Anticipating up to 1,800 students next year, Rick Neal, school superintendent told Pea Ridge School Board members it is time to construct more classrooms.
The Middle School on Weston Street is already a capacity, Neal told board members during a work study session recently, and showed them a design for adding six classrooms on the north end of the building avoiding a retention pond.
“Steve Elliott (architect) has been through every building process we’ve been through. He said it is a true pleasure to work with you and the city,” Neal told board members, adding that Dan Lovelady from Beardsley Financial has shown school officials how the money can be accessed without creating an additional burden to the taxpayers.
“We are breaking this into two phases,” Neal said. The first phase is the classrooms for the Middle School. The second is a fine arts auditorium and more classrooms onto the south side of the high school. “We’re getting $230,000 in partnership money.”
“This (the Middle School classrooms) is the immediate need right now,” Neal said.
“You’ve got a lot to do, Rick,” Ann Cato, board member, said, as the group evaluated buildings, classes offered and athletics.
“We’re barely catching up,” Sandy Button, board member, said.
Neal told board members they should consider looking for another piece of property as the school continues to expand.
“We’ve got overcrowding in three grades right now,” Neal said, adding that there are 82 students in kindergarten and 520 students in the high school. He said law changes allowing transfers into the district through School Choice may change the anticipated numbers.
“You believe we’ll be at 1,800 next year?” Josh Ramsey, board president, asked.
“Definitely,” Neal responded.
“The elementary buildings are in great shape to grow,” Keith Martin, assistant superintendent, said.
Neal said the continuation of the current bonds do have to be on the September ballot but added it is not a request to raise the tax.
News, Pages 1 on 05/22/2013