Tuesday, Sept. 17, is the annual school election.
There are two questions before voters of the Pea Ridge School District:
◊Who will represent them in a fi ve-year seat?
◊Permission to refund and restructure existing bond debt.
On the fi rst question, there are four men seeking the seat currently held by Darin Wright, who is seeking re-election. The other men - John Dye, Braxton Hurst and Ron Mullikin - and Wright, have each said they want to represent the community in which they live. Each have children in the school system. Each of the four said growth, and keeping up with it, is the biggest challenge for the school district.
That challenge is what prompted the second question - permission to refund the bonds.
The tax rate is not going to increase.
The off cials of the district are asking for a $12,890,000 refunding and construction bond issue.
The bond proceeds will be used to refund the district’s bonds dated Oct. 1, 2011,and a portion of the bonds dated April 1, 2012. That will generate approximately $3 million in construction funds.
The plans for those funds are for additional classrooms for both the middle school and high school as well as a new fine arts auditorium.
The city Planning Commission just approved the large-scale development plan for construction of six additional classrooms for Pea Ridge Middle School.
Construction is expected to begin this fall, as soon as bids are accepted. The Middle School is within just a few students of being “maxed out” according to Rick Neal, school superintendent.
Plans also call for construction of additional classrooms at the high school as well as a multipurpose facility which will include an auditorium as well as classrooms for band, choir and drama, as well asequipping those rooms.
The current millage rate is 44.8. The requested rate is the same. There is not an increase requested.
The extension would take the millage an additional six years, until 2043.
For the past six years, the school has had building projects. Pea Ridge has grown. The city’s census shows the population has nearly doubled. The school district is larger than the city limits.
As student enrollment increases, so must staft . The state dictates the ratio of students to teacher for each grade. In addition to more teachers, there is a need for classrooms in which to put the teachers and students.
Pea Ridge High School and Middle School have earned state and national awards for their academic standards.
Regardless of your personal opinion on whether growth is positive, it is real.
A Neighborhood Market has been proposed and the large-scale development plan presented to the city’s Planning Commission for a tech review. The store will increase property taxes and bring in more sales tax. It will also bring in more people.
In our opinion, it is wise of the school off cials to look ahead to meet the needs of the district, the staft and the students by asking for a millage extension.
No one likes taxes, but we all expect and demand service from our city and school. Those services are funded through taxes.
Vote for the extension of the tax millage.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 09/11/2013