Texarkana, Ark., School District Board of Directors signed a contract Tuesday to purchase 30 acres of land for a new middle school.
During the special meeting, the board voted to purchase the land from Wommack 6 Corp. The tract is north of Interstate 30, between Jefferson Avenue and Crossroads Parkway.
The total purchase price is the greater of $900,000 or $30,000 per acre, with the final price to be determined after a full survey is done on the property.
The land will be purchased with monies in the district's general fund, and construction is funded through a bond restructure voters approved in October. The move generated $20 million for the new school.
Superintendent Dr. Becky Kesler said they hope to have the school open by the 2019-20 school year, but that could be delayed by unforeseen events.
"This is an exciting time for the Texarkana, Ark., School District, and the board's approval to purchase the land puts us one step closer to building a new middle school," Kesler said. "It is the support of our staff, parents and the community that has propelled us to this point. Wonderful things are happening in TASD, and we look forward to breaking ground soon."
The project's architect, Steve Elliott of Little Rock, will meet with teachers over the summer to get their input on the new school, which will serve about 1,000 students in grades six through eight.
In the fall, College Hill Middle School will become the Sixth Grade Center, and existing fourth-graders on the elementary campuses will remain there for fifth grade instead of moving up to middle school.
The science, technology, engineering and math thread at the elementary campuses will also be continued to the junior high and high school levels through a $14.8 million Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant the district received from in November. The five-year grant was one of 32 the U.S. Department of Education gave to schools across the country. Called the Montage Project, the program includes hands-on workforce training for high school students through a district partnership with area industries.