Gravette board approves bond application for high-school addition, authorizes short-term fund transfer and technology upgrade

The Gravette School District Board of Education voted on multiple financial and capital items at its March meeting, including a motion to submit a permit to issue $5,140,000 in construction bonds for a high-school addition designed as a storm-rated shelter with classroom space. The board also authorized the business manager to temporarily transfer up to $350,000 from the building fund to general operating cash and approved district technology purchases and several grants.

The board moved to submit a bond permit and related documents to the Arkansas State Department of Education and to employ Beardsley as fiscal agent; the motion included authorization for the superintendent to accept or reject the best bids in consultation with the fiscal agent. District presenters and the board framed the project as a six-classroom addition that would double as a hardened storm-shelter structure and would increase high-school capacity as the district anticipates 50 to 80 additional students in coming years. A Crossland Construction representative who reviewed comparable projects said schematic…