At A Glance

Portable Buildings

Bentonville School District officials said portable buildings being used to house increased growth is costing taxpayers dollars. The district currently rents 30 portables.

Paul Wallace, district facilities director, said there are setup costs from the supplier along with fire safety, security, groundwork, plumbing, electrical and technology costs. He calculates the total costs of setting up the 30 portable buildings at $1,383,400.

Monthly rental of the units cost the district $28,716 plus $8,562 for utilities, Wallace said. He said, annually the district spends nearly $500,000 on portables.

School Board President Travis Riggs said the district needs to find permanent solutions for overcrowding and move away from portable buildings.

“They are fine in delivering an education, but they are not fine in our responsible budget,” Riggs said.

The structures are also only temporary and the city has given the district two waivers to allowing the portables to remain, Riggs said.

“What would happen to us if they say ‘We have given you two waivers on your portables. We are not granting you waivers next year.’?” Riggs said. “What would we do?”

Kathy Breed, a district parent, said a mill increase would help the district build future structures.

“We need to get kiddos out of costly portables and into school buildings,” Breed said.

Source: Staff Report