Prom delayed until further notice

Gravette school board interviews superintendent candidates

GRAVETTE — Shannon Mitchell, Gravette High School principal, told School Board members March 26 the high school prom scheduled for April 25 has been postponed until further notice. Graduation still set for May 16.

School administrators will continue to monitor the covid-19 outbreak and follow state regulations regarding social distancing.

Mitchell said many school districts in Arkansas are releasing their seniors for the remainder of the year. Gravette board members voted to allow Gravette seniors to finish their courses online for this school year, with direction from the administration and the state.

Richard Carver, supervisor of the transportation, custodial and maintenance departments, told the board about staff rotation. Rotation will allow the district to serve the needs of the students but stay within the guidelines of new state mandates for social distancing.

This will apply to classified staff, secretaries and administrators. He said some employees were worried about being paid and mentioned several surrounding districts are paying their hourly staff. The board voted unanimously to continue paying School District hourly staff.

Board members adjourned and went into executive session at 6:36 p.m. to discuss the superintendent search. After an executive session of almost 45 minutes, they reconvened in regular session and voted to divide the superintendent search committees and inform each member individually that only board members will interview the superintendent candidates.

Superintendent candidates have been narrowed to five applicants. One candidate was interviewed Monday and one on Tuesday . Interviews with the other candidates were scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

The board meeting was held in the Gravette community center rather than at the administration building since schools are closed and extensive cleaning is being done at all school buildings.