LITTLE ROCK — Voters in six of 10 school districts approved propertytax measures in special elections Tuesday, fending off the threat of state intervention in districts that had their last chance to raise funds for construction projects.
But three districts where proposals failed a second time since September will begin serious talks with state officials about how to improve aging and overcrowded buildings. If they don't get buildings up to state standards, they could be forced to cut non-required programs, such as athletics, or face consolidation with other districts.
Complete election results can be read here.
Those districts are Quitman, Huntsville and Strong-Huttig.
"It saddens me," said Huntsville Superintendent Alvin Lievsay who was counting on more money to build a new school.
Superintendents of the Mena and Mountain Home are breathing easier after voters approved the proposals after rejecting tax increases in September.
"It was a very important night for our school district, and we can move forward with meeting some state mandatesand get in compliance," said John Ponder, superintendent of Mena schools. Plans include building a new high school.
Voters also approved tax increases to fund construction projects in the Hampton, Mountain Pine and Horatio districts.
Millage votes became more importance last year after a new state law took effect.
Act 996 of 2007 authorizes the public school facilities division and commission to step in when school districts fail to pass on a first try any tax increases necessary to comply with each district's master plan for facilities. If the second attempt fails, the state again contacts districts, and talks begin on how to fix the most-pressing building needs.
The law was passed in response to a 2002 Arkansas Supreme Court decision that found the state's public education system, including buildings, was inequitable.
The state eventually can step in and make drastic changes if districts don't make certain improvements.
All Arkansas districts must develop facilities master plans to ensure that the district schools meet state adequacy or suitability requirements and can accommodate projected enrollment growth. And districts stand to gain state money to help with approved projects.
Tuesday's elections aren't the end of the fierce campaigns to raise money for facilities projects.
Additional districts whose tax proposals failed in elections last September are scheduled to hold special elections in coming months.
The Hermitage district is seeking a tax increase in May. And Green Forest, Greenland and Siloam Springs are seeking increases in elections to be held in June. It will be Green Forest's second and final attempt to raise taxes for construction projects.
Last month, tax proposals failed in three districts.
The Harrison, Bentonville and Twin Rivers districts are now in talks with state officials.
No district is on the state's facilities-distress list, said Doug Eaton, director of the state's Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation Division, which monitors schools' compliance with master plans.
But there are districts the state is watching closely, he said.
Strong-Huttig Superintendent Saul Lusk knows that could bethe case for his district following Tuesday's defeat.
"We've got some buildings that are not safe, dry and healthy," he said.
He said the defeat could mean more layoffs or even cutting athletics because buildings have to be improved.
While the state could ultimately oust superintendents and consolidate districts that fail to keep up with facility improvements, Tom Kimbrell, executive director of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, said widespread takeovers aren't likely. He thinks the new push for tax increases to improve school buildings are resonating with patrons.
"I really, truly believe [patrons] are stepping up saying we really want to keep our schools," he said.
He said the new rules likely will have a positive effect, with the state holding districts accountable for providing students with adequate classrooms.
For Sheridan schools, that wasn't the case.
Voters killed tax proposals in two elections, forcing the district to work out a plan with the state to add classrooms. But it had to scrap plans for a new school, which was seen as a key to accommodating anticipated growth.
In other millage elections Tuesday, patrons of the Cutter-Morning Star district overwhelmingly approved a proposal to restructure existing debt to pay for projects, including new ball fields.
In Yell County, Two Rivers School District patrons rejected a proposal to restructure a portion of its millage to pay for a new high school and refurbishing, remodeling and equipping other school facilities. The measure would have backed bonds to be issued for more than $3 million. It's unclear if that district will seek another election to raise taxes next year.
One mill generates $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed valuation. A property's assessed valuation is equal to 20 percent of its appraised value.
Information for this article was contributed by Kenneth Heard of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and by Julie Stewart, special to the Democrat-Gazette.
Arkansas, Pages 11, 15 on 04/09/2008