Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Board discusses plans at public hearing

Inclement weather kept people from coming to a public meeting concerning a proposed 3 mill increase for the Prescott School District.

The meeting was held Monday, Feb. 24, in the Prescott High School auditorium with a sparse crowd on hand.

Prescott Superintendent Hyacinth Deon explained the situation. She said under the Arkansas Supreme Court ruling from the Lake View case, all districts must have 25 mill for maintenance and operation (M&O). While the millage rate in Prescott is 32.1, the district is 7.6 mill short of having 25 mill for M&O.

The Lake View ruling, she said, found the state's funding of public education to be unconstitutional, inadequate and inefficient.

Under the ruling, the state must provide an equal education for all students in the state and an equal salary for the teachers.

"We can use this ruling as an opportunity for our schools," Deon said, "and form our own destiny."

Following the ruling, the Prescott School Board met to discuss its options and what the district needs to be positioned for the future.

The board found there were several options.

First, it could do nothing, which would mean the Nevada County Quorum Court would be required, under the ruling, to raise the millage 7.6 mill. This would mean the district would have no extra money for other projects.

Next, the board could transfer 7.6 mill to its M&O budget and managed to have an additional $275,000 for additional projects.

The third option was to ask patrons for a 1mill increase and transfer 6.6 mill. This would give the district $1,125,000 additional funding.

Or, the board could ask residents to approve a 2 mill hike, transfer 5.6 mill and have $1,690,000 available for projects.

The fifth option, and one the board found most viable, was to seek a 3 mill increase and transfer 4.6 mill to the M&O budget. The restructuring of bonded indebtedness would provide the district with $2,035,000, and add three years payoff date, making it 2028.

The study done by the district shows needs to include a multi-purpose complex at PHS. The complex would house the Family and Consumer Science class, two extra classrooms (one to expand the FACS offerings and one for distance learning classes), a new intercom system, a field house for the Curley Cubs, new public restroom facilities, renovation of PHS lockers, replacement of the front entry doors, replacing the floors in the art and science classroom, renovate the PHS annex (new heating and air conditioning, restrooms and cap and seal the floors) and resurface the track.

Other needs at PHS include renovating the old gym (floors, entry doors, heating, and adding a batting cage for baseball and softball), repair and replace the inner and outer fences at Cummins Field, improve the baseball field and facilities, upgrade the concession stand and build a girl's softball field to meet Title IX standards.

Needs at McRae Middle School include replacing old heating and air conditioning units, improving the safety of the playground, covering walkways to outer classrooms, covering the back and side porches in the fifth and sixth grade building and securing the weight room in the gym.

At Prescott Elementary, the needs were to replace the roof on the first grade hall, replace heating and air conditioning units in classrooms and the cafeteria, install safety zones on the playground and replace and repair fences and gates.

The total cost of all the projects is $2,095,000.

The distance learning lab, Deon said, would help reduce travel expenses to the district, as personnel could attend meetings electronically instead of having to go to physically.

In addition, she said, patrons of the district could use the distance learning lab to take classes being offered.

If the 3 mill are passed, the district's millage rate will be 35.1. However, if the issue is voted down and the quorum court has to raise the millage 7.6 mill, the tax rate will be 39.7 mill.

Deon said the district can't alter its indebtedness without approval by the people by law. "We want to go the bond route because the tax burden will be less on the people."

By making these changes now, she said, the district is positioning itself to make sure Prescott continues to have a high school. "If we have the facilities, we can offer the curriculum required to become a special district if need be, and we'd be in the best position to help the children."

Ray Beardsley, with the bonding firm Raney and Beardsley, said nothing is known at this time as to what the state will be doing. The legislature hasn't funded the adequacy study as yet, and it's not likely a special meeting will be held until September.

The district, he said, could wait until the September school election to deal with this issue, but the interest rates will likely be higher.

In addition, he said, the district must submit its budget to the state by June, and it would be more accurate if the election were held earlier.

"There's a lot of plans for consolidation, too," he said. "This can't be decided on without a special session. There are other problems the state is facing, such as prisons and Medicare."

No one really knows what's going to happen, Beardsley said, and there are five education proposed plans at this time.

Jeff Haynes, a member of the board, said the district needs the millage increase now, and if the issue fails it will be five years before it can attempt to restructure its bonded indebtedness.

Beardsley said districts promise bond holders they'll stay with them at least five years, or the district could be penalized.

Districts can only advance bonds once in the life of the bond. Afterward, it becomes a taxable bond.

He said the district could come back later and seek a millage increase, with no effect on the bonds, but the net monies wouldn't be the same.

"The board has been wrestling with this," said Pat Blake, a member of the board. "There's a lot of uncertainty. We want to propose the 3 mill increase to the people and I ask two things.

"First, when it comes to the election, vote, and encourage others to vote also; and second, this vote is for increasing benefits and safety of the children."