The Arkadelphia Board of Education voted unanimously in August to seek the public’s support for a millage increase of 3.0 mills and reallocation of 2.0 mills to debt service. The property tax increase will fund the construction of a new high school for grades 9-12 that will provide facilities to meet the district’s needs.
The increase is intended to generate funds for replacing an older building. Arkadelphia High School is ranked #26 on the state’s current Statewide Warm, Safe, and Dry Needs List. That ranking means that of the 1,018 schools in the state, AHS is rated as one of the worst schools in terms of age and condition. The new facility will meet the warm, safe, and dry state requirements while adding a safe room, fine arts auditorium, career education center, and arena.
“We have one goal, or product as a school district, and that’s an educated student,” said Mr. Blake Bell, president of the board. “A quality, educated student is a product of a quality atmosphere. Our staff, administrators, and facilities must reflect our attention to the quality of the education we intend to provide. Arkadelphia has a winning culture and quality facilities have and will continue to play a major role in recruiting, retention, and morale in our students and families.”
The state has committed to providing $19,036,447 toward the development of the $62 million new high school, which is roughly 31 percent of the cost. The district building fund reserves will provide approximately $6 million toward the project. Approval of the millage increase will provide up to $37,170,000 for the new facilities.
The Arkadelphia High School building, constructed in 1972, has reached a point where fundamental systems are failing. State inspectors confirmed that all major systems require replacement, including the roof, heating/cooling (HVAC), electrical, and plumbing. Trying to fix these extensive issues is financially impractical: the state's Master Plan estimates the cost to replace these systems alone would be over $16 million in the next five years and over $19 million in the next 10 years.
As part of the application for state partnership funding, state inspectors conducted an on-site assessment of the high school. This inspection resulted in a Facility Condition Index (FCI) value of 74.8%. The FCI measures the cost to replace necessary systems versus the cost to replace the entire school. Because 74.8% is significantly above the state’s 65% threshold for facility replacement, the official assessment indicates that repairing the current school is not a prudent expenditure of state or district funds.
“Modern, safe schools are essential to providing students with the supportive learning environments they need to thrive academically and emotionally,” said Ms. Nikki Thomas, superintendent of Arkadelphia Public Schools. “Investing in our school buildings also ensures that our educators and staff can teach and work in spaces that are secure, efficient, and equipped for 21st-century education.”
Up until 2019, Arkadelphia’s newest building was Arkadelphia High School, which was constructed in 1972. New facilities for Goza Middle School opened in 2019, replacing a building that was erected in 1956. A new Peake Elementary School (K-4) opened in 2024, replacing the Peake and Perritt facilities, which were both constructed in 1960.
“In my opinion, one significant way this district can continue to be one of the state's premier providers of educational services is to build a high school,” said Ms. Ida Tramble, vice president of the board. “We have highly qualified teachers and staff; we have conscientious students. What we now need is an upgraded, safe facility."
The school board and administration will host community meetings on Monday, November 3rd, at 12:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the AHS Little Theater. The election will be held on November 18 with polls opening at 7:30 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m. at the Arkadelphia Recreation Center. Early voting begins Nov 12, 2025 and continues each weekday through Nov 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional millage information can be found on our website at www.arkadelphiaschools.org/millage
Arkadelphia Public Schools serves more than 1,700 students in Clark County, Arkansas, ranging from Kindergarten through 12th Grade, and is home to the Arkadelphia Promise.