GRAVETTE — Gravette school board members, at their June 20 meeting, voted unanimously to approve a contract with BiLD architectural firm to construct a new bus barn and maintenance facility. Michael Spaeth, AIA, a principal architect with the firm, was present at the meeting to answer any questions from board members. He said the contract includes all electrical, mechanical and plumbing services.
Board members also voted unanimously to adopt the proposed 2017-2018 budget and approve all related election documents. Scott Beardsley presented the budget and explained that state law requires that voters be given 60 days notice about what will be on the November ballot. The budget will be published in July. No increase in millage is proposed next year.
In other actions taken at the meeting, board members voted to pay $100 per student for 16 Health Occupations Student Ambassadors to attend the national HOSA convention in Nashville, voted to approve the final corrections on the 2016-2017 student handbooks and voted to approve a $10-per-day pay increase for substitute teachers. Board member Jack Skillett spoke in favor of being more conservative with the pay increase, but fellow member John Edwards said he felt the $10 increase was necessary since the board was trying to improve teacher quality. Both Jim Singleton, board president, and Mandy Barrett, upper elementary principal, had noted that teachers on the substitute list at both Gravette and other area schools would often choose to go to the other school because the pay is better.
Bill Hayford, business manager, presented the May financial report and said May was "a pretty quiet month." He reported that the summer program was going well and utilities payments had been considerably below the budgeted amount. He said the school district has four bonds, with four separate payments. The school district restructured the 2014 bond and hasn't been paying the principle but will begin paying on it in 2017-2018.
Richard Page, superintendent of schools, gave his report. He said Richard Carver, transportation director, has been wiring the current bus barn to help prepare it for conversion to a classroom for the welding program. He reported that Jay Chalk, high school principal, has been involved with interviewing an instructor. He said Gravette intends to reapply for a conversion charter for the "Gravette School Center for Professional Learning." The district hopes to get some funding for next year and to enlarge the Ignite program.
Page said the school has been working with the Arkansas Center for Professional Studies and another vocational report will be given in July. He also announced that Paul Taylor, CEO of Ozarks Community Hospital, has agreed to provide a trainer for Gravette school athletes.
Following a brief recess, board members went into executive session to consider several employment applications. When they returned to regular session, they voted to hire Sharla Heltzel as curriculum director, Andrew Vire as assistant baseball coach, Bryan Bearden as head golf coach, Kyle Coslett as middle school Title I paraprofessional, Mickala Tipps as instructional assistant and special education paraprofessional and Salvatore Devoti as evening custodian. They also accepted the resignation of Jennifer Watson, secretary to the curriculum director, and voted to approve changing Taos Jones' job title from dean of students to assistant principal.
General News on 07/06/2016