Our View
West Memphis facing critical vote on school millage
Once again the voters, now those in West Memphis, the largest municipality in Crittenden County, have a very important opportunity to make a monumental difference in this county’s largest school district, It wasn’t too long ago that voters in Marion recognized their responsibility to embrace the visions of what Dr.
Glen Fenter had in taking the Marion School District to a level equal to if not better than any other school district in all of Arkansas.
Now, West Memphis School Superintendent Jon Collins and his team of visionaries with the support of every West Memphian, have a bold plan that will create an educational atmosphere that may very will become the model other school districts will certainly want to embrace.
Similar to the path Marion schools are headed, West Memphians have not only a responsibility but also an obligation to embrace taking their entire education institution into the highly technical future capable of providing a superior quality education that can meet the needs of every student.
We feel confident that West Memphis voters and those among them who are local leaders, family members who have children in our public schools will overwhelming vote “YES” come Sept. 10.
Before we go any further let it be known that even with this 7.5 mill increase the new 36.5 mill rate is still be low the state average of 38.36 mills, and let’s all understand that West Memphis voters haven’t been asked to increase school millage since 1953.
What is also very critical is there is $22.4 million in state matching funds at stake in this equation and a timeline that if voters don’t embrace this millage increase the $22.4 million simply disappears.
That means immediate plans to begin construction on two new junior high schools, make much needed upgrades to existing school facilities and begin critical repairs along with other projects will simply become nothing more than an evaporating dream.
Acquiring these millions of dollars in state funds will requiring local matching funds that will come from this necessary millage increase.
To put this critical vote in to perspective let us repeat what Superintendent Collins said to West Memphians recently in regard to the slim chance voters reject this millage increase.
“If West Memphis ever decides to re-visit a millage proposal in the future for new buildings we would have to pass an even higher rate to cover the lost partnership program funding that we would forfeit at this time. The funding priority changed Jan. 1, 2019 and WMSD will no longer qualify for such a large amount in the future.”
As we’ve pointed out numerous times, our schools play a vital role in any city, county or even the state for that matter. The ability of a school district to gain a reputation of attracting top notch teachers with the proven capability of producing high achieving students sends a very strong message to potential newcomers and especially successful large business leaders willing to invest in the community.
When it comes to a city, such as West Memphis or Marion, quality education plays a major factor in any effective economic development plan and the voters of West Memphis now have a unique opportunity to make a big difference in the future of our schools.
