HOT SPRINGS -- The Hot Springs School District plans to ask voters next month for a property tax increase that would help pay for a junior high complex to be built next to Hot Springs High School, a new multipurpose arena and a new building at Langston Magnet School.
Supporters of the proposed 4.4-mill property tax increase, a rise of more than 11 percent, say the district could generate $54 million from that and from extending the collection of 10.8 mills levied for debt service. Of that $54 million, more than 85 percent would go toward construction.
The estimated cost of the junior high complex is $31.9 million. The estimated cost for a new junior high school complex next to the high school and a new building for Langston is $14.2 million.
The district's property tax rate is now 37.7 mills.
The millage proposal will be on the annual school election ballot on Sept. 20. Aug. 22 is the last day to register to vote in the election. Early voting will be held Sept. 13-16 and Sept. 19.
Superintendent Mike Hernandez said the district began to consider the proposals when it updated its six-year facilities master plan. Hernandez said the plan was developed to improve the district's facilities and to decrease the amount of transitions a family will experience as a student progresses through school.
"If I'm a parent, I may have four kids in school and I've got to drop them off at four different locations," Hernandez said. "How can you minimize that and try to get grade levels longer?"
The district operated eight campuses in the 2016-17 school year. The new plan would decrease the total number of campuses to four. Students would attend one campus through sixth grade, then another campus through graduation.
A decrease in campuses will be seen this year as the district has ceased alternative learning environment operations at Hot Springs Summit School. The school will now be used for prekindergarten classes through a consortium of six Garland County school districts, including Hot Springs.
Supporters say the property tax increase would allow the district to fully implement its new configuration by fall 2019. At least two years are expected for the full process of designing and constructing the new facilities.
The junior high complex would house grades 7-9 and help the high school accommodate its growth. Enrollment at the high school has increased from 713 students during the 2011-12 school year to 925 in 2015-16. The district's total enrollment has remained relatively stable.
The complex would include a 2,200-seat multipurpose arena. Voters rejected the district's May 2015 request for a 2-mill increase that would have funded a multipurpose building, which would have included a gymnasium and new classrooms.
The arena would make the district eligible to be the sole host of state athletic tournaments in basketball and volleyball. Hot Springs co-hosted the Class 5A state basketball tournament with the Lakeside School District at Bank of the Ozarks Arena in March.
The junior high would include a 1,000-seat auditorium, which could be used by both the junior high and the high school, as well as the community. The Johnnie Mae Mackey Theatre at the high school seats about 400.
Hernandez said the district would link the junior high and high school campuses. Lobby space in the junior high would double as the cafeteria.
"That way we're always using that space and not just having a lobby for the sake of having a lobby," Hernandez said.
Projects at the high school are estimated to cost $2.65 million. Some restroom renovations will begin this school year, but supporters of the tax increase say it would allow full renovations of all restrooms throughout the school.
The district plans to build a road from the main parking lot on the west side of the high school campus to Panama Street as part of a plan to improve parking and traffic flow. A new visitors parking lot would be placed in the southwest corner of the campus for athletic events.
Plans include more space for the growing band program and a cover for the band in the stands of Reese Memorial Stadium. The library would also be remodeled.
School would continue at Langston during construction. The new structure would allow the school to accommodate grades K-6 and use the current gymnasium. The plan calls for additional parking lots and safer traffic flow for student pickups and drop-offs.
Hernandez said the current school building would be torn down after construction of the new building is completed.
Renovations would be made at other schools, some of which which were built in the 1960s.
State Desk on 08/15/2016