School Board considers fifth math course options

GRAVETTE -- Members of the Gravette school board held their regular monthly meeting Monday, June 19, at the school administration building. Bill Hayford, business manager, presented the financial report. He said there was a pretty good jump in tax revenues for May and revenue overall looked good for the month. There were no unusual expenditures for May.

Richard Page, superintendent of schools, reported on the workforce development meeting he attended recently.

Shannon Mitchell, high school counselor, presented some information on the fifth math credit that Gravette High School requires. Jay Oliphant, board president, had requested information on math course offerings that are already being offered, such as those in the vocational education program, that might fulfill that credit. Mitchell said a financial literacy class (a 1/2 credit class) teaches "real life" math but it does not meet the requirement since it is considered a vocational class and not a math class. She recommended a quantitative literacy class offered through Virtual Arkansas which teaches personal math and suggested evaluating it after a year to decide whether it might be a possibility for the fifth math credit.

Clay McGill from Nabholz Construction Company gave an update on the proposed bike trail which will run adjacent to school property on El Paso Street. Two options for trail design were presented, and board members voted to go with Option 2, which lessens the space vehicles in the parking lot would overhang the trail and moves the vehicles farther into the parking lot. The state highway department had asked the city to move the route of this trail near the school to coincide with the Safe Routes to School project. Mayor Kurt Maddox was present at the meeting and indicated the city would proceed with developing the trail according to the plan chosen by the board.

Kent Doughty gave an update on construction progress at the upper elementary school, displaying photos of classrooms and the library. Library concrete is complete except for the outdoor patio. Work is now ongoing on duct work, framing and some drywall inside, electrical and mechanical rough-in. Doughty said his estimated completion date is Sept. 1.

A written school-based health centers report was submitted. A discussion was held on the possibility of a school-based health center in Gravette, with Ozarks Community Hospital providing the staff and supplies and Gravette schools the space. Tressie Gilmore, OCH administrator, was present to answer questions. Hope Duke raised the question of whether such a clinic would provide birth control and felt that might be a controversial issue. Ty Russell expressed concern that having patients come in and out for the clinic might pose a security issue. Oliphant said he would investigate the timeline for submitting applications and bring a recommendation to the next board meeting.

Jim Singleton, chairman of the facilities committee, gave an update on the latest committee meetings and asked if the board wanted to pursue making improvements at the middle school. A discussion of whether to work toward getting a millage vote on the September ballot resulted in the decision to postpone a millage project until a later date. Board members then voted 4-2 to support the facilities committee in pursuing what the middle school leadership team has proposed and move forward with the middle school project for the 2017-2018 school year.

Board members requested three changes in policy, 1) adding an automatic suspension policy for bomb threats, 2) adding heavier penalties for drug and alcohol use and adding possession to the list of infractions and 3) bringing the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy in conformance with state policy which allows students to bring personal devices to class and use them at the teacher's discretion. Heather Finley said she is not in favor of the BYOD policy. Board members voted to approve the policy changes and approve student handbooks on the condition they reflected these policy changes. The vote on handbook approval also specified that the high school PDA (public display of affection) policy match what the middle school has in place and that the school dress code should be enforced across the board and apply to school staff as well.

Sharla Heltzel, assistant superintendent, presented a copy of board goals. Board members unanimously voted to advance the goals for consideration and final approval at the July board meeting.

Scott Beardsley, the school's financial advisor, presented the proposed school budget for the 2018-2019 school year. He explained the proposed budget and regulations regarding school board elections and millage elections. Board president Oliphant said he would like to work toward getting a millage election on the ballot in May of 2018, and Beardsley said he would attend the January and February meetings of the board in order to prepare for a millage election in May. The board voted unanimously to approve the proposed budget with no millage election on the September ballot.

Robin Leonard, technology director, presented a request for purchase of new technology for computer labs in the new upper elementary addition, including 30 computers, 30 monitors, 30 laptops, dry erase boards and all related technology. Superintendent Page distributed charts of the classrooms showing where the technology would go in the computer lab and five classrooms. Board members voted unanimously to approve the purchase of the new tech items.

Mandy Barrett, upper elementary principal, presented a request for new furniture for the upper elementary computer lab, including 14 tables and 28 chairs. Board members voted unanimously to purchase the new furniture.

Richard Carver, transportation director, presented a request to advertise for bids to sell two school buses. Board members voted unanimously to approve advertising the two buses for sale.

Following an executive session of about 45 minutes, board members reconvened in regular session and voted to accept the resignations of Kim Spagnuolo, high school math teacher; Katie Collins, head volleyball coach; Denisa Douthit, high school ALE lead teacher; and Kristen Hayford, middle school science teacher. Members also voted to transfer Audrea Vore from third grade teacher to GUE/GMS Title 1 teacher, transfer Kim Brunkhardt from sixth-grade English teacher to instructional coach, transfer Neka Lunkdquist from pre-K paraprofessional to special education paraprofessional and transfer Barrett Buck from high school math teacher to high school ALE lead teacher.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the creation of an ISS aide position at the high school for the 2017-18 school year but, after some discussion, the motion was withdrawn and a request made that the item be placed on the July meeting agenda.

Approval was given for nine new hires. Members voted to hire Keliana Steen as middle school science teacher, Adam Vore as middle school ALE lead teacher, Joy Shephard as GMS/GHS resource teacher, Kim Davis as special education director, Lucy Haag as administrative assistant to the assistant superintendent, Rachel Burge as half-time Title 1 aide and half-time pre-K aide, Jennifer Amos as special education paraprofessional, Michelle Brafford as pre-K paraprofessional and Julie Whitehead as bus driver.

General News on 06/28/2017