School board expels student for bomb threat

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

— Pea Ridge High School junior Jacob Grey, 17, was expelled for typing a bomb threat on a calculator at school. His suspension is for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year and the first semester of the 2011-2012 school year.

It was approved by the School Board at a special meeting Thursday night.

During the school staff’s investigation into the incident, Grey admitted to high school principal Rick Neal he typed a bomb threat typed into a calculator in the school’s in-school suspension classroom Thursday, Jan. 27. The threat was found by another student the following day.

The Pea Ridge Schools’ policy regarding bomb threats, said superintendent Mike Van Dyke, is the expulsion of that student for up to one year.

“He’s a troubled student, I think that his mother and step dad realized he basically wants to be gone (from school). He has several issues within the court system, he doesn’t really want to be here. He chose that route, that’s what came out of this investigation,” Neal said.

“We have zero tolerance on this stuff. The board is not going to just slap >you on the hand.”

Rick Webb

Board member

Grey’s parents did not attend the meeting.

“We have zero tolerance on this stuff,” board member Rick Webb said. “The board is not going to just slap you on the hand.”

The board voted unanimously in favor of expulsion.

In other business, the board received a recommendation from Van Dyke to accept a bid from Baldwin and Shell Construction Company for the construction of the Pea Ridge multi-purpose facility at a guaranteed maximum price of $2,198,074.

This price, which is under the budgeted $2.2 million, includes a 200- by 160-foot practice field and field house, a total project of 45,167 square feet, and is guaranteed for 30 days due to the volatile steel market.

Board member Ann Cato raised questions regarding the exclusions listed within the bid, which included insurance deductibles for earthquake and flood, rock excavation, painting, testing and relocation or furnishing of lockers.

Patrick Tenney of Baldwin and Shell said he doesn’t anticipate the need for any rock excavation on the property from experience with past projects such as the construction of the Primary School. Testing is customary and involves a third party entity to test the concrete. Van Dyke said school staff has offered to assist with painting and the relocation of lockers.

“If my memory serves me right,” Webb said, “this is the first time we’ve been under budget of $2.2 million and we’re getting more square footage than we’ve ever had.”

Ramsey agreed.

“I want to say thank you to you all,” head football coach Tony Travis said.

“It’s been well worth (the wait) to get it to $2.2 million. The first estimate was $4.46 million. We’ve cut 15,000 feet off (the plan) and we’re still getting a first-class facility.”

Tenney said once the ground is accessible, the project will take six months to complete.

The next board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at the high school.

Van Dyke said the board will begin looking at plans for the upcoming Intermediate School remodel.

News, Pages 1 on 02/09/2011