Board buys computers, sells used buses
GRAVETTE — Catrina Smith spoke to board members at the July 15 meeting of the Gravette school board about her concerns relating to standards-based grading. She said she believes the environment at the school is too divisive now, with strong opinions on both sides, and that will work against the success of SBG. She said she believes the important issue is whether children are getting the best education and she does not want its implementation to affect the students negatively.
Dennis Kurczek, business manager, gave the June financial report and reported revenues exceeded budgeted amounts by about $568,000. He said the district has received $23,000 in student growth funds which it was not expecting and commended the principals of each building, saying that, during times of fiscal uncertainty, they did a really great job of controlling expenses.
Kurczek reported that he had solicited bids from three firms for new copiers and two replies had been received, from Professional Business Systems and Triple A. He recommended purchasing from Triple-A even though its bid was the higher of the two since the district had a good track record with the company. The copiers will be purchased under a lease-to-purchase agreement and, after five years, the schools will own the copiers.
Richard Page, superintendent of schools, reviewed the attendance report and said enrollment at the end of May was a little higher than at the same time last year. He suggested the board schedule a community meeting to allow citizen input on standards-based grading before the board’s Aug. 8 work session. He said he hoped to have input from the community meeting at the work session and to place standards-based grading on the agenda for the Aug. 19 board meeting.
Page announced that a reception for new school employees will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, in the high school commons area. The board meeting will follow in the high school library. He also said an open house has been scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at both Glenn Duffy Elementary and Gravette Middle School, with tours of both buildings. Refreshments will be served.
Robert Adams from Crossland Construction Company and Clay McGill with BiLD Architects gave a facilities update and showed photos of building project construction and photos of the gymnasium wall which fell at the high school. They reported cleanup of the wall is already complete and work will begin soon to replace it. They reported the gym floor is complete at Glenn Duffy Elementary and lighting and cabinets have been installed at the middle school. Installation of electrical and plumbing has begun at the career center.
Board members voted to tentatively approve the 2019-20 ESSA plan. Superintendent Page reported a revised plan will be brought for consideration later and final approval by October 1.
Approval was given for 11 transfer requests, five transfers in from Bentonville, five transfers in from Decatur and one transfer out to Bentonville.
In other business, board members voted to accept the recommendation of Daniel Rice, technology director, and purchase 30 Dell desktop computers from Insight for the Glenn Duffy Elementary computer lab at a cost of $$15,121.51. They also voted to purchase 30 Dell desktop computers with monitors from Insight for the Gravette Middle School business lab at a cost of $17,774.48 and five TVs and wireless access points from CDW for the middle school robotics wing at a cost of $28,840.59. Board member Tracy Moorman suggested seeking a sponsor to help fund the purchase for the robotics lab. Board member Jodi Moore asked Rice to place the technology projects on a rotating schedule to come up for consideration for replacement on a regular basis.
Board members voted to accept the bids to sell three used buses, one to Decatur Schools for $3,000 and two to Colcord, Okla., Schools for $3,505 and $4,205.
Board members moved into executive session at 7:02 p.m. to consider personnel matters and, after returning to open session 50 minutes later, voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Adam Vore, middle school English teacher and assistant football coach. Board members also voted to hire Whitney Balentine as a half-time speech pathologist, Robert Grider as a half-time middle school and half-time high school resource teacher, Amy Hartsell as middle school/high school choir teacher, Blake Emerson as middle school P.E. teacher/ assistant football coach, Morgan McDaniel as a middle school FACS teacher and Curtis Mullen as an automotive instructor for the Western Benton County Career Center. All contracts are for the 2019-2020 school year.