CCSB To Consider Partnership Options

RISON - Superintendent Davy King told the Cleveland County School Board Monday night that he will arrange a meeting with the district's architect and financial adviser to review the district's options to take advantage of more than $2.8 million in partnership funding for a new gym/multi-purpose center and a new security entrance to Rison Elementary.The Arkansas Division of Public School Facilities and Transportation revealed earlier that the Cleveland County School District had been included in the latest partnership funding cycle. The district was approved to re-ceive $2,707,623.36 for construction of a new gym/multipurpose center and $138,714.14 for a security entrance at Rison Elementary. While both projects were approved forthe partnership program this year, the Cleveland County School District learned last month that neither project has currently received funding. However, as school board president Harrell Wilson pointed out during the Monday's meeting, that does not mean the district will not receive the money in this funding cycle.The state legislature sets a budget as to how much it will spend on partnership projects for each cycle. The Division of School Facilities then awards that money to projects based on how they are ranked by the state. There are usually more projects than funding, which means some projects do not initially receive the money.However, some of the money is turned back to the state since those school districts approved for funding are not able to come up with the matching funds to accept it.The partnership program pays a portion of construction cost and/or maintenance expenses related to academic facilities. The portion the state pays is determined by the district's "wealth index," which is essentially a formula that measures a district's ability to raise money on its own.While the state may award partnership money for a project, the receiving school district must still come up with its share to recei...