Gravette school board considers varied agenda

— Members of the Gravette school board considered a varied and lengthy agenda at their regular meeting Feb. 20.

Chris Hyndman and Karen Kerr addressed the board regarding approval of foreign exchange students. Approval of foreign exchange students is now voted on in May and both Hyndman and Kerr encouraged the committee to begin granting approval earlier than May. They said most of the students would like to have their plans made before that time and there is also the danger that qualified students will be lost by being accepted by other schools earlier in the year. Jay Oliphant, board president, directed the foreign exchange student committee to meet and vote on approval of two students now being considered, Valentina from Italy and Paul from Germany.

Alan Rutledge, with AIM (Autism Involves Me) addressed the board and reported that two out of 100 boys are diagnosed with autism and there is not enough funding for programs to help them. A golf tournament May 12 and 13 at Kingswood Golf Course in Bella Vista will raise funds for the AIM program.

Bill Hayford, business manager, gave the financial report for the month of January. He reported that expenditures were a little above last year, including the expense of architect's fees from the building fund.

Richard Page, superintendent of schools, gave his report to the board, including a discussion of staff reassigned time, time spent in instructional activities such as athletics, library supervision, counseling and club sponsorship when not teaching. Board member Jack Skillett commented that he felt administrators should teach a class occasionally.

A board planning session was set for Tuesday, March 7, to discuss staff and salaries, a vocational report and set goals.

Personnel policy committee recommendations were presented. It was proposed that staff members be allowed to put sick days into a sick leave bank which could be dipped into by other employees when needed. Staff members have expressed a desire to be able to share sick leave days with others who have experienced catastrophic illness and have already exceeded their own allotment. Board members approved a motion to develop a policy to allow staff members to share sick days with other staff members who need them.

Sheila Roughton, food service director, gave the food service report. She said year-to-date expenditures were higher than last year because the Second Chance Breakfast Program had been started at all schools and they had bought some much-needed equipment. She reported the Second Chance Breakfast Program served 1,000 students in one month.

Jay Chalk, high school principal, gave the vocational report. He said his team of four persons had finished its recruiting visits Jan. 27. He spoke at a principals meeting through the coop on Feb. 15, and on Feb. 16 Gravette hosted a counselors' tour of the Ignite program at Bentonville and the Western Benton County Career Center at Gravette, showing how they are trying to decrease poverty through developing their vocational education efforts. Participants were served a meal by the culinary class at Gravette, tours were given of the welding and HVAC classes, and superintendent Page gave a presentation. Chalk said the classroom space was ready for machining equipment to be moved in, and a $15,000 grant has been received for start-up money. Fifteen students have been signed up for a morning class and 15 for an afternoon class.

Jim Singleton reported that the facilities committee met Feb. 16 and heard an update from Nabholz. Work on the upper elementary is progressing, he said, with site work complete and footings poured that week. Metal is expected to be delivered in mid-March.

Representatives from Nabholz said the addition is a four month project, and walls should be up and dried in by the time school starts. There may still be drywall to put up and painting to be done, creating some noise and odor, but they said they will expedite the work as much as possible. Board members approved a motion to support the conceptual design and allow the workers to move forward as soon as they could.

Board members approved the first reading of the board policies and voted to adopt the 2017-2018 school calendar with three days off at Thanksgiving and two full weeks at Christmas. An amendment was added to take Good Friday off and come back to school on Jan. 2 rather than Jan. 3. Approval was also given to seeking bids for a marquee on a 10-foot pedestal at the middle school. Duane Thomas, middle school principal, said the school has already been saving money for the project which is expected to cost more than $20,000.

Summer school classes were approved at the upper elementary school and the high school, including the 21st Century after-school program for three weeks in June. The Boys and Girls Club will then take over the program in July.

Robin Leonard, technology director, presented a proposal for an upgrade to the telephone system at all schools. He reported he had been working on the upgrade for 18 months. It will take AT&T out and operate on the Internet. He said it should save the school $7,000 to $8,000 per year on long distance charges. Board members voted to approve the new service with White River Services, with payment to come from the building fund.

A one-time salary adjustment of $500 for classified and certified personnel was discussed. Board members Tracy Moorman and Jay Oliphant said they would rather add the increase to the base pay. The proposal presented to the board was not accepted, and board members agreed to continue the discussion at the board planning session.

Board member John Edwards announced plans for the annual Gravette Lions Golf Classic, to be held May 6. He said the number of participants had been declining but $8,500 was raised last year for various projects, including a cover for the baseball field. Proceeds from the golf classic, held at Scotsdale Golf Course in Bella Vista, benefit various GHS activities including athletics, drama, vocal and instrumental music and the arts.

Board members adjourned for a brief break and convened in executive session at 10:27 p.m. The board reconvened in regular session at 11:25 p.m. and the following actions were taken:

Resignations were accepted from Jesslyn Gibson, Glenn Duffy Elementary secretary; Tessa Austin, Glenn Duffy Elementary purchasing secretary; Theresa Anderson, Gravette Upper Elementary special education resource teacher; Roland Clardy and Carl "Phil" Sciumbato, bus drivers. Deryl King was hired as a bus driver.

Board members voted to rehire administrators for the 2017-2018 school year, including Zane Vanderpool, Glenn Duffy Elementary principal; Mandy Barrett, Gravette Upper Elementary principal; Duane Thomas, Gravette Middle School principal; Jay Chalk, Gravette High School principal; Taos Jones, Gravette High School assistant principal; Sharla Heltzel, curriculum director; and Norman Mitchell, athletic director.

General News on 03/08/2017