FAYETTEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Price Not Right

BOARD SURVEY: OVERWHELMING RESISTANCE TO COST

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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

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FAYETTEVILLE — A $113 million price tag to build a new high school was the overriding reason patrons voted the proposal down in September, according to results of a postcard survey conducted by the Fayetteville School Board.

The school district on Sept. 5 asked voters to approve a 4.9-mill increase in the district’s property tax rate to raise the revenue to finance the project. The issue was overwhelmingly defeated by a vote of 6,382 against and 3,672 for.

In the subsequent postcard survey, the district inquired with a checklist of possible reasons as to why voters may have favored or opposed the measure.

While only 82 respondents said they voted for the millage increase because of the cost, 1,774 (39 percent) respondents said cost was the top reason they voted against the measure.

Another 22 percent, or 988, said they voted against the millage primarily because of the impact on their property taxes. The third reason at 11 percent, or 513 voters, was labeled “one high school versus two,” ostensibly indicating those who preferred to build a second high school rather than one new larger one. The fourth highest primary reason at 6 percent, or 280 voters, was the current economic climate.

Among those voting for the issue, 31 percent, or 543 people, indicated the No. 1 reason was the quality of the current facility.

Superintendent Vicki Thomas said she was pleased that patrons took time to write additional comments on their postcards, all of which created “a good piece of planning data” for district leaders.

The turnout in the Sept. 5 election was about 25 percent of those eligible to cast ballots, among the heaviest turnouts in recently history for a special school election.

About 5,100 survey cards were returned to the district, which mailed them to all the voters who participated in the election.

School Board President Susan Heil said the school board will review the results at its meeting Nov. 19.

“We now have to interpret what we have,” Heil said, noting the survey was a good way to learnwhat was on the minds of voters when they went to the polls on election day.

Thomas said the issues were evident before the election - cost, location, addition of ninth grade, trust in the school system, impact on property taxes and construction on campus.

“We had a number of compelling issues out there,” she said. The survey served to pull the information together in a rank order, she noted.

Now the district will turn its attention on construction options that are available for $45 million. That money comes from Qualifi ed School Construction Bond credits. The district was approved for up to $52.3 million in the low- to no-interest bonds but $7 million will be applied to the construction of a new Happy Hollow Elementary School.

The district could issue thebonds in March and would have three years to spend the money. The bonds are repayable in 16 years.

The district also will develop a 10-year master plan, Thomas said, and adding the high school could be done in phases, which could necessitate a smaller millage increase request in the future.

“People are worried about the economy and are tightening their belts,” Thomas said.

She will start meeting with architects from Hight-Jackson as early as today to explore options. She recently visited Heritage High School in Rogers for ideas. Rogers only retained 35 percent of the old building and the rest of the school is new. The construction price was about$41 million.

The needs for Fayetteville’s high school did not go away because the millage failed, she said.

“We still have inadequate facilities for our fine arts programs,” Thomas said. “The cafeteria must be retrofi tted and expanded, as it currently houses approximately 350 students and the high school population is over 1,800.”

Classrooms need to be updated; as does the library space, science labs, gymnasiums and flexible learning spaces. Heating, air conditioning and fire safety systems also need upgrades. Building leaks need to be repaired and a plan needs to be developed to ensure safety, Thomas said.

News, Pages 1 on 11/04/2009

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sfret says...

We, The People, told the school NO. No debt. Not your plan.

Yet, the school finds a debt they can accept WITHOUT PERMISSION so they can pursue what THE BOARD wants to do. They do this against OUR will.

What's wrong with this picture? No matter what side you supported in this issue, can you HONESTLY say that you want your elected officials going behind your back? Do you want them to take on debt and perform projects that, in a vote of We The People, they were told NOT TO DO?

It's time to recall this Board and have them fired. Our founders declaired it was not only our right to bring down despots, but it was our duty.

November 4, 2009 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

caitlink69_yahoo_com says...

The #1 reason for people not voting that I know of is they didn't trust the current board to spend the money appropriately, because of past bad decisions and such. FYI.

November 4, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )