The Little Rock School Board on Thursday committed to a list of citywide school building and renovation projects -- including three new schools -- which will cost as much as $375 million and require a voter-approved property-tax increase at an election in early 2016.
In addition to a new high school in southwest Little Rock to replace McClellan, a new middle school in west Little Rock and a replacement for David O. Dodd Elementary, the projects also call for replacing all portable buildings with permanent classrooms, including the 20 portable buildings at Central High.
The conversion of the existing McClellan High campus on Geyer Springs Road to a campus for Cloverdale Middle School is on the list. Activity centers will be established at the district's elementary schools that do not currently have gymnasiums or other kinds of satisfactory large-group activity spaces.
Additionally, improvements would be made to all district athletic facilities.
The 7-0 vote with all board members present was the culmination of almost two years of work, including the completion of a months-long districtwide facilities study that was done by a team of educational planners, architects and engineers led by the Indianapolis-based Fanning-Howey firm.
Board members approved the list of projects despite the uncertain future of the district's leadership.
The state Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting for 10 a.m. Wednesday to consider taking over the operation of the state's largest district as a result of six schools in which more than half of students failed to score at proficient levels over a three-year period. Those schools include McClellan and Cloverdale.
School Board member Joy Springer's motion Thursday for the list of projects and repairs that will see work done at all of the district's schools calls for the first priority to be placed on the construction of the high school in southwest Little Rock.
But, she said, the middle school in west Little Rock can be built at the same time.
The district has already purchased the land for both new schools.
"Upon a successful millage [election], the district shall simultaneously authorize construction of a southwest Little Rock high school and a west Little Rock middle school," the lengthy motion stated in part. "If for some reason the southwest school construction is delayed, the west Little Rock School construction shall also be delayed pending the resolution of the reasons for delay," Springer said.
Other provisions in Springer's motion call for the construction standards of all new schools to match, at a minimum, that of Dr. Don R. Roberts Elementary School, which is the district's newest school.
While the new high school is the top priority, a second priority will be the improvements that the board finds are necessary to maintain relatively equal facilities throughout the school district, Springer said. She also called for the equitable allocation of resources to all schools.
She additionally addressed the issue of student assignments to schools, envisioning a neighborhood school assignment plan in which enrollment at each school is inclusive, diverse, and not intentionally segregated by either race or economic status.
The school building plan is an effort to improve academic achievement and social development of all students and maintain an equitable, nondiscriminatory learning environment in all schools, Springer said.
One of the goals of the plan "is to maintain equal facilities of equal work in all areas of the Little Rock School District," she said.
"I'm incredibly encouraged by this," Board President Greg Adams said and thanked past school boards who initiated the work.
While the districtwide plan took a lot of time and tried the patience of some, he said, "it was really the best way to go for the long run."
Adams also said he especially appreciated the tying of the construction of the high school and middle school together.
"In a meaningful and symbolic way, it shows we are yoked together, connected together," Adams said. "We resist the idea of saying that 'I'm going to get mine and I'm not going to worry about yours.' We are saying that is not the way to do business in this school district."
Board member Jim Ross said he was "practically giddy" about the plan.
He said the plan "makes a firm commitment to generations of people who have been lied to -- not by us but by the past. It unifies our city, east and west. And it shows our dedication to [Superintendent Dexter] Suggs and his agenda. And it is the first large step towards building trust with him."
School Board member C.E. McAdoo also applauded the commitments.
"It is on paper that we do want the equity and quality," he said. "I'm excited like everyone else. We all want the best for our students, our children. This can do it."
Board member Leslie Fisken said she supported the motion but did have a reservation about the provision of prioritizing one building over the other, questioning the tying the construction of one building to another.
"We have forces of nature and all kinds of other things we can't control," she said.
"I want all students to be our top priority," she added.
The board has not determined how many new tax mills it will take to finance the building program and will ask committees of community members to assist with the financial planning and a campaign for a tax increase.
The district's last tax election was in 2000. The current tax rate is 46.4 mills, which is used to finance the district's day-to-day operations and well as service its existing building debt. One tax mill in the district generates about $3.3 million, Chief Financial Officer Kelsey Bailey said Thursday.
The bond issue projects include $179.8 million for new construction, including an estimated $86.4 million for a new high school, $48.8 million for a middle school, $17 million for Dodd Elementary and $28 million to convert McClellan for use by Cloverdale Middle School.
The cost of replacing the portable buildings at 14 schools will cost an estimated $82 million, including $43 million at Central High. Another $15 million in additions would be done at Mann Middle and Meadowcliff, Pulaski Heights and Rockefeller Elementary schools and Quigley Stadium at Central High.
Another $94 million would be used to address needs for improved athletic facilities, restrooms, roofs, windows and mechanical systems. Elementary school activity spaces, a sports complex, parking lots and playgrounds would be included in that.
Metro on 01/23/2015