The Gravette School Board met last Monday to review academic programming and progress reports. The meeting opened with a celebration of our fifth grade teachers. They highlighted the strategies behind their students' academic growth. Sharron Riggs, 2026 GUE Teacher of the Year, highlighted the use of technology to help with writing support. Gina Horton, multiyear honoree for math growth and achievement scores, highlighted the importance of Friday afternoon PLC time for teachers to collaborate and plan to meet student academic needs. Horton cited the PLC and district purchased curriculum supports as keys to success. Fifth grade math scores have routinely ranked near the top of the region, including finishing first ahead of all area districts in 2025 and second in the region this past school year. Dr. Mandy Barrett, GUE Principal, thanked her team of teachers for all they do to support our students. Our fifth grade teachers are Sharon Riggs, Gina Horton, Devin Taylor, Annalise Hagan, Layna Carreira, Andrea Martin, and Kathrin Rogers.
Courtney Malott, Special Education Director, presented the annual special education report. Mrs. Malott has led the staff through Universal Design for Learning training at each campus. The district continues to hold parent nights to build collaboration with our families. Those partnerships have led to an exciting project to benefit students with disabilities at our elementary schools. Mr. Jim Singleton, Gravette alumni and Arvest Bank President in Gravette, presented the district with a $10,000 grant from the Arvest Foundation to help fund playground equipment for students with mobility challenges. With this grant and additional funding from our school board we will be able to install a wheelchair swing, sensory wall and accessible merry go round. Richard Carver, Maintenance and Transportation Director, worked with his team to lower the costs of these needed additions. We couldn’t be more proud of all involved in this project to help make our students' school experience even better. We are truly blessed in our community.
Special Education Director Courtney Mallot, Arvest Bank President Jim Singleton and Speech- Language Pathologist Jordan Bradford display grant check from the Arvest Foundatio
The board acted on resignations and hires. The tabled motions from last month’s meeting on the contract with Ideal Energy Solutions was tabled again to allow for the full vote of the board in November. A new Chevrolet Suburban was approved for purchase. The district uses the Suburbans for smaller group trips. Board Member Brandon Cravens was elected to be the district’s voting representative at the Arkansas School Boards Association.
This past Friday the board and community held a ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling for the new GHS six classroom addition. Board President Brad Harris, Vice President Heather Finley, Board Secretary Dani Madison, Past Presidents Tracy Moorman and Chris Flynt, and Board Members Brandon Cravens and Jessica Pike were joined by past board members Robyn Lovell, Tim Craig and Matt Croxdale for the ceremony. Police Chief Chuck Skaggs and Fire Chief Joey Bequette and other family and community members were on hand as well. Principal Fran Howard cut the ribbon for the ceremonial opening. Mike Spaeth from BuiLD Architects detailed the specifications of the storm safe structure. The new area has capacity to hold the entire student and staff with capacity up to 850 people. Robert Adams and Austin Leake spoke on behalf of Crossland Construction. Crossland met every target throughout the project, breaking ground this past January and hitting the substantial completion target this July to open the rooms to GHS staff and students. Through the meticulous work of our partners from Crossland Construction and BuiLD Architects the addition is a perfect match to the existing building. The project was completed $218,000 under budget. Superintendent Jeff Gravette thanked the board members for their work on the project. He also gave praise to the teams from Crossland and BuiLD as well as former GHS Principal Shannon Mitchell, District CFO Dennis Kurczek and Maintenance and Transportation Director Richard Carver for their work during the project. Mrs. Mitchell helped with matching the interior of the twenty year old building and Mr. Carver was an invaluable asset with his knowledge of all district utilities and past building projects. Spaeth, Adams and Leake each complimented Mr. Carver and district staff for their knowledge and ease to work with. This building will stand the test of time and be there in times of need for generations to come.
From R to L, Tracy Moorman, Matt Croxdale, Rabyn Lovell, Dani Madison, Jessica Pike, Fran Howard, Heather Finely Brad Harris, Chris Flynt, Tim Craig and Brandon Cravens attend ribbon cutting ceremony at GHS on October 23rd.
The board’s next regular meeting will be on November 16th.
