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!
Reminder: Football practice for incoming 7th grade students will begin July 19 from 10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. In order for students to participate on that date, they must have a completed physical form from the student's primary care provider submitted to the school on or prior to July 19. Players can bring the physical form with them on the first day of practice. Let's go, Bulldogs!
Good evening. We would like to remind you of the upcoming Millage Public Meeting tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. in the MS/HS Cafeteria. Hotdogs and chips will be served complimentary of Southern Bank at the main entrance of the elementary at 7:00 p.m. A tour of the elementary facilities will follow. We hope to see you there.
Registration for students in K-12 will take place on July 27th and July 28th from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. in the MS/HS cafeteria. Please bring proof of residency. New students should also bring their birth certificate, social security card, and shot records. Schedules, home room assignments, and transportation information will be available to pick up at this time. We look forward to seeing you there.
We look forward to seeing you at registration!
We hope to see you there!
Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) is a federal program designed to provide food support to families with children who were receiving free and reduced-price school meals and missed school for COVID-related absences. It can help families pay for food when students are absent from school due to a COVID-19 related isolation/quarantine. To be eligible a student must: Qualify for free and reduced priced meal, AND Have been absent from school due to COVID-19 isolation/quarantine. For students whose instruction choice was in-person, the households can contact the Bald Knob School District at (501) 724-3714 and complete the Arkansas Parent-Initiated P-EBT Application. More information and access to the application can be found on our website by using the following link: https://bit.ly/3IpEZtf.
The federal USDA waiver that allowed school districts to provide meals at no cost to all students has expired. Families who do not qualify for free or reduced price meals will return to paying full-price for school meals beginning the first day of school, August 15. Some students will still qualify, but you must apply. To access the 2022-23 application for Free and Reduced Meals, click the following link: ezmealapp.com
Paper applications will be available at registration as well as in each school's office.
Reminder: Dead weeks will be ending on Friday, July 8. If you have a student athlete or band member who will be returning to practices or camps on Monday, steps to be properly hydrated should start at least 3 days previous to returning.
Your Questions Answered:
Happy Independence Day!
Your Questions Answered: Are the construction of the elementary school and/or relocating the power lines necessary? Yes. The elementary school has sections over 50 years old, and the main building built in 1976 is approaching 50 years of age. Any money spent on major renovations or systems replacement are only of a temporary nature and could be considered a poor use of funds due to the age of the school. The Division performed an inspection of the elementary school and the powerlines. The Division’s findings are (1) the Division approved both projects as necessary, (2) the powerline relocation is a safety concern and (3) the elementary school, due to its age and poor condition of most systems, qualifies for state Partnership funds for building replacement but does not qualify for state Partnership funds for systems replacements or partial renovations.