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Schools go for bond vote

By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer

The proposed bond election for a $36 million school facilities improvement project was moved forward Monday night by the Arkansas City Board of Education. The board voted 7-0 to approve a resolution authorizing and providing for a bond election Nov. 6.

Also at Monday's meeting, the board unanimously approved the local school district's 2007-08 budget. There were no citizens to ask questions at a budget hearing before the vote. The total general fund and local option budget amounts to $24.2 million.

The proposed budget is $2 million higher than the district's 2006-07 budget, but it would result in a 4 percent school property tax levy decrease, school officials have said.

Before approving the bond election resolution, the board voted 7-0 to approve a final report with cost estimates for each part of the project, including the building of a new, $5.3 million football stadium west of Arkansas City High School.

The plan eliminates another option for a new football field -- partnering with Cowley College in expanding its track facility next to the City Ball Park on South Summit Street. But school officials stressed that regardless of the location of the football field, they remain open to partnering with the college, or other entities including the City and the Recreation Commission.

Superintendent Ron Ballard today said the school district has had talks on a number of projects with all these entities. Those talks have involved more than just a football field. They have included partnering on tennis courts and softball fields.

The school facilities plan approved Monday night would include a proposal to build 10 new tennis courts -- four with lights -- next to the new football field on the high school campus, at an estimated cost of $550,000. It also would include expanding and upgrading a softball field complex south of the high school that is adjacent to an existing baseball field. The new softball complex would have four fields and would cost $1,562,000.

"Our intent is not to say we don't want anyone else involved," Ballard said. "The city, rec commission, college: we'd certainly like to visit with them on where we are in this project."

A year ago, the school board expressed interest in partnering with the college on building a stadium in the south part of town. However, preliminary talks between leaders of the two entities didn't go far.

The board directed district administrators to finalize plans for the school facilities renovation project at a July 30 meeting. But since then, Cowley College President Pat McAtee stated he expected more talks with the district on the option to build a stadium in the south part of town.

McAtee said the main advantage he sees in building a new stadium that would be shared by Arkansas City High School and college is "less taxpayer money" involvement.

But school district officials argue that building on property not owned by the district -- the South Summit college facility is owned by Cowley -- would not draw state aid for a bond election. And it would not be convenient for every day use by high school students, some of whom would need to be bused to and from the facility.

The school facilities renovation project also includes improvements at Ark City's elementary schools, Arkansas City Middle School and the high school.

They include construction of new rooms for prekindergarten students in existing elementary schools, upgrading air-conditioning and heating systems, and making newly added rooms designed to meet FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) standards as storm shelters.

Renovations to the high school and middle school would include new entrance areas for the middle school and a renovated and expanded industrial technology building and new commons area added to the cafeteria area of the high school.

"The committee of our community came to this board with this recommendation," said school board member Daren Reese. "We've made few changes, and (the plan) has the best interests of the kids at heart."

Board member Mike Walker asked: "Does anybody but me have concerns that we have not done the duty before us to save taxpayers money?"

"No," responded Reese. "It will return money to us. I believe the dollars spent need to be considered an investment."

"Is there anything in particular we need to look into?" asked board president Joe Woodard.

"No," responded Walker. "I think the public has to know we met with the college on two occasions and some of us met with them informally. This plan is good for the kids and the community.

"It sounds good that two entities can come together with a project, but sometimes that's not possible."