Panel Proposes Options

COMMITTEE PRESENTS SCHOOL ALTERNATIVES

— Members of the Third Alternative High School Growth Committee presented nearly a dozen options to deal with overcrowding during a meeting Tuesday.

The alternatives included building a fourth junior high school for seventh through ninth grades, two second high schools with ninth-grade centers and a 2,000 capacity high school with the ability to expand.

MEETING INFORMATION

Growth Committee

The Third Alternative High School Growth Committee is set to meet again at 6 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Bentonville School District Administration Building, 500 Tiger Blvd.

The School Board created the committee last month, in hopes members would find a compromise. Supporters of a ninth-grade center along with advocates of a second high school both formed organizations in recent months.

Board members voted 4-3 against a second high school in October. The vote was followed with a 5-2 vote in favor of a ninth-grade center. A millage increase is needed for either option.

Gary Ritter, endowed chairman of the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, sits on the committee as an education expert.

“It seems to me that the large high school works for most but not for all,” Ritter said. “I wonder about the option of building several small high school throughout the district?”

The smaller schools could be dedicated to academic areas such as liberal arts or math and science, Ritter said. He added the option wouldn’t double opportunity for football but students could decide which school interested them more.

Amber Morey, supporter of a ninth-grade center, thought an academic-focused building is a possibility.

“What about a smaller career-ready high school for medical, technology, HVAC training?” Morey asked.

Superintendent Michael Poore estimated 500 students at the high school would be willing to attend a college and career-ready school.

Grant Lightle, supporter of a second high school, threw out several options including building an expandable, 2,000 capacity school. “I don’t know if we have to build the most expensive school,” Lightle said. “What does a suitable school cost if we just want X and Y?”

District officials said they would have their architectural firm design a presentation to show the costs associated with school construction.

Other options mentioned included two medium high schools at 1,000 students with full athletics, a Bella Vista or Centerton high school, and a smaller 500 career-ready high school with a medium 1,000 or 1,500 capacity high school.

The board also heard a presentation on capacity from Jim French of DLR Group. The company studied Bentonville High School in 2009.

French said he felt the building is at capacity. The school has more than 3,600 students.

“If you are going to get to the 4,000 number, you would have to build some more science classrooms, music classrooms and go to four lunch periods,” French said.

Poore said the school is having some space problems.

“We have pressure points that exist,” Poore said. “Hallways that feel more crowded along with performing art spaces and science labs.”

The district has made some modifications since the study was conducted, Poore said. Such as modify some storage rooms and converted them into science labs.

“I think our science labs are good for another two years,” Poore said.

Charles Rateliff, a neutral member on the committee, asked the committee focus more on data and information at the end of the meeting.

“Enrollment projections is the key variable to every decision we make,” Rateliff said. “If we can’t agree on that we can’t agree on anything.”

Committee members also were only given a few minutes to ask French questions about the capacity report.

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