SPRINGDALE SCHOOLS: District Mulls Millage Hike

NCREASE NEEDED TO FUND NEW ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

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SPRINGDALE — Since voters approved a millage increase in 2003, the Springdale School District has opened eight new schools.

The district continues to grow, however, and administrators are concerned they may be reaching their limit on funding new schools with existing resources, Assistant Superintendent Allen Williams said.

Therefore, district administrators are beginning to discuss asking voters for a millage increase to build new schools, he told parents and staff Monday at the patrons shelf meeting.

“We’re looking at plans,” he said.

The district probably needs at least one new elementary school to start the 2011-12 school year, and probably a new middle school and junior high after that. It’s possible the east side schools may need portable buildings again if growth continues, Williams said.

Most of the ideas being explored would call for a property tax increase of three mills or less in 2010, he said.

“It’s tough to have these conversations given the state of the economy,” Superintendent Jim Rollins said.

The schools are running out of room, though, especially on the east side of the district, he said.

“The east (side) is full,” he said.

Asked about possible locations for a new school, Williams said the primary site they are looking at is in Sonora. The district already owns the land.

The district’s tax rate was 40 mills after the 2003 increase, but state rollbacks have lowered it to 38.6 mills.

The newest schools are the Monitor and Shaw, which opened in 2007, Williams said.

Despite the national economic downturn the district continues to gain students.

In October 2007, Springdale had 16,792 students.

In fall 2008, there were 17,420 students, and now, there are 18,188.

Parent Jennifer Garner asked how to respond to the argument that the district should have more money because of the increase in student enrollment.

Williams said when a district grows extremely fast, it takes time for revenue increases to catch up with the enrollment growth.

Springdale only had 11,390 students in 2000, which equates to 6,798 less than it has today.

“If those (6,798) students had formed their own school district, it’d be the 12th largest in the state,” Williams said.

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