Proposed school gets second chance
Early voting opens Tuesday in Ashdown; tax increase would fund upgrades to elementary
Early voting begins Tuesday in Ashdown, Ark., for a 3.9-mill tax rate increase to build a new elementary school.
The Ashdown School District board brought a similar measure before voters last year for district improvements. It failed by 38 votes.
The proposed increase was approved in June; it would raise the rate from 35.7 mills to 39.6 and generate funds to consolidate the three elementary campuses into one building. The $15.4 million project is more than what the board brought before voters in May 2016, as construction costs have increased from $150 per square foot to $170.
Also, the district has $810,000 in partnership funds from the state for the project. According to Superintendent Jason Sanders, if the measure fails, that money will go to another school.
“The state agrees with our need for a new school,” Sanders said. “We’ve never gotten this before, and it may be difficult in the future to secure this funding.”
The district applied for the funds two years ago and were recently notified of the award. Sanders said they have a four-year window to use the money for new building construction, but that it cannot be used alone and that it is a percentage of the bond.
“We’re trying to give these kids the best opportunities we can, and that includes new facilities where they can have a 1:1 ratio with technology,” he said. “That’s hard to do when you have only two plug-ins per room in
a building that is 60 years old. A modern facility is crucial to give them opportunities for the future.”
The proposal includes renovating the Margaret Daniel Primary, which was built in 1981, and constructing the new facility there. L.F. Henderson Intermediate, built in 1950 with an addition in 1965, would be used for a pre-K center. C.D. Franks Elementary, built in 1971, would be torn down. The district also plans to make renovations at the junior high school.
The May 2016 proposal included teacher raises, and this one does not. Sanders said he and the board believe that the savings from having to maintain three outdated buildings and operating a new, efficient single structure would leave additional funds in the district’s budget for raises. “Another benefit of those nice facilities is (to be) able to recruit and retain quality teachers and also recruit families to Ashdown,” he said. “Ultimately, Ashdown schools belong to the community—their kids, their school. We feel like we need to give them the opportunity to improve it. Strong Ashdown schools is part of having a strong Ashdown.”
Regular voting will be held Sept. 19.