BENTONVILLE — A Bentonville lawyer has circulated a mailer for the second year expressing his opposition to a millage increase proposed by the School Board.
The mailer states the board’s proposal of an $86 million high school to be built in Centerton is “the wrong product” and suggests alternatives to addressing overcrowding at Bentonville High School.
“I hope you will join me and VOTE NO on September 17th,” the mailer states.
The mailer bears the signature of Steve Carter, who also produced a mailer in opposition to the board’s 6.7-mill tax proposal last year to pay for a second high school. Carter spent $8,384 on that effort, according to documents filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
In an interview for a report published by NWA Media on Sunday, Carter said he would vote against this year’s millage but said he wouldn’t produce a mailer about it.
It’s unclear how many households received the mailer. Carter didn’t return a phone message left for him Thursday.
The mailer suggests alternatives such as building a ninth-grade academy or a career development center, pursuing “online alternatives” and building a fourth junior high school and moving freshmen back to the junior high schools.
“Any of these will satisfy our space needs without jeopardizing our academic standards of excellence,” the mailer states. “Under the current proposal, the board HAS NOT included funds to
At a Glance:
Early Voting in Bentonville's second high school millage election continues today through Monday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the Benton County Clerk's Office at the following locations:
• 215 E Central Ave, Bentonville
• 300 W Poplar St, Rogers
• 707 S Lincoln St, Siloam Springs
Early voting also will be available 8 a.m.-4p.m. today at these sites:
• Riordan Hall, 3 Riordan Road, Bella Vista
• Centerton Firehouse, 755 W Centerton Blvd, Centerton
operate and maintain the new building.”
Mary Ley, School District communications director, said a friend forwarded her a picture of the mailer Thursday.
“We did many studies, and we did surveys, and we did community meetings and we feel like we have the best solution,” Ley said.
Rudy Upshaw, a School Board member, said the entire community was actively involved in the board’s decision to pursue a second high school.
“I think, of the options listed (on the mailer), all were addressed and looked at through community forums,” Upshaw said. “I would be very surprised if our entire community as a whole made the wrong decision.”
The election on the millage increase is Tuesday. Early voting started this week. More than 3,000 people have cast ballots already, according to Tena O’Brien, Benton County clerk.
In other news, Dana Davis, chairman of the committee campaigning for the millage increase, announced Thursday the committee decided to buy television advertising to support its cause.
“We have decided to buy a limited package that will run over the next few days,” Davis wrote in an email. “If additional funds come in, we may elect to add to that package.”
The campaign has produced two 30-second television ads. One features Davis, and the other features School Board member Wendi Cheatham.