MOVINGFORWARD

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — Faulkner County school districts - from those with an enrollment of fewer than 500 to more than 9,000 - are looking to enhance opportunities for students, whether with new science labs, preschool programs or playground equipment.

Conway

Conway Superintendent Greg Murry said he has faith that the district’s patrons - whether they have children in school or not - can see the need for an updated high school building.

That’s why there isn’t a Plan B if the proposed millage in the Tuesday, Sept. 21, school election doesn’t pass.

“I think this community is very supportive of education,” Murry said, “and I really believe this city is very proud of its public education system and that the success of thecity is in part due to the school district.

“I think many people can see the vision of it,” he said of the plan.

The proposed 1.9-mill increase - which would cost an additional $57 a year in property taxes for someone with a $150,000 home - would pay for construction of a replacement high school and a 10th elementary school, for starters. It would take the millage from 36.2 to 38.1.

Murry said the Conway School District has several bragging points - from five National Merit Scholarship winners and 29 nationally board certified teachers, to awardwinning school organizations.

“Academically, we are competing very well with other school districts for sure,” Murry said.

However, he said the pod-shaped buildings on the west high school campus, which now house 11th- and 12th-graders, were built in 1968 and are outdated.“When I came here, I was told we had one science lab and I thought, ‘No, that doesn’t make any sense. We can do better than that,’” Murry said.

If the millage is approved, a three-story high school facility would be constructed in front of the current buildings, the superintendent said.

“We’re conscious about keeping some green space,” he added.

In the second phase, a new cafeteria would be built and the pods torn down.

The dominoes would then begin to fall in the rest of the plan, which includes a reconfiguration of grades and rezoning of elementary attendance zones.

More information is on the district’s website, www.conwayschools.org.

Greenbrier

The Greenbrier School District is scheduled to complete its $6 million middle school this month, Superintendent Scott Spainhour said.

Just like in Conway, the importance of science labs comes up in conversation about educating students.

Debbie Moreland, a sixthgrade science teacher, said new labs are what she’s most looking forward to.

“We’re very excited, because we’ve never had them before at the middle school level,” she said.

Moreland said teachers haven’t had enough electrical outlets or sinks and have to “make do” when it comes time for activities like dissecting a pig’s heart.

Principal Todd Edwards said the new rooms will be fully equipped. “It’s what a science lab in middle school should be,” he said.

Spainhour said the sound of hammers at the high school will be music to a lot of people’s ears.

He said ground should be broken this summer on a fine arts facility at the high school,which will include band, choir and drama rooms and a 1,000-seat auditorium.

“We’re real excited about that, because our band is really growing,” he said.

Guy-Perkins

Superintendent David Westenhover said the latest news in the 455-student district is completion of a renovated preschool facility.

The preschool for 4-year-olds opened last year in an existing building, but Westenhover said state stimulus money was used to create three classrooms in the former K-12 cafeteria to accommodate 3- and 4-year-olds. (A new cafeteria opened in 2009.)

“We’ve got space for 45 kids - hopefully, we’ll get close to that number enrolled,” Westenhover said. “It’s been documented by all kinds of research that preschool education gives those kids a head start going into kindergarten, and a lot of kids don’t get that at home.”Mayflower

Mayflower Middle School is getting a makeover, Superintendent John Gray said.

“We’re a growing school district and our middle school’s out of room, so we just need more space,” Gray said.

The district held a groundbreaking July 13 on a 64,000-square-foot, two-story addition to the middle school. It addition to regular classrooms, it will include music and art space, computer and science labs and a gymnasium, he said.

Parts of the facility, estimated to cost $5 million, will be shared with the high school, the superintendent added.

The project originally was expected to cost $6 million.

“We had very competitive bids and we’re very excited about that,” Gray said.

It will be paid for with second-lien bonds, a state partnership grant and about $1 million of district money, he added.

“Everybody’s supportive - it’s something we need,” Gray said.

Mount Vernon-Enola

Warhawk spirit runs high inthe 500-student school district, and the gymnasium is being renovated this summer to make room for more fans.

Superintendent Jason Clark said the boys basketball team went to the state finals the past two years and attendance at the games increased.

“The folks were clamoring for better seating,” Clark said. Voters passed a millage increase in 2009 to fund it.

The $1.6 million project will include a new shell and bleachers to seat 1,000 people.

Clark said the renovated gymnasium will allow the district to move high school graduation back on campus after holding it at Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas. Vilonia

It’s not all work and no play for Vilonia students, and that will be easier now for some students at the elementary and primary schools.

Superintendent Frank Mitchell said the district purchased playground equipment for disabled elementary students.

“That will be a great thing, because they can’t access some of the playground equipment,” Mitchell said.

He said $50,000 in stimulus funds is being used for each school to purchase equipment, which has just been installed atVilonia Elementary School.

Vilonia Elementary School Principal Julie Binam said, “We are so proud to have this. It is handicapped-accessible, and it has a cushioned surface underneath.”

She said there is at least 5 inches of rubberized product called Pour & Play over the concrete the equipment sits on.

She said a crew from Oklahoma assembled the equipment and a Wisconsin group did the Pour & Play. She also has ordered $20,000 worth of rubber mulch and expects to spend a total of $50,000 on the mulch.

In addition to stimulus funds, Binam said the Vilonia Elementary Parent-Teacher-Volunteer Organization held fundraisers to help pay for the project.

Other features of the equipment include areas with sun shades and parts that help eye-hand coordination, Binam said.

“Before, the children with disabilities used that playground, but they didn’t have anything they could climb on,” she said. “It’s also adaptable for any student in our school.”

Students in kindergarten through second grade willmainly use this equipment, because third- and fourth-graders have another playground.

However, Binam said the rubber mulch will be purchased for the older students’ playground.

“Our two biggest goals here are their academics and their safety,” Binam said. “We went to send them home every day knowing we’ve provided the best education and safety for each individual student, no matter what their ability is academically and physically.” - tkeith@ arkansasonline.com