The Caddo Hills School Board voted Wednesday, October 30, to move forward with a bond initiative that will fund renovations and parking expansion at the school.
Superintendent Deric Owens stated Monday that the project will include renovations to the cafeteria and PE gymnasium. The project will also include parking expansion near the PE gymnasium, as well as additional parking near the elementary school.
Owens explained in an email that the cafeteria renovations will include expanding the dining area into the area now occupied by the stage and ISS room. This will provide additional serving area and dining space for the cafeteria.
The project would also include new flooring, possibly polished concrete. The project could include a new ceiling and more space in the kitchen area.
The project would allow the PE gym to be turned into an event center for the school. The stage currently in the cafeteria would be moved to the gym. Dressing rooms would be included in the project. A new entrance and foyer area would be added to the north end of the building.
The south end of the building would be expanded to include new larger public restrooms, a classroom to replace the one removed from the cafeteria area, and a large storage area to house tables, chairs and other meeting/event supplies.
The transformation of the PE gym into an event center will increase demand for parking on the east side of the campus. The project includes plans to expand what is currently bus parking toward the building and into the area now used for extra bus parking by the tractor shed. Buses would be parked on the north side of the maintenance building on a newly constructed gravel parking area.
The west parking lot expansion would take place on the eastern side of the elementary library to provide parking for parents of elementary students. The project would include a covered area for car rider pick up. It would also include a covered walkway between the library and elementary campus.
Owens added that the district will look at installing air conditioning in the gymnasium if funds allow.
The district plans to fund the project with a bond initiative. They will do so by refinancing the current bonds which should generate approximately $1.8 million.
Owens stresses that this will not mean an increase in taxes for anyone, nor will it increase the millage rate for the district. The bond initiative will simply extend the current bond. He pointed out that currently Caddo Hills millage rate is 33.7 mills which ranks 207th our of 235 school districts in Arkansas. The current millage rate is below the state average of 38.5.
A vote to extend the current school bond will be held during the primary election in March. Owens stated in his email that the ballot will ask voters to choose between “For Tax”, or “Against Tax” on the ballot.
“We need people to understand that the only way to pass this initiative is to vote “For Tax”. Some will have issues with this because they will think it is a new tax or an additional tax.” Owens stated in the email.
Owens wants people to understand that despite what the ballot states there is no new tax. He pointed out that the state does not allow them to ask voters to “Continue Tax,” or some other similar verbiage.
A public notice breaking down the bond initiative can be found on page seven of this week’s issue.
