May 29, 2015

At its regular meeting Thursday, the Gosnell School Board approved bids totaling $949,142 for the district's new synthetic turf football field and track project.

Christie Zolman | Courier News
The natural grass at Gosnell High School's J.W. Rea Field will soon be removed, making way for new synthetic turf playing surface. The Gosnell School Board approved bids for the project Thursday. Also included in the project will be a new track at the facility.
The natural grass at Gosnell High School's J.W. Rea Field will soon be removed, making way for new synthetic turf playing surface. The Gosnell School Board approved bids for the project Thursday. Also included in the project will be a new track at the facility.

GOSNELL -- At its regular meeting Thursday, the Gosnell School Board approved bids totaling $949,142 for the district's new synthetic turf football field and track project.

Superintendent Bonard Mace presented bids for various phases of the track and field project, including demolition, concrete work, asphalt and installation. Those bids were from Robinson General Construction, Symmetry Turf, Beynon, Gillis, Prograss, and Hellas Sports Construction. Instead of approving bids for each part of the project, the board approved a combined total of bids.

Mace said the Gosnell School District will be busy this summer, not only with the track and field projects but many others. On the list of summer improvement projects are the Junior High HVAC project, asphalt work, fixing a drainage issue at the fourth-grade building and making sure the high school is handicapped-accessible. Board members then approved a bid from Kenny's Carpet to tile five classrooms as well as a bid from Ricky Crawford to tile two classrooms. Those projects will be among the district's summer improvements.

"Both these companies are local and have been good to us in the past," Mace said. "We like to work with local companies and I recommend we keep doing that."

In other business, Assistant Superintendent Kevin Evans presented changes to 2015-16 policy books, which were approved as presented. Evans also asked the board to allow the district to continue to participate in the Arkansas Public Schools Resource Center (APSRC) at a cost of $24,000. The APSRC is a resource faculty members use for training, conferences and more. Evans' request was approved unanimously.

Also approved was U.S. Fire Insurance Company's $17,000 bid for student accidental insurance. The board then approved designating Mace as the ex-officio financial secretary as well as gave him authorization to make application for federal programs for the 2015-16 school year. Board members then approved the city of Gosnell's facility use form for a June 27 event and agreed to waive the facility fee.

Before adjourning, board members unanimously accepted the resignation of Ruth Light, junior high English teacher; the hire of Terri Askue, special education teacher; and the hire of Heather Smith, paraprofessional. The board also approved hiring Ronnie Stratmoen as girls junior high basketball coach, assistant high school basketball coach, assistant softball coach and secondary teacher.

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