Three Bella Vistans who serve on the Gravette School Board are promoting building a school that is not needed in Bella Vista. It is to be on Arkansas 340 across from the Highlands Plaza and St. Bernard’s Church, a school to be built for 147 students from Bella Vista to the tune of $14 million.
They want it now because the land from Cooper Communities is free, not because there is a need. After all your fact-finding, you will see as have I that there are classrooms available in the Gravette Schools and room to add on to existing buildings that were part of the original plans. Not only are classrooms available, but the projected increases in enrollment is not happening.
I think the bigger issue is that this school will be in the back yard of Highlands Nursing Home and Highlands Plaza, a retirement community. You will also find that there is a projected school bus terminal for this school location that will operate all day long. Can you even begin to imagine a bus terminal, much less a school, in the midst of this area where retirees would like to enjoy what they moved here for — peace, quiet and lower taxes. Imagine what this area will look like between Arkansas 279 (craft fair grounds), 340 and Rogers Road all getting a big chunk of traffic morning, noon and afternoons.
If you look into this, you will find that there are other locations to build a school much more convenient for other students as well. They have said they will empty Gravette classrooms in the present system to have them bused to Bella Vista to fill (the new school). Duh!
It has also been implied that there should not be any problem getting this millage increase and raising our taxes in Bella Vista, because, these are the people who have the money to support this kind of millage increase. Is this the reason they have chosen to do their presentations only in Bella Vista? No one has heard of Maysville, Gravette, Hiwasse, or Sulphur Springs having any. They are a part of the Gravette School District.
Final point is that Bella Vistans, as most people, would be more than happy to continue to support a school that is needed. This one is not. And above all, being against a school that is not needed does not mean we are against children.
Investigate this. Project your tax bill. Find your answer to be to “vote no.”
PAT HAAS
Bella Vista