Crowded Classrooms at Bentonville High School
By: Marissa Stevens, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: September 26, 2012
The hallways at Bentonville High School (BHS) are getting crowded.
Teachers, parents, and students are working together to address the growth at BHS.
"We're going to look at all of the options. We're going to look at the split schedule, year round school, online classes and we're going to analyze pros and cons," says BHS Principal Kim Garrett.
Garrett is leading a Short-term Growth Committee, focused on brainstorming realistic solutions for the school's overcrowding issues.
"We have a focus on excellence and we don't want to compromise that, and so that has to be at the forefront of everything that we're doing," she says.
The committee is planning to share its ideas with the school board.
"Our goal is to present several options with those pros and cons and then allow the board to take that information and use it to make the best decision... We want to make certain that we're doing the very best we can with students, we're continuing to have a safe environment and also we're maintaining our excellence in education," Garrett says.
Principal Garrett also says the committee is not discussing a second high school, but after the millage proposal was voted down in June, there is now a greater sense of urgency to address the influx of students.
"We were looking at possibly just three years out and now we may be looking at a little bit farther that we have to use our current facility," she says.
And BHS is feeling the growth, with nearly every classroom occupied throughout the day.
"I don't see how we can continue with exactly what we're doing today if we continue with the growth that we have in the next couple of years. We are going to have to get creative with our options," says the principal.
So while breaking-down potential solutions and looking at the reality of implementing possibilities, the committee is hoping to represent every voice in the community.
"There's always a fear about the unknown and that's really part of this committees job is to uncover... Whatever direction we go, there's going to be a lot of people who were in on creating those options and they know the reasons and can explain those reasons to other people," Garrett says
The Short-term Growth Committee had its first meeting on Tuesday night, and is planning to meet every other week for next couple of months until they are ready to present possible solutions to the school board.
The committee is comprised of 25 parents, 10 to 15 students, and around 10 teachers.
Click here to watch this report.
Teachers, parents, and students are working together to address the growth at BHS.
"We're going to look at all of the options. We're going to look at the split schedule, year round school, online classes and we're going to analyze pros and cons," says BHS Principal Kim Garrett.
Garrett is leading a Short-term Growth Committee, focused on brainstorming realistic solutions for the school's overcrowding issues.
"We have a focus on excellence and we don't want to compromise that, and so that has to be at the forefront of everything that we're doing," she says.
The committee is planning to share its ideas with the school board.
"Our goal is to present several options with those pros and cons and then allow the board to take that information and use it to make the best decision... We want to make certain that we're doing the very best we can with students, we're continuing to have a safe environment and also we're maintaining our excellence in education," Garrett says.
Principal Garrett also says the committee is not discussing a second high school, but after the millage proposal was voted down in June, there is now a greater sense of urgency to address the influx of students.
"We were looking at possibly just three years out and now we may be looking at a little bit farther that we have to use our current facility," she says.
And BHS is feeling the growth, with nearly every classroom occupied throughout the day.
"I don't see how we can continue with exactly what we're doing today if we continue with the growth that we have in the next couple of years. We are going to have to get creative with our options," says the principal.
So while breaking-down potential solutions and looking at the reality of implementing possibilities, the committee is hoping to represent every voice in the community.
"There's always a fear about the unknown and that's really part of this committees job is to uncover... Whatever direction we go, there's going to be a lot of people who were in on creating those options and they know the reasons and can explain those reasons to other people," Garrett says
The Short-term Growth Committee had its first meeting on Tuesday night, and is planning to meet every other week for next couple of months until they are ready to present possible solutions to the school board.
The committee is comprised of 25 parents, 10 to 15 students, and around 10 teachers.
Click here to watch this report.
