District renews lease for Main Street Academy

The alternative learning high school will keep its location through 2027.

Main Street Academy, the Siloam Springs School District’s alternative learning high school, will keep its current location for at least another decade.

School board members voted at Thursday’s meeting to renew the district’s lease of the Main Street Academy building for the next 10 years. The district has leased the property, located at 1630 E. Main Street, for the past decade from Terry and Sheri Devor, and the lease is scheduled to end on July 1, 2017. The new agreement will extend the lease through June 30, 2027.

Assistant superintendent Jody Wiggins reported that the building was renovated slightly to accommodate the school and meets all of the district’s needs.

The renewed contract includes a price increase from $2,500 a month to $3,100 per month, Wiggins said. The new price is still far lower than most commercial property in Siloam Springs, he said.

“We feel like we’re still getting a bargain for that price,” Wiggins said.

Superintendent Ken Ramey commented that the neighbors appreciate having the alternative learning academy there.

“The Devors have a strong interest in kids being successful and want their building to be used in that way,” Ramey said. “I think it’s a win, win.”

In other business, the school board approved a notice from the county clerk’s office to keep polling sites in Siloam Springs

closed during the annual school board election on Sept. 20. Board member Chuck Hyde is running unopposed for another five-year term for Zone 2 and Audra Farrel is running unopposed for a two-year term for Zone 3.

Because the election is uncontested and there is no millage increase, the school submitted an application to the county clerk’s office last month to keep polling sites closed and hold the election through absentee ballot and early voting, Ramey said. Each candidate will require at least one vote to win, he said.

“It’s very economical for our taxpayers,” Ramey said.

During the meeting, board members voted to raise football ticket prices for children from $3 to $5, while adult prices will stay the same at $5. Children younger than 5 will continue to be free. Wiggins — who was speaking on behalf of athletic director Kevin Downing, who was away at a sporting event — said that at least three schools in the 6A conference have already increased prices to $5 for children and $5 for adults.

The increase will mainly have an impact on visitors because all Siloam Springs students, from kindergarten through grade 12, can purchase an all sports pass for $20, Ramey said. The school has already sold $4,000 worth of sports passes, Wiggins said.

The school board also voted on resolutions to approve contracts with local businesses associated with school board members or school employees. The disclosure of all relationships between school officials and businesses patronized by the school is required by state law.

The board approved two contracts disclosing relationships with businesses associated with board members. Both members left the room while the vote was taken. The resolutions included approval of a relationship with Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics, where board member Chuck Hyde serves as CEO, and a relationship with Harps Food Store, where board president Brian Lamb serves as general manager.

The school district spent about $25,900 on professional development services from the Soderquist Center last year and has had a relationship with the organization for about 10 years. The district made purchases of about $700 from Harps Food Store last year to provide teachers and staff members with food at various professional development events and meetings. The district has done business with the store for many years because it is nearby and convenient, and provides competitive prices, Ramey said.

Other resolutions that were approved included a disclosure of business relationships with Pro Trucks Inc., Bell Office Supply, High Class Maintenance, Sew It Is, Keystone Automotive, Edibles by Zoe and Brookshire Lawn Care, all of which employ people who are related to school district employees. Resolutions approving relationships with independent contractors Brenna Hornbuckle, a speech pathologist, and Delinda Floyd, a physical therapist, were also approved. Both women are related to school employees.

The school board took the following additional actions:

• Approved emergency sick leave for one employee.

• Approved one additional full-time kindergarten teaching position for Northside Elementary School.

• Approved one additional full-time speech pathologist position for Southside Elementary School.

• Approved the transfer of four students from the Siloam Springs School District to the Gentry School District.