| Updated: 4/15/2009 8:23 am |
Published: 4/14/2009 10:07 pm |
The Pulaski County Special School District says it must move forward with replacing two schools even though the state board won't approve bonds to fund the projects. School district officials are determining how the work will go on.
Architects for both schools briefed the board on plans to build two new schools. Board member Charlie Wood bluntly said, “we're struggling with the costs.”
A 2006 audit suggests Oak Grove is in worse physical shape than any other school in the district, followed by Sylvan Hills Middle. It's why Clark is disappointed the state rejected $89 million in bond money to replace the schools.
At Tuesday’s board meeting, architects put a price tag of $65 million to build Maumelle High School, replacing Oak Grove. But where will the money come from?
Jacksonville schools, seeking to break away from the district, could have inherited some of the debt since Jacksonville is currently part of PCSSD. Will Bond heads the Jacksonville World Class Education Association. He wanted the board to consider a resolution to make sure Jacksonville schools would have nothing to do with the debt from the two schools if it becomes its own district. Tuesday, the board approved that resolution.
Clark wrote a letter to the state Board of Education requesting it re-consider the bond request to move forward with the new schools.
