Gravette School Board holds first virtual meeting
GRAVETTE — Members of the Gravette School Board held their first virtual meeting for the regular monthly meeting on April 20. Board members met in the commons area at Gravette High School and others were tied in by Zoom technology.
Members of the Gravette Middle School select choir were recognized at the start of the meeting. Forty-one seventh and eighth grade members of the choir went to regional competition and earned a Division I Award, the highest honor given. GMS principal Kelly Hankins played an excerpt from the choir’s awardwinning performance.
Dennis Kurczek, business manager, gave the March financial report and said March was one of the leaner months for property tax collections with only $163,000 collected. Utilities are looking good with electric, water and sewer expenses under budget. He said Smartphones and security cameras have been purchased and reported he had heard from Scott Beardsley from First Security financial services who recommends waiting to pursue refinancing of bonds.
Board member Jay Oliphant suggested stocking up on fuel while oil prices are lower and Richard Carver, transportation department supervisor, replied that fuel tanks are full but he has been considering some paving projects while asphalt prices are lower.
Motions were made to accept the attendance report and accept the resignation of William Tapp as high school agriculture teacher, effective July 1, and Bob Grass, middle school social studies teacher, and Taos Jones, high school softball coach, effective at the end of the current school year. Jones will continue as assistant principal at the high school.
Board members approved the hiring of Darlene Rowland as a cafeteria cook and cashier and Jodie Ducker as a paraprofessional for the selfcontained classroom. An increase of students in that classroom makes it necessary to hire another staff member in order to be in compliance with the mandated student-staff ratio. They also approved the classified staff contracts as presented by the administration and the transfer of Amy Metheny from high school social studies teacher, volleyball coach to middle school social studies teacher.
Robert Adams, from Crossland Construction, and Clay McGill, principal architect for BiLD Architects, gave a facilities report. A packet containing progress photos of the new gymnasium was mailed to all board members. The Lion logo has been painted on center court and construction is going well, with completion expected about 37 days ahead of schedule. McGill reported he had visited the site that day and was “impressed with the progress.” He said there is about $29,000 in the contingency fund and he expects to use part of that for rock.
Board president Heather Finley, complimenting Adams and McGill on construction progress, said, “Nice work!”
Board members voted to approve a recommendation from athletic director Norman Mitchell for a change order on placement of courtside sponsor logos. Since logos were not painted where the sponsor had originally requested, Mitchell recommended placing logos on all four corners at a cost of $7,432.34.
Richard Page, superintendent of schools, reported that a high school student who had been caught distributing drugs has been expelled for a period of 365 days. The student will be allowed to enroll in August 2021. Another expulsion hearing was held Tuesday evening, April 21, at which board members voted to expel another high school student for the remainder of the current school year and the fall of the 20202021 school year. That student will be allowed to enroll in January 2021.
Board members approved Page’s report on special education title assurances, assuring that the district is following all Title 6 guidelines and meeting requirements for compliance. Title assurances will be signed and mailed by the May 1 deadline.
Technology director Daniel Rice presented a proposal for leasing 200 Dell Chromebooks for the high school, saying leasing is more effective and costefficient than purchasing. Rice recommended an increase from 150 to 200 Chromebooks because of the size of the eighth grade class moving up.
Board member Jay Oliphant asked that the school investigate seeking reimbursement under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and Jodi Moore suggested doing the same with iPads. Hope Duke suggested exploring expanding the use of Chromebooks into other schools. Mandy Barrett, upper elementary principal, and Kelly Hankins, middle school principal, responded that they would welcome initiating the use of Chromebooks in their schools.
Board members voted to approve leasing 200 Chromebooks for four years with a $1 buyout at the end of the lease and to seek reimbursement through provisions of the CARES Act that could provide funding for Chromebooks or expansion of internet connectivity.
Richard Carver, the custodial department supervisor, made a request to seek bids for refinishing the competition gym floor so it would be ready for volleyball season. Expected cost is $20,000 to $22,000. A motion was made to authorize Carver to seek bids.
Norman Mitchell, the athletic director, reported three bids were received for fitness equipment for the new gym. He recommended accepting the low bid of $39,721.99 from Legend Fitness. Board members voted to accept the bid for basic weight room equipment which includes treadmills, bikes, weight lifting equipment and dumbbells. A layout has been worked out for the equipment which will be in an orange and black color scheme.
Dennis Kurczek reported on the 2018-2019 legislative audit and said there was one adverse finding because the district’s accounting system does not have payrolls segregated. Board members voted to approve the audit report.
Following the adjournment of the virtual meeting at 7:24 p.m., board members made a tour to check progress on the new high school gymnasium.