Mountainburg School District mill increase fails in 2025 school election
CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — It has been nearly six decades since Mountainburg Middle and High School has updated its cafeteria. And it will be at least a little longer before that update is done, as residents voted against proposed changes in the 2025 School Election.
Mountainburg School District Mill Increase
The Mountainburg School District needed voters to increase the millage rate by 3.9 to 'support students and provide a high-quality learning environment,' according to a Facebook post. But 87%, or 395, of voters voted against the millage increase.
Ryan Rose seeks re-election
'This funding would allow us to build a new middle school/ high school cafeteria providing a modern, warm, safe and dry kitchen and student dining space. Voters will decide on this investment in May 2025, ensuring we can meet both current and future student needs,' the post published on April 29 stated.
School officials said that the cafeteria is nearly 60 years old and needs updates.
'…with three faulty roofs with frequent and recurring leaks,' school officials said on a webpage. 'The space lacks adequate insulation and refrigeration. Systems including roof, foundation, plumbing and HVAC are at or near end-of-life. Facility Conditions Index score is Below Standards and must be brought to standards.'
Currently, the school has allocated nearly $1.2 million towards construction in state partnership funds.
What now?
The school said the nearly $1.2 million is at risk of being lost if a request for an extension isn't approved. The district is also at risk of losing funding due to a decrease in the State Wealth Index.
'The District could re-apply in future cycles, competing with other districts,' school officials said on the website. 'State Wealth Index (based on a number of factors and statewide ranking) at the time of approval for this project was 67% of a formula cost per square foot. Our rank in State Wealth Index has decreased 14% points over the past decade, meaning the District will qualify for decreased funds in future projects (approx. 58% at present rates).'
The district has created a nonprofit, The Dragon Foundation, to raise funds for improvements to athletic facilities such as baseball field lights, stadium improvements, etc. For more information, contact the office at 479-369-2121.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fort Smith human resources director retires amid internal auditor hiring controversy
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The human resources director for Fort Smith, who has been recently involved in a controversy regarding the hiring and subsequent dismissal of an internal auditor, has retired. Rick Lolley has served as the city's Chief Human Resources Officer since 2018. The city announced on Saturday that Lolley's retirement was effective immediately. 'Rick Lolley has demonstrated considerable experience and instilled a level of professionalism in the city's Human Resources Department over his seven years as its department head,' Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman said in a news release. 'I wish Rick well as he moves on.' The announcement comes after the Board of Directors voted to hire Rebecca Cowan as internal auditor on April 22. Two days later, the board changed course after it was revealed that Cowan faced a felony stalking charge. Fort Smith-based attorneys Joey McCutchen and Stephen Napurano filed the lawsuit against the city on May 2 after claiming Fort Smith failed to provide all public records related to the hiring of Cowan. The City of Fort Smith told Talk Business & Politics, 'Human Resources produced the background check and relayed the information to Administration per City protocol.' Judge rules City of Fort Smith violated Freedom of Information Act following failed hire Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman, in an email to McCutchen, said, 'The background check information was delivered in hard copy. That record no longer exists. The Chief Human Resources Officer does not have a copy of the packet that was delivered. There is no hard copy.' An email from Dingman, not included in the city's FOIA response, was later obtained directly from a board member, according to the lawsuit. This email stated that Dingman 'did not believe a background check was performed.' The lawsuit also alleged the city failed to respond in a timely manner and may have withheld or destroyed public records. On June 3, the judge assigned to the lawsuit ruled in favor of McCutchen and Napurano during a hearing. An order, officially filed on June 5, said 'The Defendants' failure to timely respond, thefailure to provide clearly responsive records, the absence of any valid extension or waiver, and the troubling lack of transparency regarding the missing background check' were reasons as to why the city was ruled to have violated the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. 'The Court is troubled by the timeline of events, the lack of transparency demonstrated by the City of Fort Smith and City Administrator Jeff Dingman, and by the missing background check which, according to the testimony, was provided by Mr. Rick Lolley to Mr. Jeff Dingman but was neither preserved nor produced in response to the FOIA request,' the judge said in the order. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Madison County honors WWII veterans celebrating 100+ years of life
MADISON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — On June 5, four World War II veterans from Madison County, each over 100 years old, were honored with a birthday celebration at the county's senior activity center. They were just teenagers when they served; only 16, 17 and 18 years old. Many of them weren't drafted but volunteered. Now, eight decades later, they're being celebrated not just for their service, but for their lives. The event was filled with patriotic decorations, birthday balloons and a room packed with friends, family and fellow veterans. 'It was wonderful,' said organizer Jannie Layne. 'This place was packed.' The honorees included 100-year-old Marine Corps veteran Loy Watson, 102-year-old Denton Grubbs, 100-year-old William Bowling and 100-year-old W.J. Combs. 'You know, a lot of these young fellows…. you never know much about the war,' Watson said. 'Somebody then tells you.' Rogers School District auctions tiny house made by students; money to be reinvested in the program Hubert Combs traveled from Tennessee to celebrate with his brother W.J. Combs 'It's about the freedom we enjoy, the freedom they helped maintain,' said Hubert Combs, a veteran himself. Over sweet tea, birthday cake and heartfelt speeches, the day was both a tribute and a reunion. The original celebration expanded beyond the four centenarians, as 10 to 12 other veterans in attendance were also honored. 'It makes me makes me cry, makes me so emotional to think about all the things that these men went through and their families went through,' Layne said. 'We got to honor them in a little way to say thank you.' The celebration served as a powerful reminder of what journalist Tom Brokaw famously called 'the greatest generation any society has ever produced.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Judge rules City of Fort Smith violated Freedom of Information Act following failed hire
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Sebastian County judge has ruled that the City of Fort Smith and its acting city administrator violated the state's Freedom of Information Act. Fort Smith-based attorneys Joey McCutchen and Stephen Napurano filed the lawsuit against the city on May 2 after claiming Fort Smith failed to provide all public records related to the hiring of Rebecca Cowan as internal auditor. Cowan was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors on April 22, but the offer was rescinded after it was revealed she had a pending felony stalking charge. The City of Fort Smith told Talk Business & Politics, 'Human Resources produced the background check and relayed the information to Administration per City protocol.' Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman, in an email to McCutchen, said, 'The background check information was delivered in hard copy. That record no longer exists. The Chief Human Resources Officer does not have a copy of the packet that was delivered. There is no hard copy.' An email from Dingman, not included in the city's FOIA response, was later obtained directly from a board member, according to the lawsuit. This email stated that Dingman 'did not believe a background check was performed.' The lawsuit also alleged the city failed to respond in a timely manner and may have withheld or destroyed public records. Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club awards $64K in 2025-26 college scholarships On June 3, the judge assigned to the lawsuit ruled in favor of McCutchen and Napurano during a hearing. An order, officially filed on June 5, said 'The Defendants' failure to timely respond, thefailure to provide clearly responsive records, the absence of any valid extension or waiver, and the troubling lack of transparency regarding the missing background check' were reasons as to why the city was ruled to have violated the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. A spokesperson from the City of Fort Smith gave the following statement to KNWA/FOX24 in response to the judge's ruling: 'While the City of Fort Smith provided all relevant documents in response to Mr. McCutchen's FOIA request, we did not meet the three-business-day deadline outlined in the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and missed the deadline by two business days. The City remains committed to operating with transparency and integrity in all public records processes.' The ruling said the city will be responsible for paying attorney fees to McCutchen and Napurano. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
