TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Texarkana Arkansas School District Board of Trustees signed off on major bathroom renovations at Arkansas High School during a regular meeting on Tuesday.
The board approved the administration's recommendation to enter an agreement with Nabholz Construction for $724,515 in work to restrooms in the student union, lobby, gym and auxiliary gym. Funding will come from the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds budget.
The project will include the addition of touchless toilets and sinks, as well as the replacement of molded and old tile and renovations to provide more space for social distancing.
Board members quickly motioned to approve the item, implying that the bathrooms are in poor shape.
"I don't know how long they've been like this, but it's overdue," said Board President Frank Coleman.
Superintendent Dr. Becky Kesler agreed that the renovations are needed.
"If you have not been to those areas, you have got to see them before they start renovating them and take some before-and-after pictures," she said. "They've been patched and patched some more, and I don't think they can be patched anymore. So, this is very exciting for Arkansas High."
The meeting agenda stated about the project: "In order to slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious viruses, restroom renovations are needed at Arkansas High School."
Connecting COVID concerns to the renovations allows the district to use ESSER funds to pay for the project.
"We thought it was a great price, and they were ready to start as soon as we gave them the go-ahead. And we were very fortunate to have some ESSER/ARP funds to pay for this," Kesler said.
In other business, the board approved the purchase of a new forklift and a new vehicle.
The forklift will replace the current machine, which is inoperable. The board approved the purchase price of $26,929 from DARR Equipment Co.
The vehicle to be purchased is a 2023 White Chevrolet truck from Orr Automotive Group for $52,322. It will replace an older vehicle in the maintenance department.