Archer Building Gaining Classrooms

— Ten new classrooms likely will be constructed at the Archer Learning Center and ready for use by this fall.

Archer, the School District’s alternative learning school, is set to gain space at its main campus on Meadow Avenue because of the recent move of some district administrators from that building to their new office on U.S. 412.

That space left behind by the administrators at Archer is still being used for professional development activities because the new building still needs some furniture and technology installed, according to Gary Compton, Springdale’s assistant superintendent for support services.

“By the end of February, we’ll probably be able to start some work (at Archer),” Compton said.

Each of the new classrooms will be designed to accommodate about 15 kids. They each will be about 450 square feet. There also will be a common area and a computer lab for the students’ use.

Compton said the entire renovation project likely would take several months, but he couldn’t provide a more precise estimate. He also could not say what the approximate cost would be.

“The first thing you have to do is get in there and feel what kind of problems we might have,” he said.

The Archer Learning Center takes secondary-level students who need extra help to curb behavioral or academic problems. The student to teacher ratio is 15-to-1, which is much lower than what most other schools offer.

The center enrolls about 300 students, up from 187 in 2009. Those students are spread across three buildings in the district.

Superintendent Jim Rollins said the ultimate goal is to get about 600 students enrolled at Archer.

“I believe we have youngsters who can benefit from the personalized service that comes from the Alternative Learning Environment,” Rollins said.

The current capacity at the Meadow Avenue building is about 200. The additional classrooms will allow the building to serve about 150 more students.

Arkansas school districts receive about $6,500 in state aid per student. The state distributes an extra $4,300 for students in special needs, including those in alternative learning.

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