The Mountain Home School Board is closing in on selecting an option for renovating the high school. The board has held four meetings this year with Modus Studio Architecture and Prototyping of Fayetteville to look at different ideas for the project. The school in September of 2023 was informed by the Facilities Division of the Arkansas Department of Education they must make improvements to the PMB structure (the big top and the buildings under it) by 2030.
Superintendent Allyson Dewey says following a recent special meeting with an architect from Modus, the board has come to a conclusion on which option they like the best.
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Dewey says with the plan, the “Big top” comes down and the old gym and cafeteria would also be removed.
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The plan would add five to six new classrooms.
With a large project like this, it will carry a hefty price tag. The Mountain Home Superintendent says they will have to wait and see how to fund the renovation.
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The school district has asked voters for a millage increase twice in recent years for a high school renovation, but both were unsuccessful. In August of 2022, the measure failed by just 16 votes. A second millage increase in May of 2023 was defeated with nearly 62% over voters saying no.
Dewey says they are making sure to have input from all constituents before moving forward with this project.
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The Mountain Home School Board is scheduled to vote on which proposal they will send to the state at its July meeting on the 17th. Submissions for any rebuild project must be submitted to the Facilities Division of the Department of Education for approval.
The enrollment at the high school is 930 students which is grades 10 through 12. There are over 100 ninth graders at any given time during the day at the high school taking classes along with over 100 faculty and staff.
To view the information on the renovation project, visit mhbombers.com/page/facilities.
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