Helen Mansfield/The Baxter Bulletin
The Mountain Home Public School Board of Education took its first look at the district’s facility master plan during their regular board meeting Thursday night.
According to MHSB Superintendent Dr. Jake Long, the master plan is usually just a compliance-driven plan, but this one does include the planning of a significant high school remodel.
According to the Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation’s website, school districts are required to submit a master plan by Feb. 1 of every even numbered year and a preliminary master plan by February 1 of every odd numbered year.
The district’s plan includes enrollment projections, plans and time tables to correct school deficiencies, the status of corrections, how the district plans to deal with growth, custodial and maintenance programs, building systems replacement (life-cycle) and other critical information.
Maintenance and Operations Department Head Chris Knight said in providing full transparency to the community, the board should include every item they can possibly think of for the master plan and allow for a few public comment sessions.
Long said he will set one of his Walk-In Wednesday sessions for sometime in December to allow parents, district employees and members of the public to visit with him in an informal setting.
“These plans continue to develop but continue to be very challenging due to the age and complexity of our high school campus as we decide how much to keep and how much to completely do away with,” Long said. “We have some very difficult decisions to make in the future.”
In other business, the board approved the purchase of two new scoreboards for the high school and junior high school gymnasiums to comply with the Arkansas Activities Association's (AAA) rulings.
In 2020, the AAA passed a rule implementing a shot clock to all Arkansas high school basketball teams by the 2022-23 basketball season.
According to Athletic Director Mitch Huskey the current scoreboards at the two schools are approximately 30 years old and aren’t compatible for a shot clock to be plugged into them.
He said both scoreboards have been problematic due to their age and the one at the junior high school currently hangs too low to allow for volleyball to be played there.
The scoreboard at the high school will cost a little less than $51,600, but around $28,000 has been raised in donations for the purchase of a new one.
The board approved around $22,000 for the one at the junior high school which will come out of the July, 2022 budget.
Board member Neal Pendergrass said the next time AAA makes a rule like this one “they can fund it.”
The board approved the purchase of two Chevrolet Trailblazer SUVs for $51,120 to replace the two, 20-year-old driver’s education vehicles in the district.
Board member Lisa House if the two old vehicles could be sold.
“I think they’ll go to auction; they’re looking pretty rough,” Knight said, bringing laughs from the audience.
The board approved the purchase of two commercial washers and dryers for use at the high school. Husky said the existing pair have been down for maintenance and uniforms for the football, basketball, Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and band have had to go to the junior high to get cleaned.
The board approved early student release days for Dec. 8, and Jan. 12 and 27, Feb. 23, and March 10 in 2022. Long said students who require supervision on those days will be able to attend Flight Crew until 6 p.m.
The board also approved a professional service agreement to help plan and secure funding for a preschool expansion and facilities upgrades.
Long said establishing pre-K care has served the district well since its inception as an employee recruitment and retention tool.
“We feel we need to position ourselves for the potential federal legislative expansion of Pre-K, while also ensuring our facility planning and improvements are comprehensive,” he added.
Long added the board is working on some significant salary schedule overhauls, which has been in the works since August.
“Our goal is to build in the teacher salary enhancement dollars while addressing challenges in staffing. This seems to be a widespread challenge. I will continue to update the PPC (Personnel Policy Committee) and finance committee of this ongoing work,” Long said.
He added the district will go ahead and begin advertising for filling anticipated vacancies in high-need positions, in order to attract the highest quality candidates. Long said there’s also an ongoing need for substitute teachers and bus drivers.
“I’m thankful we have made it to Thanksgiving Break. While the challenges have been significant, the accomplishments and progress have been as well,” Long said.
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Board to discuss master plan next month - Baxter Bulletin
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