State Dollars Boosts School Construction

Bentonville Snares Largest Piece Of The Pie With $15.4 million

Some Northwest Arkansas schools are getting ready to start construction or repair projects, knowing they will receive $23.8 million in state aid in the coming months.

The Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation recently approved money for projects in Bentonville, Farmington, Greenland, Lincoln, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Siloam Springs, Springdale and West Fork.

The state money is a portion of the cost of the projects, based on a district’s wealth index. The index is a calculation reflecting the value of one mill per student, said Charles Stein, director of the facilities division. The higher the index, the less that district receives in state money for a building project.

The List

Building Projects

Northwest Arkansas schools will receive about $23.8 million in state aid this year for construction this year.

Benton County

• Bentonville: New high school, $15.4 million

• Pea Ridge: Middle school classrooms, $231,420; high school classrooms $880,671

• Siloam Springs: Southside Elementary School, roof, $186,376

Washington County

• Farmington: High school, roof, $148,450; New drama, choir, band auditorium complex, $1.9 million

• Greenland: High school, structural repair, $49,508

• Lincoln: Middle school, structural repair, $773,253

• Prairie Grove: New primary School, $957,344; FEMA Safe Room, $462,056

• Springdale: Walker Elementary School, HVAC upgrade, $861,845; Central Junior High School, roof, $510,487

• West Fork: Middle school, restrooms, classroom improvements, $394,420; Middle school physical education facility, $999,256

Approved Projects Not Receiving State Aid This Year

• Decatur: Elementary school physical education facility, $267,376

• Huntsville: High school, multipurpose facility, $233,900

• Rogers: New elementary school, $2.8 million

Source: Arkansas Division Of Public School Academic Facilities And Transportation

For instance, the $1.9 million coming to the Farmington district to develop the first phase of a new high school represents about 57 percent of the cost. Farmington’s index is 0.43, meaning it is responsible for 43 percent of the cost of a project. In comparison, Fayetteville has an index of 0.99.

The commission allocated $130.6 million statewide for construction projects. Another $55.3 million in projects were approved but didn’t receive allocations. Stein said those projects likely will get money after the 2014 session of the legislature.

Bentonville was approval for the largest amount among Northwest Arkansas school districts at $15.4 million for a second high school. However, Bentonville administrators have said the amount the district will receive depends on the size of the building. Some have estimated the district will receive about $13 million of the $15.4 million allocation.

Pea Ridge will break ground in late summer on six classrooms at the middle school. Work on six classrooms and a 700-seat auditorium at the high school will start in May 2014, Superintendent Rick Neal said. The projects are expected to cost $6.5 million. That cost will be covered by a district building fund, refinancing second lien bonds and $1.1 million from the state, Neal said.

Besides Bentonville, new buildings are planned in Farmington, Prairie Grove and West Fork.

Farmington’s high school will be built on a 45-acre tract on the south side of town, adjacent to the Farmington Methodist Church on South Hunter Street. The 74,000-square-foot building will include an 1,800-seat sports arena, a 600-seat auditorium, stage and dressing rooms, plus rooms for band, choir and drama. The state money will help pay for the fine arts space of the project.

Prairie Grove was allocated about $1.4 million. Most is for a primary school attached to the intermediate building and about $460,000 is for a physical education building and storm shelter built to Federal Emergency Management Agency standards.

Superintendent Allen Williams said the district asked for a review of the money allocated for the projects to make sure a separate grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency didn’t alter the amount the district received. Williams said the facilities division hasn’t responded to the request.

The Prairie Grove School Board will decide at its June 11 meeting whether to seek additional millage for the new school.

Meanwhile the district can move ahead with construction of the shelter, Williams said. The district received a $937,000 grant from the federal agency, which represents about 75 percent of the estimated $1.25 million price tag. The facility will be about 6,000 square feet, sufficient size to accommodate the students and faculty on the primary and intermediate school campus.

Prairie Grove is the third school district in Northwest Arkansas to build a storm shelter on its campus. Greenland and Pea Ridge have shelters.

Rogers may appeal its two projects that were considered. One, for a new elementary school in 2016 or 2017, was approved but didn’t receive money, said David Cauldwell, district business manager. The other was an addition to The Annex building where the New Technology High School will be housed when it opens in August. That project wasn’t approved.

Cauldwell said the Facilities Commission found the high school programs didn’t need additional space but district projections indicate there isn’t enough space.

Besides Rogers, projects in Decatur and Huntsville are on hold until more money becomes available.

Upcoming Events