Proposal for a Bella Vista Elementary School (Pre-K – Grade 5) and a Classroom Addition to Gravette High School Historical Perspective: The 2015 Plan The Gravette School District established a long range plan in 2005 called the 2015 Plan. Outlined in that plan were many of the new facilities or facility improvements seen on the district’s campus. The first of the facility improvements was the construction of Gravette High School. The project was funded by a 6.5 mill increase, and the refinancing of existing school bonds. Growth projections indicated the high school facility would provide adequate classroom space through 2015- 2016 school year. In April 2006, the school district implemented a plan to construct four additional classrooms at Gravette Upper Elementary School, construct and equip eight additional classrooms to the 1987 high school building (now the middle school), construct and equip a high school football stadium, track, locker rooms, weight room, baseball field and softball field, and renovate the annex building. The football field, stadium, press box and concession stand were completed in August 2007. These projects were funded by the refinancing of school bonds and the issuance of second lien bonds. Two mills were added in March of 2007, establishing a total millage of 37.2; one mill was set aside for maintenance and construction and one mill for teachers’ salaries. Second lien bonds and the one mill authorized for maintenance and construction were used to construct and equip an addition to the upper elementary school, a physical education facility and restrooms at the Glenn Duffy Elementary School. Included in the project were the installation of security systems and the set aside of funds for the planning and development of an elementary school in Bella Vista. Bonds issued in 2003 were refinanced in 2009 for the construction of an athletic field house and middle school band/choir facility. In addition, a roadway was constructed to improve vehicle traffic flow on the campus of the elementary and middle schools. The projects were completed in August of 2010 with no additional millage needed.
The most recent facility improvements were financed through the continuation of existing 11.4 debt mills. The construction proceeds were used for the construction of a new middle school wing, high school baseball and softball fields, and renovation of the annex. These projects were completed in 2013. The three projects remaining on the 2015 plan are: the construction a new elementary school in Bella Vista, a four to six classroom addition to the high school, and construction of a new basketball arena. Although not a part of the original 2015 plan, a four to five classroom addition to the middle school connecting the band/music complex with the middle school should be constructed in the future. The Need for More Facilities The school district has reached a point in its facility usage that additional space is required at Gravette Upper Elementary School. Even though enrollment has been stable, the facility usage has been optimized from the increase of special education classrooms and new curricular offerings. The Gravette Upper Elementary School facility has common areas suited to accommodate a certain attendance capacity. According to the ‘Arkansas School Facility Manual Program of Requirements Summary and Required Spaces Form’, a facility with the student population of 393 students requires a gymnasium size of 3,930 square feet, a dining area of 2,948 square feet, and a library circulation area of 1,372 square feet. The current capacity of the Gravette Upper Elementary Gymnasium is 2,600 square feet indicating the facility would not meet state facility requirements. The capacity of the dining area is 3,120 square feet, showing ample space for the current student population and a library circulation area at 1,140 square feet, which is less than what the state would require by 232 square feet. Therefore, by today’s standards, the common student areas such as the gymnasium and library/media are considered insufficient to meet the current enrollment or future enrollment growth . Any student growth in grades 3, 4, or 5 may result in a transfer of one or more sections of grade three to Glenn Duffy Elementary School.
The Glenn Duffy Elementary School has three classroom spaces available. At this time, these rooms are being used as a parent-teacher resource room, professional development room, and teacher work room. Additional space in a new school would allow these rooms to continue providing resources and services to students in grades pre-kindergarten through second grade. The high school is also reaching capacity due to program implementation. Over the last two years the high school has added bio-medical and engineering classes to the curriculum causing classroom space to reach capacity. The enrollment over the last three years has increased at the high school and is expected to continue increasing and reach the capacity of approximately 640 students in two years. The proposed five to six classroom addition, which would include a science lecture room and science laboratory, would increase the building’s capacity to between 750-770 students. The core areas (library, cafeteria, gym, administrative offices, counseling, and rest rooms) were designed to accommodate approximately 775 students and would need no modification. The location of a new elementary school was the result of a school board study conducted in the fall of 2009. The Gravette School Board in February of 2010 approved a conditional intent agreement for a school site in Bella Vista. Cooper Communities is reserving a 17 acre site near highway 340 entrance to the Highlands for a period of ten years or until construction of a school begins. If utilized, the site would be provided at no cost to the Gravette School District taxpayers. The site was chosen due to the availability of useable land in the area, the sizeable student population in the area, and the opportunity to reduce the amount of time students ride on the school bus. The Bella Vista elementary school would open in the fall of 2016 with an enrollment of 230-240 students. This would provide for future growth throughout the school district. The area of Bella Vista, according to a report prepared by the Northwest Regional Planning Commission, has grown at a significantly faster rate over the last twelve years compared to the state of Arkansas (and projected to continue to grow at a rate more than four times greater than the State of Arkansas as a whole), and with its projected growth through 2016, will continue to exceed the population growth of Benton County.
Financial Information The construction of a new elementary school and a six classroom addition to the high school would cost approximately $14,693,600. The district would use funds from an increase of approximately 3.6 mills. The millage increase would provide approximately $11,206,600. The remaining funds would be derived from refinanced and extended 2009 bonds, $1,012,000 of existing building fund balance, $400,000 of site acquisition funds approved by the voters in 2009, and funds from second lien bonds as required. The amount of bonds issued will depend on interest rates for school district bonds at the time of issuance. The millage increase of 3.6 would be the first millage increase requested by the district since 2007. The district’s current millage is 37.2. The increase will continue to keep the Gravette School District millage rate one of the lowest in the area. The following graph reflects the Gravette School District millage rate compared to other districts in the northwest Arkansas. 49 46.6 47 45.65 45 44.8 44.2 45 42.9 42.7 42.6 42.6 43 40.6 41 39.9 39.5 38.6 38.4 39 37.2 37
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