Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

School facilities addressed

There are two phases to the proposed facilities master plan for the Prescott School District.

These plans were discussed at a special meeting held Thursday, Feb. 2, at Prescott High School. The plans are required under new laws stemming from the Arkansas Supreme Courts decision on the Lake View lawsuit concerning adequate facilities, which was part of the suit.

All school districts in the state are required to come up with 10-year plans to be implemented under the requirements of the law. The state will pay part of the costs, with the districts required to pick up the rest of the tab. For Prescott that will mean 42 percent of the costs.

The first phase of the plans for Prescott would cost approximately $1,617,300, according to Hyacinth Deon, superintendent.

The plan presented by the Prescott School Board to the public began with the 2006-2007 academic year. The priorities include installing a fire alarm system at McRae Middle School; roofing the science and band building at MMS, roofing the old PHS gym, which is currently used for physical education classes; and remodeling the bathrooms at Prescott Elementary School. These upgrades, Deon said, would cost about $543,000.

For the 2007-2008 year, the plans are to replace the sewage system at MMS in the fifth and sixth grade area; install ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act at MMS in the seventh and eighth grade area; electrical retrofitting at MMS; and installing new floor covering in the PES activity center. Deon said this would run about $539,000.

The third portion of the first phase is for 2008-2009. It includes electrical retrofitting at PES; replacing the sewage system at PES; refurbishing the PES playground; and roofing and interior remodeling of the agri building at PHS. The cost estimate of these projects, she said, would be about $535,300.

Plans for phase II, she said, are due in 2007 and address short term needs. These plans include: roofing the PHS science/art building and science/special ed building; renovating the stadium bleachers; renovating the concession stand; district-wide computer tech infrastructure; public address systems; replacing heating and air conditioning units; installing a fire alarm in the MMS gym; floor covering in the MMS band hall; and improving sidewalks at PHS, along with adding fencing, asphalt and natural turf. No cost estimate was presented with these plans.

In talking about the bleachers, Deon said they were supposed to last 40 years when they were installed a few years ago, but arent going to make it that long. The heating and air conditioning replacement, she continued, will be an ongoing project for all schools.

She explained the projects on the list were compiled from deficiencies found by a facilities study team that toured the district.

When the floor was opened for questioned from the public, the first was concerning a fence around the playground at MMS. Currently there is nothing there and people can walk onto the school grounds with impunity. It was pointed out this could result in some serious problems.

David Maxwell, assistant principal, said the district has looked at installing a fence at MMS, but it will be expensive because it will require several thousand linear feet of fencing.

Jo Beth Glass, a member of the Board, asked about a cafeteria for PHS. This item was added to the phase II list.

We tried to keep the projects close to half a million dollars, Deon said. By doing this the district can pay about $250,000 a year.

Glass asked if the district has the money for its part of these projects. Deons response was, it does at this time.

However, she said, Prescott is losing students and theres less money available for academic and maintenance programs.

She urged the public to contact the state representatives and senators as they prepare to go into special session sometime later this year, and tell them schools need more money for these mandatory facility improvements. We can use maintenance money for some of it, she said, or we could ask for a millage increase or get loans, but we need the state to pay more.

Glass asked what would happen if these projects werent done. The response was if districts dont have the money they wont have to do all of the projects each year and could push some of them back.