PEA RIDGE — The district has “encountered a little issue,” according to superintendent Mike Van Dyke at the regular school board meeting Monday night.

The approval of funding for school projects has always been a two-year cycle, he said. In filing for funds, they somehow missed the change to only one year at a time. Therefore, the second year of funding the district anticipated already receiving is up in the air.

The funding is set to be used for the construction of the new Intermediate School.

Architect Steve Elliot attended the meeting to discuss plans to halt the project or continue with construction.

He and Van Dyke recently met with Dr. Stein, head of facilities of the Arkansas Department of Education, to discuss the possibilities of funding still coming through.

Some schools apply for funds, then turn back the money. Elliot said he knows of two districts that haven’t even applied for any money this year.

“The money’s gonna be there,” Elliot said.

If the money is available, and as long as the building plans meet the criteria set by the state, Elliot said Stein didn’t see any reason the state would reject distributing funds to Pea Ridge Schools.

If the board decided to halt construction and wait to know for sure if funding will come available, they could run into problems. Completion of the new school could be pushed back almost eight months.

Board member Rick Webb said the district has the money to go ahead and build.

Van Dyke agreed it would be wise to start construction, to do as much during the summer as possible while students aren’t in school, and take a gamble the money will come through.

The board agreed to go ahead with construction, all in favor.

In other business, the board:

◊Approved the proposed budget of expenditures, as presented by Dan Lovelady of First Security, Beardsley Public Finance; and

◊Renewed a three-year contract with Beardsley Public Finance, the district’s fiscal agent;

and

◊Accepted the resignations of: Mike Van Dyke, superintendent;

Sarah Shannon, first grade teacher; Curtis Shannon, eighth grade teacher and football coach; Rebekah Mc-Carley, seventh grade teacher and coach; Lauren Brian, second grade teacher; Diane Meeds, high school special education teacher; and Shannon Nobles, library aide. Lori Ann Mardis also resigned her position as publications director.

◊Hired: Lora Beth Ayers,middle school cheerleading coach; Trent Lloyd, middle school teacher; and Anthony Caton, middle school teacher and football coach.

◊Approved the proposed retention bonus for certified and non-certified staff, and administrators.

◊Adopted certified and non-certified policy changes, as presented by Bonnie Fullmer.

◊Approved a 160-day in-school suspension teacher to be split between the middle and high school.

◊Approved an increase in school lunches by 30 cents, making lunch at the Primary and Intermediate schools $1.80 and lunch at the middle and high school $2.05. Breakfast will cost $1.30 at all schools.

The next regular meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday, June 14.

News, Pages 1 on 05/11/2011