In a special session, the Mountain Home Public Schools Board of Education met Wednesday night to hear updates from the recent meeting with the Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation.
Chris Knight, Director of Operations, shared with the Board the State Facilities Division the District has six years to have all students out of the building under the pre-engineered metal building, also known as the big top. The area includes approximately 25 classrooms, a cafeteria and an old gymnasium. During that time, the District must update the Master Plan and complete the local fire marshal’s safety recommendations, as the state has deferred to local authorities.
Knight stated the safety recommendations have already begun with the purchase of additional reflective beam smoke detectors, which will be installed by November.
The state did not offer suggestions on how to fund or what to build. Knight stated what the Board puts into the Master Plan will need to be followed and completed by 2030.
Superintendent Allyson Dewey shared although there were multiple options, the two best options on the table are remodeling or demoing to build something new. Knight added remodeling was not a viable option due to costs and assessments from multiple structural engineers.
The state set a February 1, 2024 deadline for the District to provide a Facilities Master Plan. The plan does not have to include specific details but needs to outline the District’s plan to move forward and what they will be asking the state to partner with them.
If the District fails to complete the transitional facility plan as submitted, the state will recommend placing the District in Facilities Distress. Dewey stated, “We want local control of our district.” If the state takes over, it would also include the management of the School Board, administration and how funds are spent for extra-curricular activities.
The District will not know if they have received partnership funding from the state until May of 2025.
During the discussion, School Board Member Scott Booth stated he felt a millage could pass if the Board came together and presented a realistic, economical plan to the community. Booth said he was optimistic the Board could come up with a plan the community could get behind.
The Board is set to approve the Facilities Master Plan in November.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI