Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Millage hike needed for Prescott School District

It's down to a question of pay 3 mill now, or 7.6 mill later.

This is what the Prescott School Board discussed in a special meeting held Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Board President George Odom said the district is at a juncture where it needs to restructure its bonded indebtedness.

This needs to be done to replace some dilapidated buildings on the Prescott High School campus, and make repairs to the roof at Prescott Elementary School over the first grade rooms.

Superintendent Hyacinth Deon said the three principals were asked to do a needs assessment, based strictly on physical needs. The result was a new family and consumer science building is needed at PHS, along with more classrooms and a field house for the Curley Cub football teams.

Deon said the idea would be to raze the old field house and replace it with a multi-purpose center. This center would include a field house for the Cub squads, the family and consumer science facilities, a distance learning lab and classrooms.

One of the reasons the district will be asking the public for the millage increase is because by going this route and restructuring the 1999 bond issue, the state will help out with the funding.

In addition, the district can free up enough mills to make the 25 for maintenance and operation the state is requiring.

Most districts in the area have millage rates greater than 25, but don't actually have 25 mill for maintenance and operation. This figure, Deon said, comes from the Lake View lawsuit.

Kay Hendrix, a member of the board, asked if the 25 mill could be appealed and was told it can't. She said with Gov. Mike Huckabee's plans, the question is how will the district be affected in the long run.

It was pointed out if the district doesn't have 25 mill for M&O by Jan. 1, 2004, the Nevada County Quorum Court will raise the millage by 7.6 mill to get to the required 25. However, this won't include money for construction of the new building, or repairing the roof at PES.

"We can pay 3 mill now or 7.6 later," said Jeff Haynes.

Deon said the district will need to have public meetings to inform the voters where the money will be coming from and how it will be used, as the 3 mill issue would have to be approved by voters in the district.

Should it pass, Prescott's millage would be 35.1, and with the bond restructured, the district would meet the 25 mill for M&O and have funds for the construction.

Deon said if the district simply found another source for the funds to build with, the state wouldn't help with the financing. In addition, the district would have to wait until taxes are paid for the money to "trickle" in, instead of being available from the bond in larger sums.

Haynes said the board will do whatever it takes to keep the school here.

Prescott, Deon said, will likely be a host school for smaller districts, should Huckabee's plan come to fruition. But, she added, there aren't any schools in Southwest Arkansas with the so-called "rich curriculum" of 38 credits. "We don't have them all, but we have more than our neighbors."

Distance learning could be utilized so the district could offer the courses necessary to get to 38 credits. The "rich curriculum" requires more math and science, along with offering two foreign languages.

When the topic of what would happen to vacant buildings under the Huckabee plan, Deon said some could be used as ALE sites or vocational schools.

"I don't know what's going on in the governor's head," she said. "Transportation will be a big issue. Huckabee hasn't thought this through."

Deon said the district needed to choose its destiny with the millage and not be forced to go with the 7.6 mill.

In specifying how the money would be spent, Deon said a new multi-purpose complex would be built where the old field house currently is. The complex will be used for the junior high athletic teams, as storage space for the athletic department, a distance learning lab, the family and consumer science facilities and classrooms, along with making repairs on the roof at PES. Other improvements to be made with the money include renovating the bathrooms on the football field, upgrading the air conditioning in the fifth and sixth grades at McRae Middle School and possibly buying a metal building to be used for physical therapy at PES.

Hendrix said if the district got an influx of new students, under the Huckabee plan, then it would also get more money.

Deon said she didn't know if Blevins and Nevada incorporated with Prescott whether it would become one tax base or not.

The district would receive more money, she said, but would also be responsible for the buildings in the other districts, which would house grades K-8.

Odom said some districts have been talking about becoming charter schools, but don't currently meet the criteria required.

The board approved holding an election for the 3 mill and restructuring the 1999 bond issue, with the election to be held April 22.

Between now and then, however, public meetings will be held to inform the voters of the situation. A representative from the bond holder and architectural firm will be on hand at these meetings to answer questions as well.

When the public meetings will be held depends on when the bond holder and architect can come to Prescott.