said, "Now we have something tangible, a specific program."
Superintendent Page said Gravette is trying to take a leadership role. "We hope others will join us," he said. "Someone has to step out and take the lead. It's a 'You build it. They will come' type of thing."
Gravette schools are receiving help from Northwest Arkansas Community College, in the amounts of $5,200 for the CNA program and $3,400 for the HVAC program. Gentry schools have baked out on sending CNA students to Gravette, choosing to start their own program, but they are sending two students to the Gravette HVAC program. There are 12 students in the returning HVAC class and 15 in the new class. Two more open spaces in the annex building will allow for additional vocational classes in the future.
Business manager Bill Hayford presented a detailed financial report. The 2015-2016 budget will be approved at the September meeting. The budget includes an increase in compensation for the school resource officer, $10,000 additional for the EAST lab and a $12,000 increase for added staff in the custodial department. The Gravette district has the highest increase for teachers' salaries of any district in the state.
At the close of the regular board meeting, the board members went into executive session. When the board returned to regular session, it approved the hiring of Adam Vore as Gravette Title I aide, Denise Griffith as high school secretary and Christopher Flynn as evening custodian.
Community on 09/02/2015