BENTONVILLE — A ninth-grade center will allow Bentonville High School students to engage and connect with classmates and teachers, the district superintendent said Thursday.
Michael Poore told the School Board an intramural program, project-based labs and a strong advising system are goals for the high school.
“How do we guide kids as they live and dream?” Poore said. “The thing we can do to impact their lives is to engage them.”
The project, if approved, is expected to cost $63 million. The 315,000-square-foot building will hold 1,500 students. A 3.8 millage increase is needed and will have an annual property tax impact of $150 to a home costing $200,000.
The board will review hiring an intramural program director during its November meeting. Poore has estimated the position will cost $65,000. Poore said intramural activities may range from flag football and water polo to concert, dance and academic events.
A new advising system will offer students a personal relationship with faculty, Poore said.
“Advisers will stay with a kid throughout their high school career,” Poore said. “We might roll out some of this before we open the new building.”
Kim Garrett, principal, said each teacher may have an average of 25 students they advise.
At A Glance
High School Crowding
Bentonville’s School Board voted against building a second high school, 4-3, earlier this month. Board president Becky Koonce, Kim Mertes, Bryan Vernetti and Beth Haney voted against the option. Travis Riggs, Scott Packnett and Willie Cowgur voted for it. A 5-2 vote endorsed building a ninth-grade center. Riggs and Packnett were against.
Source: Staff Report
Project based-learning will be key to the ninth-grade center, Poore said. He said this can be achieved through a high-tech science lab — Science on a Sphere. The lab is designed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The system uses a computer to project data to a six-foot sphere.
Rooms surrounding the sphere can be used to teach students things such as robotics, satellite technology or agriculture science.
“If we ever get to two high schools we can put an alternative learning program in that building,” Poore said. “One thing we need to look at is we may not even need a second high school.”
Poore said the future may bring more online blended courses for students.
“This is an exciting piece of delivery for us to investigate,” Poore said.
Travis Riggs, school board member, disagreed online classes would be a huge part of the district’s near future.
“This is not going to solve our overcrowding by 2020,” Riggs said.
Bryan Vernetti, board member, said the option may lead the district to build differently in the future.