GRAVETTE -- Gravette School Board members were honored at their regular meeting Monday, Jan. 17, as January is Arkansas School Board Recognition Month. Superintendent Maribel Childress presented certificates to all board members. Board secretary Heather Finley was presented a plaque recognizing her as a Master Board Member, signifying she has completed 50 hours of school board member development training.
Drama teacher Justin Garton and five of his students led the pledge of allegiance to the flag to open the January meeting of the Gravette School Board. Garton addressed the board requesting approval for students to attend the Arkansas State Thespians Festival in Jonesboro. He explained how he had benefited from his personal experience of competing at the festival and said he would like to give his students the same opportunity. One of his students did an improv skit for the board and, after a brief discussion, board members voted to approve funding and travel for five students to attend the festival, with funding to come from the general operating fund.
Leonard Garrett, of Sulphur Springs, also addressed the board and expressed his desire to start carpentry classes at the career center. Garrett is a retired military officer and former teacher who said he would like to share his skills with students. Superintendent Childress said she has informed Northwest Technical Institute of Garrett's desire and qualifications.
Business manager Dennis Kurczek presented the monthly financial report and reported $552,000 in local tax revenue had been received in the last month. Kurzek also presented the financial report for the ESSER and American Rescue Plan funds.
Superintendent Childress gave the curriculum and instruction report in the absence of assistant superintendent Becky Sears.
Shannon Mitchell, high school principal, reviewed the high school semester exam exemption policy. She reported that students who have a good attendance record, have at least a C average and no 0's in any class are allowed to be exempted from taking their semester exams. She said this helps give the students a positive incentive to do well in their classes and helps raise student engagement scores.
Nikki Brecheen, principal at Glenn Duffy Elementary School, reported on progress in training for Tilly, a prospective therapy dog. She said Tilly has finished her classes and will be given a test on January 29.
Superintendent Childress gave an update on school board election zones and said the district's zones have been approved as submitted. She distributed a handout with information about running for the school board.
Kelly Hankins was unable to attend the meeting so there was no academic success report.
Superintendent Childress also gave the board member training report, showing that all members have exceeded the required number of training hours. She also presented the fall semester discipline report, along with information from previous semesters for comparison. The report showed a slight increase in discipline infractions over last year but building principals present indicated this was partly due to the fact there are 125 more students in attendance this year since 25 percent of students were attending virtually last year. In answer to a question from board member Hope Duke, principals agreed that their attempts to restore traditional discipline have shown results. Being more consistent in enforcing rules and promptness in administering discipline have been contributing factors. Duke commended the administrators for their efforts, pointing out that "boundaries are love."
Nikki Brecheen and Mandy Barrett, principal at Glenn Duffy Elementary School, gave an update on standards-based grading and reported on the results of a parent survey regarding grading. Brecheen distributed information handouts. In response to a request from Hope Duke, Superintendent Childress said administrators would be willing to work on a compromise between those who preferred traditional grading and those who embraced standards-based grading.
Childress gave an update on the Brandon Burlsworth recognition project and plaques which are planned for display at the concession stand at Lion Field denoting that the field was used in the movie honoring his life. She presented a mockup of proposed plaque designs and a cost breakdown, and board member Jay Oliphant said he likes the proposed designs. Member Robyn Skaggs expressed concerns about how the weather will affect the poster. Oliphant said he likes the Burlsworth project because it reinforces good character and suggested that, after the plaques are installed, the Burlsworth family and past winners of the Burlsworth Award be invited to a dedication ceremony. Childress said she would talk with Clay McGill, principal architect at BiLD Architects, about the board's concerns and bring design options for further discussion at the February board meeting.
Childress gave an update on land acquisition for properties on North Mount Pleasant Road and Stagecoach Road. She presented a copy of the lease agreement with a farmer who is pasturing cattle on the North Mount Pleasant Road property. She said he has already paid his rent for this year and pointed out that the agreement can be changed by either party if desired. She said an environmental study has begun on the Stagecoach Road property and the pond and three buildings which are on that property.
Childress presented the December 2021 attendance report and enrollment report. Enrollment showed an increase of six students from December to January.
Next, she gave a report on the covid cases and the board considered covid cases and mandates. The report showed 117 students positively identified for covid-19, 125 students in school-related quarantine or isolation, and 106 students in non-school-related quarantine or isolation out of a total of 1,970 students as of 3:30 p.m. on January 17. At the same time, 20 staff members were positively identified for covid-19, four staff members in school-related quarantine or isolation and seven staff members in non-school-related quarantine or isolation out of a total staff of 281. Building principals discussed how they were dealing with serving students while being short-staffed.
Principal Barrett reported that an entire classroom had been shut down at Glenn Duffy Elementary that day and there were no ALE classes or interventions that day. Staff members are trying to cover classes as best possible with many doing other work in addition to their regular duties. Sheila Roughton, food service director, said her workers are reduced in number; and Richard Carver, transportation director, reported he might not have enough bus drivers to complete the week.
Administrators and board members agreed that in-person learning is much better than virtual learning and Childress said efforts would be made to keep students in class. A question was asked if ESSER funds could be used to pay substitute teachers more and Kurczek said he would check into that. After a brief discussion of substitute teacher pay, a motion to raise substitute teacher pay $130 a day was voted down, 5-1. Members voted to hold a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 20, to discuss increasing sub pay, staff bonuses and/or increases to base pay.
Superintendent Childress handed out information on computer science classes showing that, beginning with the ninth grade class of 2022-2023, every student will be required to earn one credit in a high school computer science class or computing class in order to graduate and, beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, every public high school in Arkansas will be required to employ at least one high school computer science certified teacher. Childress pointed out that this will require an additional classroom at the high school.
Board members considered the renewal of the current procedures for certified school security officers. Board members voted unanimously to approve initial training for five new CSSOs at a cost not to exceed $12,000, to be paid out of the general fund. They also voted unanimously to approve sending four CSSOs to a three-day rifle training at a cost not to exceed $3,500, to be paid out of the general fund.
Board members voted to approve the 2022-2023 school calendar. A report showed that 80 percent of parents surveyed preferred starting the school year on a Monday rather than a Wednesday.
Members voted unanimously to deny the request of a 10th-grade student wishing to transfer from the Bentonville school district.
Members moved to executive session at 9:14 p.m. to discuss employment and personnel and conduct the annual evaluation of the superintendent. They returned to open session at 10:42 p.m. and voted to hire Samantha Luther as a GHS social studies teacher and head softball coach and hire Whitley Holland and Sheila Patton in the child nutrition department. The meeting was adjourned at 10:44 p.m.