ROGERS -- The School Board on Tuesday approved the School District's latest facilities plan, one that includes opening another elementary school by 2020.
The district is waiting to hear whether the state will agree to provide about $2.3 million for the new school, which is expected to cost a total of about $15 million.
Class gift
Representatives of the Rogers High School class of 1975 attended Tuesday’s School Board meeting to present checks of $250 to the principals of both Rogers High and Heritage High to be used for each school’s Project Graduation. The money was donated by members of the class during their recent 40-year reunion. Project Graduation is an all-night, drug- and alcohol-free party for seniors to celebrate their graduation.
Source: Staff report
That news is expected by May, when the Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation Commission chooses to provide money for certain school building projects across Arkansas. The state bases its funding for a particular project on the school district's wealth index, which takes into account a district's property-tax wealth.
If the commission agrees to help with the Rogers elementary school, the district will have four years from that point to complete the project in order to get the state's money, said Jim White, the district's chief operations officer.
Officials envision opening the new building some time between 2018 and 2020.
"It is our belief that we will need this building within this timeframe. I think it's wise and prudent we continue on that course," White said.
The district has space at the elementary level for two to three more years of enrollment growth; however, when compared to the state's recommended square footage, Rogers is short of space in several buildings, according to a narrative included in the master plan.
In May 2014, the board opted not to accept $2.7 million from the state toward construction of an elementary school. The board agreed at that time the district didn't need another school.
Over the past five years, the district has added an average of about 200 students per year. Enrollment was 15,077 on Oct. 1. District projections show enrollment rising to 15,842 by the 2025-26 school year.
School districts are required to submit updated facility master plans to the state once every two years.
Rogers has other facility needs listed in its master plan, such as a new building for the alternative learning education program, new roofs at Bellview Elementary and Lingle Middle schools, and renovations to Northside Elementary and Oakdale Middle schools.
In approving the master plan, the board also agreed it would not apply for state partnership money in the next funding cycle of 2017-19. The district's enrollment projections don't support the need for another building then, White said.
In other news from Tuesday's meeting, Virginia Abernathy, assistant superintendent of elementary curriculum and instruction, shared a recap of parent-teacher conferences this fall. Teachers were able to hold conferences with parents of all 7,115 students enrolled in the elementary schools.
Ninety-nine percent of those conferences were held at the schools, but teachers also made 27 home visits and did 66 conferences by phone to reach everyone, Abernathy said.
"Our staff do an excellent job to make sure we make contact with all of our families," she said.
NW News on 11/18/2015