NICOLE TRACY
Reporter
MINERAL SPRINGS – The
initiation of the process to
begin construction of a new
school building has been
implemented by the Mineral
Springs School Board according
to a report from their public
meeting on September 22.
Superintendant Curtis
Turner Jr. opened the discussion
by stating that he
had been in contact with
architects, concerning building
a new school. A proposal
was made towards the board
concerning starting the design
and the board agreed to start
reviewing proposals concerning
the architectural design of
the new building. Turner and
the board will be meeting with
the architects in a couple of
weeks to begin the process.
Turner also stated that the
board wanted to be cautious
and not make a decision that
would adversely affect the
district.
Both Turner and the board
would like to be able to accomplish
the construction
of the new building without
a millage increase. Turner
further stated that the district
had made a lot of improvements
to existing facilities,
however, the district does not
want to keep putting money
into old facilities.
When the time comes to
perform the actual construction
of the new school building,
Turner would like to have
the faculty and staff members
of the district meet with the
architects, for the purpose of
allowing them to have input
into the designs of their new
classrooms.
A timeframe has not been
set for the construction of
the new facilities, however
Turner would like to see it accomplished in 1 ½ to
2 years.
Financially, the school
district is doing well, Turner
stated. The projected end
balance for the year will
be around 6.2 million dollars,
and that the district
is looking at the best way
to compensate faculty and
staff, including salaries.
Several new programs
have been put into place by
the district to help students
improve academically, and
Turner stated that he believes
in his heart that the
district will see student
growth in regards to test
scores.
Saratoga Elementary
School has been labeled
a “focus school” by the
Arkansas Department of
Education. The Mineral
Springs school district was
consolidated with the former
Saratoga school district
in 2005.
Schools can be given
the designation due to the
size of an achievement gap
between the highest achieving
group and the lowest
achieving group, according
to the Arkansas Department
of Education.
The district is in the process
of appealing that decision.
Turner stated that the
district would take the positive
approach to the “focus
school” status by using as a
way to improve.
