Gravette board approves budget, personnel moves, board-seat change and other items

At its meeting, the Gravette School District Board of Education approved multiple formal actions including the district’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026–27, personnel hires, overnight student trips, a change in how board seats will be elected and several administrative contracts.

Budget and elections The board adopted the proposed budget of expenditures and the related sample ballot for the May election tied to fiscal year 2026–27. Board materials presented year-to-date revenue and expenditure figures: the board was told property-tax collections for the month were about $763,000, monthly revenues were close to $1,570,000 and year-to-date revenues were approximately $12.5 million; operating cash in December was reported at roughly $5.6 million. The motion to adopt the budget and sample ballot passed on a voice vote.

Personnel and personnel actions In executive session, following the board’s personnel discussion, the board approved several hiring and personnel items. Recorded actions included: - Hire of a GUE special education teacher, Lainie Bunch, on a 190-day contract at an annual rate of $50,000 (motion passed). - Hire of a GUE special education aide, Bridget Smith, on a 181-day contract at a Step 2 annual rate of $22,161 (motion passed). - Approval of the retirement of Lisa Eaves effective at the end of the 2024–25 school year (motion passed). - Approval of an intra-district reassignment for Mary Martin from elementary third-grade special education teacher to an upper-elementary self-contained special education assignment (motion passed). - Acceptance of the resignation of Kim Sutherland, bus driver, effective January 2025 (motion passed).

Student travel and other routine motions The board approved overnight travel for Gravette High School DECA and approval for the GHS Arkansas State SBM Festival overnight trip (motions passed). The board also approved the removal of five zone-based seats and conversion to seven at-large board seats effective after the May election (motion passed).

Contracts and administrative items The board voted to employ First Security (financial adviser) for a three-year term and to contract First Security as the district’s dissemination agent for required financial postings. The board also moved to employ First Security (financial adviser representative recorded in the minutes as "Garetsley/Bursley") as its financial adviser; the motion passed. The board approved a first reading of the January ASBA model policies (including updates that reference AI tool committees and other policy changes).

Superintendent contract and next steps Following an evaluation, the board moved to offer Superintendent Gravatt a full-time contract with terms to be determined; the board recorded support and said contract terms would be framed at a later meeting.

Votes Most motions were approved on voice votes recorded in the minutes with each vote called "aye" and no recorded oppositions during the public roll calls. The board referenced having seven members present during the meeting when votes were taken.