Facilities Task Force Speaks Out

Ten million dollars. Thats how much one task force says it will cost to start proper structural asessments for Arkansas schools. The groups recommending the state hire a company to serve as project manager for statewide building reviews. Those reviews are needed to help Arkansas comply with the Lakeview school equity verdict. The Lakeview decision of November 2002 requires Arkansas to provide all children with equal facilities in which to learn and equal learning opportunities. Some lawmakers feel local districts could hire architects and engineers to asses buildings for less than out-of-state agencies. But other legislators say the Lakeview ruling forbids self-assessments. To them, local districts picking who does the reviews would count as just that. Its an issue the Attorney General will have to decide. In addition to the estimates for the program manager, the task force is also recommending that 109 million extra state dollars be given to districts right now. That money would ensure that buildings wouldnt fall into worse disrepair during the time it takes to complete a statewide needs assessment. For the long term members feel the states new facilities plan must include regular maintenance, renovation and preventative measures in order to preserve the right environments for kids. The group will meet with lawmakers again early next month to finalize recommendations that will go before the general assembly in the upcoming special session.