Connect with us

Arkansas

State lawmakers express concerns about Bentonville School District’s plan to donate land for construction of housing for teachers, staff | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

on

State lawmakers express concerns about Bentonville School District’s plan to donate land for construction of housing for teachers, staff | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


State lawmakers attempted to poke holes in a proposal by the Bentonville School District to donate land to a nonprofit developer to build housing for teachers and staff.

With affordable housing scarce in growing Benton County, Bentonville School District officials proposed an plan to hand over 9 acres of land from its high school campus to a nonprofit that would build about 100 affordable housing units for district employees and those who qualify for federal rental assistance.

The plan was met with a lukewarm reception Tuesday from members of the House and Senate Education committees, as some legislators didn’t like the idea of a school district trying to get into the housing business.

Sen. Joshua Bryant, R-Rogers, called for the hearing after learning about the school district’s proposal this summer. Lawmakers met at the Capitol to discuss the school district’s proposal but not to take action, with Bryant saying the gathering could serve as an “opening dialogue” for possible bills in the 2025 legislative session.

Advertisement

“If we had to vote to approve this, I’d be a hard ‘no’ on this,” said Rep. Stephen Meeks, R-Greenbrier. “I just don’t think it is the school’s responsibility to provide housing for their employees.”

“Honestly, because we can do something doesn’t necessarily mean that we should do something,” Rep. Ron McNair, R-Harrison, said.

The school district voted 5-1 in November to approve a plan to donate district land so the Rogers-based non-profit Excellerate Foundation can build housing for school staff. Debbie Jones, superintendent of Bentonville Public Schools, said the deal for the land donation has not been finalized as the district is “hammering out details with an agreement.”

The project is estimated to cost $20 million to $25 million and would include options to rent or own. Of the 100 housing units, 50-60 would be two- and three-bedroom apartments for rent, which the school district would have influence over who can live there but not final say due to federal and state funding sources.

Other dwellings would be reserved exclusively for school staff with 20 one- and two-bedroom apartments that the school district would have say over who can live there, and 20 one- and two-bedroom homes, estimated to be priced at $180,000 to $200,000. A small community center also is planned to be a part of the housing property.

Advertisement

Jones said the housing plan would be another benefit the school district could use to recruit teachers, especially with the rising cost of homes in Northwest Arkansas.

“We, like most districts across the nation, are facing a shortage of teachers,” Jones said. “The pipeline is getting smaller, and so really this was an attempt to address that situation.”

Sen. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, said he liked “the overall project” but said he opposes the plan because the district has chosen to donate the land to a nonprofit rather than sell it to a developer.

“As a taxpaying, millage-rate paying citizen of the Bentonville School District, I’m very frustrated by this,” Dotson said.

Jones said if the district were to sell the land to a developer, the housing built on it would not be affordable for its staff.

Advertisement

Bryant asked a hypothetical question about whether the school district could donate land to build a food pantry if food prices increased ,asking “At what point do we say education is education, housing is housing, food is food?”

“The big difference between housing and food insecurity is food insecurity is being addressed,” said Kelly Carlson, president of the Bentonville Schools Board of Education. “Our problem with affordable housing is not being addressed because our teachers can’t find housing; they can find food.”

While there was pushback from Republican lawmakers, the proposal received approval from the Arkansas attorney general’s office which said in an opinion that the district’s plan to donate land for an affordable housing project would be legal.

“Because the plan you have described fulfills the statutory and constitutional conditions necessary for a school district to donate real property, it is my opinion that Bentonville School District’s proposed land donation to Excellerate Foundation would be lawful,” according to a November opinion prepared by Assistant Attorney General Kelly Summerside.

Representatives Hope Duke, R-Gravette and DeAnn Vaught, R-Horatio, criticized the district for not holding community town hall meeting regarding the proposal. Jones defended the project’s transparency, saying the school board has discussed the project during its public meetings.

Advertisement

“Most people are going about their lives and they’re not reading the school board minutes, they’re not watching the [meetings] online, they’re not coming to school board meetings,” Duke said. “I personally believe if you do something this big you better be proactive with it within your community.”

Information for this article was contributed by reporter Al Gaspeny of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.



Source link

Arkansas

Congressional subcommittee to hold hearing in Little Rock on ‘failures’ of local housing authority | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

on

Congressional subcommittee to hold hearing in Little Rock on ‘failures’ of local housing authority | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


Joseph Flaherty

jflaherty@adgnewsroom.com

Joseph Flaherty covers the city of Little Rock for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of Middlebury College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, he has worked for the newspaper since 2020.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Arkansas

11 people arrested in connection with various charges in Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Published

on

11 people arrested in connection with various charges in Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


Arrests

Benton County Sheriff’s Office

Scott Minor, 45, of Elm Street in Jefferson City, Mo., was arrested Friday on suspicion of computer child pornography and sexually grooming a child. Minor was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with a $150,000 bond set.

Bentonville

Advertisement

Damond Drake, 52, of West Highland Drive in Rogers was arrested Saturday on suspicion of delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine. Drake was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.

Fayetteville

Cornelius Anderson, 33, of Dawn Street in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of third-degree assault on a family member, third-degree domestic battery, first-degree criminal mischief and theft of property. Anderson remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Eduard Korshakov, 37, of Prairie Dunes Trail in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of aggravated assault on a family or household member, kidnapping, first-degree false imprisonment, third-degree domestic battery and interference with emergency communications. Korshakov remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Efrain Quiroz, 29, of North Shamblin Avenue in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of second-degree battery and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Quiroz remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Advertisement

Leo Ward, 21, of West Tanner Drive in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of aggravated residential burglary and stalking. Ward was released from the Washington County Detention Center Monday on $25,000 bond.

Rogers

John Jenkins, 21, of Arkansas 351 in Jonesboro was arrested Saturday on suspicion of fraudulent use of credit/debit card. Jenkins was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.

Springdale

Ashlyn Neal, 19, of Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping, second-degree battery, endangering the welfare of a minor, resisting arrest and obstruction of government operations. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

Advertisement

Jose Neal, 37, of South Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree domestic battery, third-degree domestic battery, interference with emergency communications and resisting arrest. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

Skyler Shane, 31, of Highway 62 in Westville, Ok., was arrested Sunday on suspicion of Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, carrying a prohibited weapon and disorderly conduct. Shane was released from the Washington County Detention Center Sunday on $3,500 bond.

University of Arkansas Police Department

Celso Adame-Gallegos, 19 of Jade Street in Springdale was arrested Friday on suspicion of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with intent to deliver. Adame-Gallegos was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Arkansas

Erika Kirk to Join Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders for Announcement at Arkansas State Capitol

Published

on

Erika Kirk to Join Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders for Announcement at Arkansas State Capitol


Arkansas leaders are set to take the stage at the State Capitol Wednesday afternoon for an announcement already drawing statewide attention.

At 1 p.m., Sarah Huckabee Sanders will appear alongside Erika Kirk, the chairwoman and CEO of Turning Point USA, at the Arkansas State Capitol.

While officials with the governor’s office have not yet released details about the announcement, the joint appearance is expected to draw significant attention from political leaders and supporters across the state.

The moment also brings renewed focus to the legacy of Erika Kirk’s late husband, Charlie Kirk, a nationally recognized conservative activist who built one of the country’s largest student political organizations aimed at mobilizing young voters on college campuses.

Advertisement

In 2025, Kirk was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University. Authorities say the gunfire erupted during a gathering connected to student political programming, sending attendees scrambling for safety.

Kirk was rushed from the scene but later died from his injuries, sparking shock and an outpouring of reaction from political leaders, students, and supporters across the country.

In the weeks that followed, memorials and tributes appeared nationwide. In Arkansas, supporters and lawmakers honored Kirk’s life and work with a memorial exhibit displayed inside the Arkansas State Capitol, recognizing the influence he had on conservative youth activism and campus politics.

Following his death, Erika Kirk stepped into a leadership role at Turning Point USA, pledging to continue the organization’s mission and expand its outreach to students across the nation.

On Wednesday, Kirk will again be at the Arkansas State Capitol, this time standing beside Governor Sanders for a joint announcement, as leaders gather and the state waits to learn what the two will unveil.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending