Bentonville School Board may put money toward West High School stadium

BENTONVILLE -- A discussion of how to pay for a stadium at West High School absorbed much of the School Board's meeting Monday.

The subject came up within a larger conversation about a 10-year facility plan and the administration's recommendation to seek a 1.7-mill tax increase to help pay for it.

Board members initially considered including the stadium in the millage proposal. After some debate, board president Travis Riggs suggested the district pledge $2 million toward the cost of a stadium and let athletic director Scott Passmore raise the rest of the money for the project.

The board seemed to agree on such a plan, though it will hold off on a decision until January. That's when new assessment values will be confirmed, providing some clarity about the district's finances.

West High School, which opened in August, plays its home football games at Bentonville High School's Tiger Stadium. Bryan Pratt, the school's head football coach, was asked to comment at Monday's meeting about that.

"Tiger Stadium doesn't feel like home," Pratt said. "It's almost like we're playing a road game every week. But we do what we can to be successful."

The West High School Wolverines qualified for the playoffs this season. Both West High and Bentonville High are hosting their first-round playoff games at Tiger Stadium this week.

Passmore presented the board a few options for building a stadium at West High at costs of $6 million, $3.8 million and $3.5 million.

Another option is spending about $1.2 million to outfit Tiger Stadium with space for the Wolverines, most of which would go toward a new locker room.

Passmore said while that's the cheapest option, "In the eyes of a lot of people, you're taking a stadium away from Bentonville High School, which they feel is their stadium and their home, and providing a stadium to Bentonville West that they would accept, but that would not be their choice."

Passmore said he's been engaged in efforts to raise money for the stadium, but so far has had little success. But if the board agreed to provide $2 million for the project, that likely would jumpstart the fundraising process, he said.

"It's a lot more difficult to get a million dollars from someone for naming rights when they know you still have 5 or 6 million dollars" to raise, Passmore said.

Willie Cowgur, board vice president, brought up the stadium topic as the board reviewed the administration's plan to build six schools and other facilities over the next 10 years.

Administrators say projected enrollment growth signals a need for those new buildings. They have recommended paying for the plan with refinancing of 2010 and 2013 bonds and a 1.7-mill tax increase.

The board is scheduled to vote on that recommendation at its next meeting on Monday. If the board approves it, the millage request likely will go before voters in April or May.

The owner of a $100,000 home would pay an extra $34 per year in taxes if voters approve a 1.7-mill tax increase.

Janet Schwanhausser, the district's finance director, said there are five variables in the plan that could alter how it plays out over time. Those variables include foundation funding from the state, the assessed value of all property in the district, student growth, building costs and interest rates, she said.

Administrators have adopted conservative forecasts for those variables in crafting the facility plan, they said.

Besides the six new schools -- three elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high school and one high school -- the financing plan would provide money for other big facility projects, such as construction of a warehouse and improvements to existing schools.

The plan also provides raises of 1 percent every other year for teachers and staff members starting next school year.

NW News on 11/08/2016