Park Hill Board of Education heard a proposed plan for the construction of new district facilities during its regular meeting on Thursday, May 21. When the board adopted a long-range facilities plan in March, it did not include a specific timeline for expansion. The implementation of the plan is structured to be scheduled around the needs brought on by student enrollment growth. During the recent meeting, assistant superintendent Dr. Paul Kelly presented a proposed timeline through 2020, based upon projections from the district demographic profile completed last month. He told the board the steps depend on a yearly review of enrollment. Some would depend on voter approval.
The demographic profile’s enrollment projections were combined with the long-range plan in order to create the draft plan presented. Kelly also told the board the district financial advisor was also consulted on a plan to support the timeline.
The plan starts with the adoption of the long-range plan in March, but movement begins as soon as September when the board will discuss refinancing its 2006 bonds.
An enrollment growth evaluation will be conducted in October. In February 2016, the district will receive its next year’s demographic profile and enrollment projections. The cycle would repeat in 2016 with an enrollment growth evaluation held in October.
As early as April 2017, the board may seek an approximately $75 million bond in the election with no tax increase projected. These funds would pay for an expansion of additional school space as enrollment rose, possibly starting with high school and middle school expansions.
If the bond issue passes, a new high school space could be complete and ready for students by August 2018 with a projected enrollment of 1,752 students per high school. Annual enrollment projections and actual numbers would continue to be reviewed, and in October 2018, the board could be asked to begin the redistricting process.
By March 2019, the new kindergarten through 12th grade boundaries could be approved with the fourth district middle school and 11th elementary school ready to open for the 2019-2020 school year. Also at the meeting, the board reviewed a report from food service director Ronda McCullick about lunch prices.
To comply with new federal requirements, Park Hill’s lunch prices must go up for the 2015-2016 school year. Elementary lunch prices would go from $2.20 to $2.30, and middle and high school lunch would go from $2.55 to $2.65. Secondary premium lunches would go from $2.85 to $2.95, and adult lunches would go from $3 to $3.25. Breakfast prices will not change.
The board will vote on the prices at a future meeting.