PEA RIDGE — Working together, school and city personnel discussed various measures to improve response to emergency situations at the regular School Board meeting Monday night.

Mayor Jackie Crabtree invited the school district to use the Benton County Alert System at no charge to the school. Crabtree said the system began as a weather alert system, but has grown to include far more.

“The city of Pea Ridge is on the forefront,” said Josh Billis, director of Emergency Communications for Benton County. “The city opted into the system and pays a yearly subscription and have graciously offered it to the school.

“My son goes to school here and I’m signed up,” Billis said, adding that the system cost about $90,000 and subscription rates were determined based upon population.

It costs about $1.10 per household and the rate for Pea Ridge is $1,800 a year.

Keith Martin, elementary principal and school safety director, said the school’s Internet technology director has facilitated the use of this and said parents who do not have access to Internet at home may use a school computer to register on the site. The service will include e-mails, cell phone texts and phone calls for alerts, which can include weather alerts, emergencies or other special announcements.

Board members also approved the expenditure of $2,915 to purchase Knox boxes to mount on the exterior of school buildings.

The boxes would hold keys to the building for emergency personnel - firefighters and police - to gain access to the buildings in the event of an emergency when school personnel can not be reached.

“We need better access to your buildings when alarms go off and no one’s around,” Fire Chief Frank Rizzio told the board.

Change orders for school construction projects were approved as well as a budget including $13,521,386 in new revenues and $12,823,867 in total expenditures. Including the construction costs, the budget ends with operational funds of $1,700,000, said Dr. Roland Smith, interim superintendent.

“You charged me with advancing this district, but also not falling off a cliff after I’m gone,” Smith said.

The budget includes increased utility costs, a 3-percent salary increase for both certified and classified personnel, additional construction costs and money for a new school bus.

The salary increase is retroactive to the beginning of the school year.

“We will remain very competitive with small districts,” Smith said.

The increase applies to all school employees except the superintendent.

“I tried to be very careful to continue to advance the salaries. I know this will be a recommendation that some people will not think is enough, but I’m trying to budget prudently and be sure our people are paid competitively, realizing good people are never paid all they’re entitled to.”

The annual report to the public was presented.

The board scheduled a special board meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, to review bonds with a representative from First Security BeardsleyTe Public Finance.

News, Pages 1 on 09/14/2011