GENTRY — After reviewing survey results, Gentry School Board members gave the nod to school superintendent Randy Barrett to move forward with preliminary planning to build a multi-purpose athletic facility for the school district.
In an online survey for parents in the school district, 90 percent of parents answering a question regarding building a multi-purpose athletic facility said they favored it. Sixty-six of 91 survey takers answered the question.
Approximately 78 percent voiced a willingness to increase the millage rate from 1 to 3 mils. Twenty-eight of the survey takers skipped the question.
Though the survey represents only a small percentage of school district parents and did not poll the general population living within the school district, school board members viewed it as an indicator of enough support for such a building project to move forward with preliminary plans and to put the measure before the voters at the school election in September for a decision.
Barrett said the facility couldprobably be built without a millage increase, by refinancing some of the district’s bonded debt and extending the payments.
It was estimated at the April meeting that a sports complex meeting the district’s needs could be built for a price tag of about $3 million. By refinancing March 1 and Aug. 1, 2002, bonds and adding the new debt, the new facility could be built with annual district bond payments close to the current annual payments for the fiscal years 2013-2015; a little more than $170,000 in years 2016 to 2034; and $589,000 more inyears 2035 to 2037, when other existing bond payments would be $0, according to materials presented at that meeting.
Barrett explained at the April meeting that the current intermediate school was built in 1972, making it 40 years old. The average life span for an academic facility is 50 years, Barrett said, explaining that current district plans for the future were to build a new high school, move the intermediate school into the middle school building, and the middle school into the existing high school building.
At Monday’s meeting, he said building a new high school was out of reach at the present time and would take an increase of 8 or 9 mills to build a facility which would meet the needs of the district. He suggested the district consider a multi-purpose athletic and activities facility which could be used for the school and by the community.
“I think it’s a good cause,” he said, adding that he would “start the ball rolling,” by contacting the school’s architect and financial advisor to come up with a plan to put before the voters in September.
Barrett told board members they could always change their minds and back out prior to the September election.
Also discussed at the close of Monday’s meeting was the possibility of purchasing a sign to promote the school district. An LED sign was put forward for consideration as a way to promote the district and keep the public informed of school events and activities. Locations were suggested along Arkansas Highway 12 at the corner of Arkansas 59 or closer to Pioneer Lane.
Barrett mentioned $50,000 as the possible costif the district purchased a placed a digital sign. He said if the district simply wanted to have a sign which pointed people to the schools, it could be far less expensive.
Barrett said he considered $50,000 a lot of money to spend for a sign but said Gentry schools are good schools and people should be encouraged to live in Gentry and send their children to Gentry Schools.
Board members asked Barrett to look into prices of signs and bring back a number of options, including some for less-expensive signs.
News, Pages 1 on 05/23/2012