Rogers School District eyes church land

NWA Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER
Alan Linares and classmates dance to a song in their kindergarten class on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, at Reagan Elementary School in Rogers.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER Alan Linares and classmates dance to a song in their kindergarten class on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, at Reagan Elementary School in Rogers.

ROGERS -- It appears a deal is far from imminent, but the School District is studying buying a church to help alleviate its need for additional space.

Superintendent Marlin Berry told the School Board on Tuesday a member of Calvary Chapel in the Ozarks contacted the district to see if it had any interest in the church's property.

The 17,000 square-foot building sits on 2.5 acres on Perry Road adjacent to Rogers High School. The property was appraised in December at $1,625,000, according to a document provided at Tuesday's board meeting. The appraisal wasn't commissioned by the district.

"As we got to thinking about our space needs, maybe there's some potential," Berry said after the meeting. "I don't know if anything's going to happen or not, but I at least wanted the board to be aware of it."

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One need Berry identified was space for professional development, which is offered in the Annex building, home to New Technology High School and Crossroads, the district's alternative education program.

Crossroads will move to 305 N. Second St. this fall so New Technology High School can expand in the Annex.

In the middle of the Annex building is the district's professional development center.

"It doesn't make sense that we have a professional development center in the middle of a high school," Berry said. "We wouldn't do that to Rogers (High School) or Heritage (High School). We need to give them that space."

The church's sanctuary could be used as a professional development center. The building also offers several rooms that could serve as offices, Berry said.

The district has other space needs for departments such as technology, special education and English for speakers of other languages, Berry said.

Curtis Clements, a board member, said there isn't a big market for used churches.

"These buildings are fairly unique. And because of where it's situated, it may be advantageous for us to look into it," Clements said. "But there are a lot of churches that had their property for sale for a long time before they ever sold. There aren't people lining up to buy this."

Board member Sterling Wilson agreed, adding the district wouldn't necessarily have to pay the appraised price.

Berry said the district would "proceed cautiously" and keep the board updated on any developments regarding the property.

In other business, the board heard a report on the audit of the district for the 2015-16 school year done by Hudson, Cisne and Co., a Little Rock-based firm.

Sarah Gentry, one of the firm's certified public accountants, said the firm issued an unmodified or "clean" opinion on the district's financial statements, affirming they complied with Arkansas Code.

NW News on 03/15/2017

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