Gravette School Board approves slate of hires, resignations and retirements

The Gravette School District board approved a series of personnel actions after an executive session, voting to accept multiple hires, intra‑district transfers, resignations and retirements for the 2026–27 school year.

The board voted on a set of motions labeled A through M covering routine personnel business. Actions approved included the transfer of Ryan Quintana to an elementary AL teacher position, the hiring of Rebecca Ortiz as an elementary teacher at GDE (placed on step four with a bachelor’s on a 190‑day contract earning $50,000), the transfer of Amy West to special education department secretary, several resignations and retirements (effective at the ends of the 2025–26 or 2026–27 school years), and a step adjustment recommendation for Lisa Seismore.

The motions were each moved, seconded and put to a voice vote; the chair announced the passage of each motion. The board recorded no votes by name in the public transcript; each motion concluded with the board saying “I” and the chair stating “Motion pass.”

Why it matters: The approvals finalize the district’s staffing picture for the coming school year, establish salary placements and contract days for certain hires, and set personnel changes that affect classroom assignments and support roles across schools.

Votes at a glance:
• Motion A — Accept intra‑district transfer of Ryan Quintana to elementary AL teacher (effective 2026–27): approved.
• Motion B — Hire Rebecca Ortiz as elementary teacher at GDE, step 4, bachelor’s, 190‑day contract, $50,000: approved.
• Motion C — Transfer Amy West to special education department secretary (effective 2026–27): approved.
• Motion D — Accept resignation of Megan Boyd as elementary yearbook sponsor (effective 2026–27): approved.
• Motion E — Accept resignation of Maddie Moore as elementary teacher (effective end of 2026 school year): approved.
• Motion F — Accept retirement of Pam Pendigraph, GHS cafeteria worker (effective end of 2025–26): approved.
• Motion G — Approve step adjustment recommendation for Lisa Seismore from step 8 to step 25 (effective 2026–27): approved.
• Motion H — Accept resignation of William Randy Fine, food service employee (effective end of 2025–26): approved.
• Motion I — Accept retirement of Alicia Bailey, GU nurse (effective end of 2025–26): approved.
• Motion J — Accept intra‑district transfer of Carissa Lwalan (effective 2026–27): approved.
• Motion K — Accept retirement of Cheryl Trap, GU Library Aid (effective after 2025–26): approved.
• Motion L — Hire Ally Ketchum as K2 self‑contained special education teacher (effective 2026–27), placed on step 1 with bachelor’s, $50,000: approved.
• Motion M — Accept resignation of Jessica Kaine, pre‑K aide (effective end of 2025–26); further motion accepted resignation of Laura Hatchen, special education teacher (effective end of 2025–26): approved.

Details and clarifications: Several motions included specific contract terms and salary placements (for example, Rebecca Ortiz and Ally Ketchum were placed on step placements with a bachelor’s salary of $50,000 and specific contract days). Effective dates for retirements and resignations were repeatedly recorded as the ends of the 2025–26 or 2026–27 school years as read aloud in the motions.

The meeting concluded after the board briefly discussed a prospective land matter and thanked retiring employees for their service before adjourning.