PCSSD unveils plan to repair schools

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Pulaski County School District unveiled a master plan Thursday night to fix its aging facilities.

“This year we’ve identified about $7 million worth of deficiencies in our facilities, things that just need to be repaired. Obviously we’re fiscally restrained, so we don’t have enough money to do everything,” said Derek Scott, Executive Director of Operations for the district.

The repairs aim to fulfill the most basic of requirements: To keep kids dry, safe, and warm. Fuller Middle School is one of 9 buildings that will have to have its roof replaced. It is cracking, folding, and falling apart.

“For this section of the roof, we’re looking at pretty much a tear off kind of replacement to solve the problem and keep the kids dry,” says Glen Shook, the General Maintenance Supervisor. “We get into a lot of areas on this roof where the deterioration has caused some settling and ponding of water.”

While the plan only identifies repairs that are absolutely necessary, securing the funding to complete them all is the main concern.

"Bill Goff (PCSSD CFO) and Dr. Guess (PCSSD Superintendent) are working closely with each other to make sure we've got enough money in the building fund to safely do some of these projects without causing more fiscal distress to the district," says Scott.

Parents say the facilities plan is a step in the right direction, however, there is still so much more work to be done.

"This whole process proves that is might not be a bad idea for the state to have a bit more insight and control over what the district does in eradicating bad leadership,” says parent Rodney Dardenne. “As you can see it's hard to dig out of a hole once you're in it."

Now that the school district has presented the master plan to the community, the next step is presenting it to the state for approval by February 1st. Construction will begin if/when the state approves it.