Vilona board preparing for growth

By resolution, the Vilonia Board of Education approved a 10-year master plan, Monday night, that includes construction of a new high school, an auditorium and possibly two new elementary schools.

In presenting the plan to the board Dr. David Bangs, facilities director, said "We will not get an opportunity for funding from the state unless we get a plan in."

The proposed projects, he said, can be pushed back if necessary. The master plan, however, has to be submitted to the state by February 1, to be considered in the perspective funding cycle, Bangs explained.

The plan summary denotes the following: The student population has grown from 1,930 students in the 1993-94 school year to 2,947 students in the 2007-08 school year averaging an increase of 73 students per year.

It is anticipated that similar growth will continue indefinitely because of the development in Faulkner and surrounding counties. Every school district bordering Vilonia School District is, and has, experienced growth in recent years. It is expected that Vilonia may experience above average growth due to the construction of a bypass around the city limits. That improved transportation situation is expected to stimulate both economic and population growth.

Other factors that is anticipated to affect student population growth includes a "major increase in job opportunities or major closings," as well as the discovery of major natural gas deposits in surrounding areas.

The summary also says that plans for construction of a new high school should include space for serving no less than 300 students per grade level and possibly up to 350 or 400 per grade level. The cost for such a facility is expected to be in the $20 million to $30 million range.

Regarding elementary schools, the summary says the plan is to construct elementary schools that will serve K-4. Another possibility, the summary says, would be to consider serving all third and fourth grade students on the present elementary campus and constructing elementary schools to house K-2. The third and fourth grade students all on one campus would seem to fit with the Middle School that served all fifth, sixth and seventh grade students, according to the summary preliminaries.

Some of the things that will possibly affect the facility needs under the plan includes the southern bypass of the city which will extend seven to 10 miles beginning just west of Vilonia Primary School and extending just east of the Vilonia city limits. In addition to having a major effect on future development within the school district , the bypass will more than likely affect the location of the elementary schools and the location of a new high school.

Construction of an auditorium is definitely in the future plans of the school district. According to the summary, Vilonia students are very limited in certain fine arts areas due to lack of facilities. This facility would represent a significant cost and would be related more to enrichment or increasing quality as opposed to meeting minimum standards. Also, construction of a technology center or renovation of an existing academic facility to house the center would be explored.

Other action at the meeting includes:

Assistant superintendent Gary Lambert provided board members with updated job descriptions for certified and classified school personnel and asked the board to review them for discussion at the February meeting. Job descriptions, he said, is a part of board policy.

There was a review of some of the programs in place in the district including the Credit Recovery Program that deals with students behind on their homework; the Eagles Landing, a before and after school, currently with more than 120 participating; the in-house suspension program, that serves as an alterative to being sent home from school and Saturday School.

Dr. Mitchell touted the benefits of all. He referred to the Eagles Landing as a "really good" program. "Otherwise, some of the kids would have to go home and stay by themselves," he said. The Alternative School is also a costly but also very important program, he also said. Discussing Saturday School, it was said, that there is generally a full house exceeding 200 students. One reason, school officials said, for the high attendance is students caught with a cell phone are required to attend.

Ag teacher Harold McCain updated the board on the Vocational Agriculture program. That program has recently underwent a five year evaluation, he said, where it was determined that "a lot of updates needed to be done."

In response, he said, some old shop equipment was removed and some replaced for safety reasons, a ventilation system is being built, some floor outlets electrical will be removed and computers will be placed in the animal science building. In conclusion, he said, officials are also exploring the options of starting a Veterinarian Tech program in conjunction with ASU Beebe.

Granted a waiver allowing a senior student to complete her last four months at the school, although, her situation doesn't meet the board's practice and policy requirement. The fact that she is involved in block scheduling, as well as, she has already purchased her cap and gown and senior photographs weighed on the board's decision. According to her mother, when the family moved to the area last year, they thought they were purchasing a house in the Vilonia District. She wanted her daughter to finish her senior year in a small district, she said, because the district from which she transferred and had attended her entire life is also small. After finding out her daughter was ineligible to attend, the student's mother began working as an aide for the district. Thus, the student was allowed to attend. She terminated her employment later in the year, she said, because she was forced to miss too many days due to another child's medical condition.

"It was not my intent to work two months and leave," the mother said. When she terminated her job, it rendered her daughter ineligible to attend, yet, she has continued.

On the matter, Danny Lawrence, school board president, said, "To me it is a technicality that she came to us her senior year and wants to finish with us. "

With that said, the board voted unanimously to allow her to complete her senior year.

In other business, the board approved the following:

Resignations: Mica McIntosh and Clayton Winn; and Denise Tenney (effective at the end of the year);

Employment: Stephanie Hinesly (bus driver); and

Julia Dayberry elementary teacher; and

Substitutes: Mitchel Cameron, Laura Ferguson, Cecil Garner, Tiffany Ransom, Allison Willey and Jackie Atkinson.