Gravette board approves personnel moves, coaching stipends and first reading of model policies

The Gravette School District Board of Education approved a series of personnel decisions, added coaching stipends and took the first reading of updated model policies at its May 20 regular meeting.

The board unanimously approved the consent agenda and later approved the monthly financial report after a presentation of April results. The district reported April property tax receipts near $1 million and total receipts for the month close to $1.8 million; year-to-date receipts were about $18.6 million (about 72% of budgeted annual revenue), and year-to-date expenditures were near $20.3 million (about 76% of budget). Dez (finance staff) led the finance presentation and fielded questions from board members about how operating funds and restricted fund lines are reported.

On personnel, the board recorded a number of resignations and retirements effective at the end of the 2024–25 school year and approved hires for 2025–26. Motions carried to accept resignations from staff including Sid Clark (DHS science teacher), Grace Jones (GHS special education paraprofessional), Dusty Larson (role not specified), Rita Clare Rudnick (kindergarten teacher), and others. The board approved retirements including Barbara Hamilton (upper elementary fifth-grade teacher). Hires approved included Joseph Dungan (GHS audio/visual/communications), Carly Johnson (GHS science teacher), Drew Lindsay (GMHS middle school science teacher and assistant wrestling coach), Matthew Chandler (Moor Grove Middle School social studies teacher and assistant coach) and several other coaching and teaching hires.

The board also approved changes to extra-duty stipends and headcount for athletics: it authorized adding an eighth football coaching stipend and a sixth track stipend for 2025–26, and it approved adding additional baseball and softball positions to provide flexibility for development and expanded participation. Board members discussed using stipends to create hybrid roles tied to existing hires rather than creating entirely new full-time positions.

The board approved the three-year purchase of new math instructional materials (see separate article) and approved the first reading of the Arkansas State Board of Education (SBA) model policies. Board members noted the policy draft is large and will require follow-up discussion before a final vote; the policies will phase in statutory requirements over the coming months.

Other formal motions included appointing Jeff Gravatt to the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative Board of Directors for a two-year term (expires 2027) and accepting personnel recommendations that had been considered in executive session under the Freedom of Information Act (Act 93) for employment and legal matters. No votes were taken during executive session.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in the meeting minutes): - Added agenda items to personnel recommendations (approved). - Consent agenda (approved). - Monthly financial report for April (approved). - Approve resignation: Sid Clark, DHS science teacher (effective end of 2024–25) (approved). - Approve resignation: Grace Jones, GHS special education paraprofessional (approved). - Hire: Joseph Dungan, GHS AV/communications teacher, 190-day contract, step 16, salary as presented (approved). - Rescind/clarify resignation matters for AJ Herline (wrestling/cross country) and record resignation as deferred/handled per motion (approved as recorded). - Approve resignation/retirement: multiple classified and certified staff including Dusty Larson and Rita Clare Rudnick (approved). - Hire: Carly Johnson, GHS science teacher, 190-day contract, step 4 (approved). - Hire: Drew Lindsay, GMHS middle school science teacher and assistant wrestling coach, 190-day contract (approved). - Hire: Matthew Chandler, Middle School social studies teacher and assistant football/track coach, 190-day contract (approved). - Appoint Jeff Gravatt to the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative Board (term to 06/30/2027) (approved). - Add eighth football coaching stipend and sixth track stipend for 2025–26 (approved). - Add additional softball and baseball positions for 2025–26 (approved). - Adopt (approve purchase of) math curriculum materials on a three-year contract (Eureka Math Squared and Illustrative Math/Imagine I AM) to be paid from student growth/building funds as budgeted (approved) — see separate curricular article for details. - Approve first reading of updated SBA model policies (approved for first reading; further discussion planned before final adoption). - Appoint Brandon Cravens to fill the vacant board seat (approved) — see separate appointment article.

Notes: Many of the personnel motions were moved and seconded from the dais; the meeting minutes record votes as "all those in favor, say aye" with no roll-call recorded in the public transcript for every motion. Where specific contract steps and annual salaries were read into the record, the board approved them as presented.

Ending

Board members emphasized the workload of hiring season and thanked staff for a busy year. Several members encouraged community involvement at upcoming summer events (including Grama Day in August) and noted new staff introductions scheduled for the June meeting.