Our School

Van Buren School District enrollment has grown by approximately 50 students per year for the last 15 years, serving 5, 505 students in the 2002-2003 school year. Projected enrollment for the 2003-2004 year is 5,638 students. This number does not reflect growth due to possible state-mandated consolidation plans.

Who: Every child in Van Buren benefits from this millage increase, an increase that would add only $6.50 per month to the annual property tax on a home valued at $100,000.

What: The increase will be used to renovate and expand each of our school sites, according to the recommendations and priorities established by the Van Buren School District Facilities Steering Committee. The panel did not recommend additional classroom space for the Northridge Middle SChool and Central Middles School; both, however, currently are undergoing renovations.

When: Project start dates vary. Phase One projects get underway in May of 2004 and all project will be completed by 2008.

Where:

Van Buren High School: Tom Watkins, Principal of Van Buren High School: Learning environment is one of those intangibles that can have a significant impact on both students and teachers, and which helps them maintain a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and pride in their schools. This, in turn, leads to greater productivity. The enhanced learning environment that the proposed new high school will provide for VBHS students and faculty will mean that, for the first time since joining the state's highest classification, our students will have facilities which equal or exceed those of our sister schools in the AAAAA. Not only will increased classroom space give students better and more updated access to science, art, and technology offerings, but the media center, gymnasium, and fine arts center proposed by the plan all have far reaching and direct community impact, as well.

Planned Improvedments: 74,500 square feet of new classrooms, new media center and administration areas, new kitchen, new commons/dining area, a new performing arts center, new gymnasium with dressing rooms, new auto shop (off site), and new maintenance and transportation facilities (off site).

Projects begin in January 2005. View image of VBHS improvements    View image of VBHS New Exterior

Butterfield Junior High: Todd Marshell, Principal of Butterfield Junior High School: The students of Butterfield Junior High School as well as all students in the Van Buren School District deserve facilities that provide a safe learning environment for their education. Our facilities should be second to none and if our taxpayers will continue to support our growth we can provide those facilities. Presently we have no restrooms upstairs and no handicapped access to the second floor of our building. In addition, our classroom space is severely limited. The proposed plan addresses these issues. Just as important, we have a unique situation; our campus is surrounded by four public streets that allow access to our students as they change classes. This produces a great safety concern. In our mobile society, we must carefully monitor who is on our campus and the purpose of their visit. In the proposed plan, Butterfield will have a well-marked main entrance and the rest of the facility will be enclosed, thus creating a much safer environment for both students and faculty. In order to gain access to our students people will have to come through the front entrance. This will be a great step forward for the safety of our students.

Planned Improvements: New science classrooms, new kitchen area/dining area, new commons area, new administration area, new music room, new media center, new bus entrance, major remodeling including upstairs restrooms and science lab area, remodel old gym and old auditorium, bring building up to meet ADA requirement.

Projects begin in June 2004. View image of BJHS improvements

Coleman Junior High: Dr. W. H. Tommey, Principal of Coleman Junior High School: Although Coleman Junior High School has modern facilities, the new millage would allow for room to be added to relieve overcrowding and allow us to add a covered bus area to be developed in the rear of the school. Your ?YES vote for a 3.9 millage increase in September will make a difference.

Planned Improvements: New auxiliary P.E. Gym, new health classrooms, and new bus canopy and drive.

Projects begin in June 2004. View image of CJHS improvements

Central Middle School and Northridge Middle School: Dr. Jean Olsen, Principal of Central Middle School and Susan Buchanan, Principal of Northridge Middle School: Central and Northridge Middle Schools are fortunate to have sufficient space, and we are thrilled that other schools in the district will also be able to meet their space needs under the proposed plan. Our campus needs will be provided from routine maintenance and operation funds, some of which we received this summer.

Improvements: Central Middle School District Maintenance and Operations - New tile in corridors, new intercom system, and cosmetic work in dining area. Northridge Middle School District Maintenance and Operations - New tile in entrance and new flooring in restrooms.

City Heights Elementary: Renee Risley, Principal of City Heights Elementary School: We are so excited at the prospect of the wonderful face lift and renovation City Heights will receive with passage of the proposed millage, as well as with the possibility of having a multi-purpose room to provide more large group opportunities for our children. Thank you, Van Buren, for investing in the future of your children and your city!

Planned Improvements: New multi-purpose room, meet ADA requirements, totally renovate upper corridor on east wing, renovate existing bathrooms, renovate ceiling grid and lighting on west wing, and new parking lot on west end.

Projects begin in June 2004. View image of City Heights improvements

Izard Elementary: Brian Summerhill, Principal of Izard Elementary School: We are very encouraged and excited about the possibility of having renovations made to Izard that would include additional classrooms, a multi-purpose room, new bathrooms, and a more efficient office space including a conference area. I encourage all patrons of the district to think of what is best for the students of our community. I am a product of Van Buren School District and have faith that MY community will do the right thing for the children of Van Buren.

Planned Improvements: New multi-purpose room, renovate administration area, add 4,900 (classroom and restrooms), major remodeling of 3,000 square feet, and new tile and skylights at entrance.

Projects begin in June 2004. View image of Izard improvements

King Elementary: Martha Ragar, Principal of King Elementary School: Van Buren families have sent their children to King School since 1916. King has changed over time, reflecting the needs of children and families. A supportive response from the voters of Van Buren in the September election will allow King School to renew the facilities and continue educating students while serving the community.long time King has looked forward to the removal of the “temporary” classrooms and the
Planned Improvements: New multi-purpose room, 11,000 square feet of new classroom space, new bus drive, new HVAC units, and major remodeling of 2,700 square feet including ceiling tile/lighting, carpet in administration area.

View image of King improvements

Parkview Elementary: Diana Peer, Principal of Parkview Elementary School: In some cases, Parkview already has two or three teachers sharing the same room. As the number of elementary students grows over the next several years, it becomes even more urgent that additional classrooms are added to Parkview. The ten-year facilities plan provides for this. The community also identified a need for greater safety in the traffic and pedestrian patterns before and after school and pointed out a lack of security at the front entrance. All of these concerns will be addressed with renovation of our driveway and entrance area with your positive vote in September.

Planned Improvements: Four additional classrooms, new bus/student drop-off area, and safe room currently in progress.

View image of Parkview improvements

Rena Elementary: Dr. Donna Gordy, Principal of Rena Elementary School: Rena Elementary has been serving students for nine years. . . and at full capacity each year we need the additional space to accommodate our students who live in our area. Rena is like several other schools in that we have three teachers working out of one room and have turned storage closets into “rooms” where our specialists work with their students. The Rena attendance area has experienced large growth and development in recent years and the proposed expansion will give us the facilities we need in order to meet our students’ needs.

Planned Improvements: Safe room under progress and four addtional classrooms.

New projects begin in May 2004. View image of Rena improvements

Tate Elementary: David Crotts, Principal of James R. Tate Elementary School: Tate Elementary is a combination of the former Kibler and Oak Grove Elementary Schools. It takes in an area, basically from Interstate 540 to the Arkansas River at Yoestown. That is a large area with a lot of potential for growth. Trouble is, Tate Elementary is already using every square inch of space and is still short of classrooms. Our new art teacher uses the cafeteria and pushes two carts of supplies. The proposed millage increase would provide Tate with some “catch-up” space as well as preparing for the future growth that is expected. I thank you and our great students will also thank you for your support.

Planned Improvements: Safe Room under progress, remodel administration area (for improved student supervision/safety), remodel media center, and additional classrooms.

New projects begin in June 2004. View image of Tate improvements

Why: The motto of the Van Buren School District is "Our Children - Our Success". To maintain our educational facilities, to expand educational opportunities for our children, and to ensure the economic growth of our city, we must continue to invest in education.