Reminder: Open House is tomorrow from 5:00-7:00. We hope to see you all there!
Your Question Answered: Did BKPS buy a $40,000 envelope opener? No. The "MS Envelope Openings" building project listed on the school website, and planned to be paid from the building fund, is referencing waterproofing the building. In terms of construction and building projects, the word "envelope" is used in reference to all things that keep water out of the inside of the building (i.e. roof, masonry, windows, etc.). This project consisted of maintenance on the roof, wall flashings, brick inside corner joints, gutter seams, daylight hole repair, upper wall window caulking/glazing and flashing. Additional roof and gutter maintenance was also addressed for the high school and safe room. Much of the work across campus was done from an aerial lift.
Bald Knob's scrimmage against Vilonia has been moved to Tuesday 8/16/22 at 6pm in Vilonia!
Let's Build Our Future Story Together! Vote Today @ Locations
Please vote!
Come out this Saturday and support the youth football program as they scrimmage @ Southside Batesville!
Check out our millage article in The Daily Citizen with the following link: https://bit.ly/3Q79V4K
Your Questions Answered: Will this millage sunset in 31 years? The debt service mills are a temporary tax. The millage will sunset when the bonds are paid off which is projected to be in 2053. Why is the district extending out the payment of the building for 31 years? The District is requesting to extend the payment of the elementary school for 31 years as a means to lower the overall annual bond payment in order to reduce the amount of new mills needed to finance the new school. Our goal for the financing is 30 years. The extra year is in case we need it to keep the annual payment at a certain level. It will depend on interest rates at the time of the bond sale.
Our youth football camp will be cancelled this weekend. If you have not been contacted for a refund of your money, please call Coach Roberson at 501-230-2614.
Our youth football camp will be cancelled this weekend. If you have not been contacted for a refund of your money, please call Coach Roberson at 501-230-2614.
Bald Knob Millage Election Early Voting Information: Early voting will take place
at the White County Clerk's Office located at 315 N. Spruce Street in Searcy beginning on Tuesday, August 2, through Monday, August 8, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Your Questions Answered: Has the district failed to pay any outstanding bonded debt - specifically those not showing to have maturity amounts on the 2020 audit? No. The district pays annually on all outstanding debt. The district has two bonds called “Qualified School Construction Bonds” that are paid differently than other bonds. Principal payments are placed in “sinking funds” until each bond comes to final maturity. Click the following links for more information about QSCBs and documentation of compliance in paying QSCB bonded debt:
2020 BKPS Audit with Outstanding Debt https://bit.ly/3zdCnKU
QSCB Information https://bit.ly/3vi6nV4
DESE Directives: QSCB Payment https://bit.ly/3BkN3u4
BKPS QSCB Check Register https://bit.ly/3zAdD0K
QSCB #1 Statement https://bit.ly/3zxuVf9
QSCB #2 Statement https://bit.ly/3vkDAyV
Your Questions Answered: When will the new elementary school and power line projects be completed? The district has four years to complete the new elementary and power line projects. With an approved millage in August 2022, the projects could be completed as early as August 2024.
Day 35 of Summer Reading- Don’t forget to email your Summer Reading Tracker to summerreading@baldknobschools.org for your chance at a prize.
Wednesday, July 27, will be the last day for the Mobile Library to run this summer. If you have books out, please return them Wednesday to the Mobile Library or they can be dropped off at any time to the Admin building.
Vince Vire has been appointed the School Board position that was recently vacated by Tyrell Pace.
Your Questions Answered: Why is the new elementary school two-story?
A two-story elementary school provides space to meet the needs of our students while minimizing the footprint of the building. This design will allow the district to reallocate approximately 20,000 square feet from the current footprint of the building to (1) improve playgrounds, (2) reduce/eliminate school traffic on city streets during drop-off and dismissal, and (3) provide parking for patrons at the main entrance of the building at any time of the day. In researching building options, the district toured various two-story schools that serve elementary-age students. The staff of these schools indicated the two-story buildings were not an issue for the elementary students. In our elementary school, kindergarten and first grades will be located on the first floor. Moving to the second floor will be part of the promotion to second grade. The building will have an elevator for handicap accessibility at both levels.
The 7-12 football parent meeting originally scheduled for tomorrow at 6:00 PM has been rescheduled and will now be on Monday at 6:00 PM.
Your Questions Answered: Is there any way to fix the elementary building enough to get by until inflation goes down some and then rebuild at that time?
No. The current building fund balance ($3 million+) is insufficient to make the necessary renovations. The cost of these renovations makes it imprudent to use limited district funding to make temporary repairs. The Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation (Division) evaluated three elementary buildings: main “H,” special education, and old kindergarten. Each of these facilities was given a Facilities Condition Index (FCI) rating: main “H” - 0.789, special education - 0.858, and old kindergarten - 0.925. This means the cost of renovating these buildings is 78.9%, 85.8%, and 92.5% of the cost to rebuild respectively. The need for a new facility is urgent. Partnership funds must be spent and all projects completed within four years. The deadline for project completion is 2026. Time is of the essence. Construction costs and interest rates are increasing. Beginning construction early will help to minimize the cost of the project. If the millage does not pass, the new elementary school and power line relocation projects will likely cost more as the district takes steps to either (1) pursue another special election to approve a millage increase or (2) address renovations with the current funding sources locally provided to the district, which are currently inadequate for the necessary repairs. Even with repairs, the elementary school will not meet state standards for classroom size. Aside from financial factors, the district places student and staff safety as a priority. The new elementary school and powerline relocation projects will both provide a safer and healthier environment for our students.
Bald Knob Schools will be providing all needed supplies to students in K-12 this year. Make sure to pencil in July 27-28 for Registration and August 11 for Open House. Have a great weekend!
