'No' vote urged
on school millage
The Gravette School Board, in a sharply divided decision, voted 4-3 to propose a millage increase of 3.6 mills to build a new elementary school in Bella Vista.
After attending school board meetings and reading through the School Board's documentation, it became clear to me that we do not need to build a new elementary school.
The following facts come from the Gravette School Board packet, "Bella Vista Elementary School Project Plan 2013-2014," the State of Arkansas and the Gravette School Website.
There will be 12 empty classrooms in the Gravette Elementary Schools and six empty classrooms in the new building, if this millage passes. That's 18 empty classrooms.
Our current millage rate is 37.2. The state average millage rate is 37.14. If we increase the millage rate, you will pay $72 in additional taxes for every $100,000 in appraised value on homes, cars, boats, farm equipment, poultry houses, etc. That is a real hardship on many families, retirees and farmers.
Shorten bus times by adding additional buses and drivers that allows for shorter routes throughout the district.
It's not needed. Peak enrollment in Glenn Duffy Elementary was in 2006 at 485 students. In 2013 enrollment was down 34 students to 451. Maximum capacity GDE is 520 to 590 students. In 2013-14 GDE had eight kindergarten classes. Currently we have seven kindergarten classes.
At Gravette Upper Elementary peak enrollment was in 2008 at 437 students. In 2013 enrollment was down 45 at 392 students. Maximum capacity is 486 students.
As of Aug. 20, 2014, GUE enrollment was 394 students, up only two from 2013. We have 92 open spots for students in grades 3-5 this year, without adding any new staff or new construction. There are three rooms are available at GDE for classroom space with no construction needed.
Projected enrollment grades K-5 in 2013 was 821. Projections for 2023 are 835 students. That's an increase of only 14 students over 10 years over six grades.
Original growth plans for GUE called for three wings additions. Only one wing has been added. The second wing could be added without raising taxes. The high school expansion can also be built without raising taxes
The library, cafeteria and PE gym at the Upper Elementary are grandfathered in by the state of Arkansas when it comes to standards for new buildings.
We have two efficiently run elementary schools. If we build this new school, we will have three inefficiently run elementary schools.
Use the approximate $1.4 million the school district has to address the issues in our schools: plumbing at Glenn Duffy, playground equipment for special-need students, air conditioning in our competition gym and increasing our teacher salaries.
We should be taking care of the students we do have, not spending money on students we don't have in hopes they will come.
If you live anywhere in the Gravette School District you can vote on this issue Sept. 16. Vote "No." To learn more visit NoNeedNoTaxHike.weebly.com.
Hope Duke
Gravette
Editorial on 09/10/2014