Board discusses construction, renovation of Clarendon Elementary School
By Tricia Rogers Co-Editor
CLARENDON Clarendon School Board heard an update on plans for construction and renovation at the elementary school at its regular meeting Tuesday evening, June 12.
Geroge Thompson of Lewis, Studerd and Elliott, an architectural firm in Little Rock, presented drawings of updated plans and discussed changes since the last meeting.
The construction and renovation plans are the result of the Holly Grove Elementary School burning in December 2006. The board decided to use insurance money from the fire to add to and renovate Clarendon Elementary School, rather than rebuild in Holly Grove. The estimated 80 students at HG Elementary will be moved to Clarendon for the 2008/2009 school year once construction is completed.
Thompson highlighted a few improvements of the new construction including a new kitchen and dining hall and stage as well as classrooms. A total of 32,000 square feet of new construction will be added. Renovations to the existing structure will include a new roof, handicap accessible bathrooms for children and a new parking and drop off/pick up area.
Superintendent George LaFargue noted that the school does not have final numbers yet on the cost, but estimated $3.9 million for the new construction and $1.1 million for the renovations. He explained that the $3.9 million will be paid for by replacement cost insurance from the HGE fire and the $1.1 million cost will be a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education with Clarendon School District's costs being only 53 percent, or $500,080.
"These are only estimated costs," LaFargue said. "But we hope to hear final numbers from the contractors soon. All in all, we're going to have an estimated $5 million facility with our cost only being $500,000."
He pointed out that the $500,000 would come out of the school district's reserve funds.
Construction will start by the end of July or first of August with plans for completion in time to move in and begin the 2008/2009 school year.
"We've got a chance to have a graet new facility here," LaFargue said.
LaFargue also noted that in September the district plans to ask voters once again to unify the millage between the Clarendon and Holly Grove School Districts. When the districts consolidated Clarendon's millage was set at 30 mills with Holly Grove's set at 32 mills. The district has tried to unify the millage in the past three years' school elections, each time the millage has failed.
LaFargue was not sure what millage rate would be asked for. He said that issue will be discussed at the July Board meeting.
In another matter, the board accepted several resignations and extended several new contracts for the 2007/2008 school year at its regular board meeting held last week. LaFargue presented a list of resignations and recommended that the board accept them all.
Resignations accepted included Lula Tyler, school board member; Mark Lewis, teacher and coach; Larry Reeder, teacher and coach; Lisa Bonner, high school math; Naomi Doss, English; Patricia Gregson, art; Chad Simpson, English; Janan Sickel, elementary; and Parrish Henderson, maintenance. The board decided to leave Lula Tyler's seat on the board vacant until the regular school election in September rather than appointing somone to fill the vacancy until the September election.
New contracts were extended to the following: Rocky Griffith, science and girls basketball coach; Timothy Bears, English; Amber Gooch, art; Susan Bears, social studies; David Osborne, teacher and coach; and Carolyn Coons, Spanish.
In other business:
-- Heard end-of-year reports from Clarendon Elementary Principal Kathy Hopson, Clarendon High School Principal Robert Age and Holly Grove Elementary Principal Ruby Ellis.
-- Approved a bid from Adams Roofing in the amount of $1,280 to repair the southeast end of the elementary school roof and approved a bid of $3,400 from Producers Tractor in Brinkley to purchase a John Deere 20HP riding mower.
