BENTONVILLE -- More than 90 percent of Bentonville High School sophomores who have responded to a survey say they want to remain at the school through graduation rather than attend West High School their senior year.
The School District distributed the survey Monday to families with sophomores to gauge their interest in transferring to West when it opens in August 2016. The district will continue accepting surveys until 5 p.m. today.
Principal Search
The Bentonville School District is accepting applications for the principal’s job at West High School. Interviews will begin in March and the principal will be chosen by April. The district has received many applications from both inside and outside Bentonville, said Superintendent Michael Poore. Once hired, the new principal will begin work July 1, even though the school doesn’t open until August 2016.
Source: Staff report
Surveys returned as of late Thursday showed 289 sophomores want to stay at Bentonville High while only 30 are interested in moving to West High, according to Paul Stolt, district director of communications. The survey was sent to all sophomores, not just those who live in the West High zone. About 28 percent of surveys have been returned.
West High is being built on Gamble Road in Centerton.
Survey results will guide the School Board's decision on whether to open West High with a senior class. That decision is expected to come at the board's Feb. 16 meeting.
At least 300 current sophomores must commit to attending West High to make opening with a senior class cost-effective, said Superintendent Michael Poore.
If West High doesn't open with seniors, the first class to graduate from West High will be the class of 2018.
The district hosted an information session Thursday at Bentonville High for sophomores and their parents. Poore led a presentation providing details about West High, then accepted questions from the audience. A few dozen people attended.
Several people who live in the West High zone wanted clarification on whether their students would be forced to attend West High if it is decided that school should open with a senior class.
Grant Lightle, a board member sitting in the audience, stood up and said the board has always taken the position that class of 2017 students will have the option to stay at Bentonville High, no matter what.
But board president Travis Riggs, who also was in the audience, responded to Lightle's comment, saying the board has not decided that matter one way or another.
"Grant's speaking for himself," Riggs said.
Another question had to do with families with multiple children at the high school level and whether their children could be forced to attend different schools.
That question hasn't been resolved yet, Poore said. The first thing to do is to determine whether West High will open with a senior class, Poore said.
"We're being aggressive in making that decision early," he said.
One student said she thought very few of her classmates knew what was going on regarding the West High issue, in part because the survey was sent only to parents. She suggested holding a meeting for all sophomores to gather and take a survey.
Administrators said they expect West High to be very similar to Bentonville High in terms of the programs and extracurricular activities it offers. One difference is West High will not have an International Baccalaureate program because it takes years for a school to apply for that, said Judy Marquess, director of instruction for grades seven through 12.
Randy Dodd, who has a son who's a sophomore, lives in the West High zone. He said his son probably will decide to stay at Bentonville High through graduation, "But if he did end up going to (West High), it probably wouldn't be the end of the world."
Dodd said he's been in other communities at times when a new high school opened.
"In most cases, the new high school ends up being nicer," he said. "But people in general do not like change."
Sophomore Devon Fuentes attended Thursday's meeting with her mother, Annie Fuentes. They live in the West High zone. Devon's main concern was whether she'd be allowed to continue at Bentonville High.
"Everyone I grew up with are all back together at this high school, and I'd like to stay with them," Devon said.
Annie Fuentes' main concern had to do with what will happen to the marching band program once Bentonville becomes a two-high school district. The program has made big strides in the past few years and she wants to see that continue, particularly for her son who's in the eighth grade.
Fuentes discussed her concern in private with Poore after the meeting.
"I think it's still a big question," she said.
NW News on 02/06/2015