Support tax hike

On Dec. 10, 2020, I embarked on a mission to save Dollarway School District from consolidation and annexation into Pine Bluff School District. I referenced a study that was conducted by Arkansas Rural Community Alliance in 2015 after Arkansas lawmakers forced consolidations and annexations on small school districts by merging administrative functions and keeping schools open in 2004.

The study showed that since that decision, 98 schools had closed completely. Closing those schools led to not only a decrease in population, but a decline in professional jobs in those areas.

After the decision was made to annex Dollarway into the Pine Bluff School District, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before the high schools would merge. I stated that if our Dollarway scholars are forced to combine with Pine Bluff High scholars, then we should at least build a new facility to ensure their safety and success.

In 2022, I served on the Pine Bluff School District’s Facilities Committee, under the leadership of then-Superintendent Barbara Warren. In doing this, I got a better understanding of the issues that the district faced as it related to the management of multiple facilities, fund appropriation and upcoming projects.

I recall a meeting being held around May 2022, in which representatives from East Harding Construction came to do an infrastructural assessment of the current Pine Bluff High School campus. It was reported that major upgrades were needed, however it would cost the district more money if the district decided to renovate what is currently there than to build a new school.

At the time, then-Superintendent Warren, stated the district had to fund approximately $12 million dollars to add to the 53% portion granted to Pine Bluff School District for the building of a new high school facility. However, the district only had approximately $8 million dollars in the building fund and would have to rely on a millage because that $8 millions dollars had to be adequately disbursed for repairs to all district sites.

With that being said, as a proud graduate of the 2019 class of Dollarway High School, I wholeheartedly support the 2023 Pine Bluff School District Millage. This is an opportunity for all of us to invest into the success of our youth. An investment into our youth and the Pine Bluff education system is an investment into the progression of our beloved city! Vote FOR the Pine Bluff School District Millage!

MAR’TAVIUS PROCTOR, PINE BLUFF