PEA RIDGE — The Pea Ridge School Board meeting Monday night was one split-vote after another.
Casey and Larry Mathis, parents of Pea Ridge Elementary student Devin Mathis who recently severed part of his finger when a door shut on his hand at school, requested the district be responsible for accrued medical costs on the grounds that the accident happened as a result of faulty equipment.
“This is the first time I’ve seen anything brought to the school board of this nature,” Rick Webb, board member, said.
“We do have accidents around the school a lot, it’s the nature ofour business with children playing and so forth. If we pay for this - when we’ve had a broken ankle, broken arms - are we prepared to pay for those? We need to set a precedent,” Mike Van Dyke, superintendent, said.
Van Dyke reminded the board that the school does not carry liability insurance on the students, only a supplemental insurance program costing about $8 per student that covers very little.
He also reminded the five board members that, under law, the school has tort immunity in cases such as these.
Clark Tyndall, board member, asked if there had been other injuries in the schools, to which Intermediate school principal Anita Wood responded “ regularly.” High school principal Rick Neal agreed.
Van Dyke recommended the district does not cover Mathis’ medical expenses, and the board voted in favor 3-2, with board president Jenny Wood and member Darin Wright opposing.
“Do we not get a say?” Casey Mathis asked after the vote.
Board president Jenny Wood urged the Mathis couple to meet with Van Dyke for further discussion.
Eight classified positions were eliminated, including four special education aides, three instructional aides and one ISS supervisor. The board voted to approvethe classified personnel for 2010-2011 “as presented” following a one-hour executive session.
“It’s not about the money,” Van Dyke said after the meeting. “The need is not there. We have offered some part-time positions with full benefits.”
In response to the district’s request for qualifications to begin the construction process of a FEMA funded tornado safe room, construction companies Baldwin and Shell and Nabholz answered with a proposal.
Phil Jones of Nabholz said the company is currently working with seven school districts in the state, has done many high profile jobs, has the company’sheadquarters located just seven miles down the road from Pea Ridge, done at least one FEMA project in Arkansas and is “good at concrete,” referring to the new Crystal Bridges construction in Bentonville.
Jones urged the board to check references he provided.
There was no representative from Baldwin and Shell at the meeting. Van Dyke said neither company was formerly invited to speak to the board.
Van Dyke said he would like to see the board make a decision on which company to hire as the construction management team for this project right away. The plans will be presented to the PeaRidge Planning Commission in June and then the bid process will begin.
The company hired as the management team will oversee the bid process, collecting bids from outside contractors.
“It’s hard for me to recommend someone who didn’t show up,” Webb said, adding he would vouch for the president of Nabholz, having known him for some time.
Van Dyke said, however, he would recommend working with Baldwin and Shell, as he is comfortable working with them from past projects.
After discussion, the board voted in favor of Van Dyke’s recommendation to hire Baldwin andShell 3-2, with Ramsey and Wright opposing.
The request to add extended family to the list of approved family members in the bereavement policy that was tabled last month was reintroduced to the board and the board voted in favor 4-1, with board member Joshua Ramsey opposing.
In other business, the board:
◊Approved the resignation of Courtney Hurst from position of varsity cheerleading coach, Patricia Fitzner and Nancy Meyers and the transfer of Julia Ferguson to Food Service Manager at the Primary School, Sherree Clark to full-time food service position and Jessica Wright to a 6.5 hour food service position; and
◊Agreed to begin district accreditation with AdvancEd;
◊Approved the PPC policy changes, updated Feb. 2010;
◊Approved the staffvoted changes made by the PPC to the 2010-2011 calendar, changing the first two days of spring break, previously allotted as snow make-up days three and four, to makeup days seven and eight, if needed. Staff members voted for the change 86-6;
The grievance hearing previously scheduled for Monday was rescheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 10, in the high school media center.
News, Pages 1 on 04/14/2010