CCSB Considers Financial Options for Gym

RISON - Little Rock architect Steve Elloitt told those attending the Cleveland County School Board's financial workshop last Thursday that he will work on three different plans and the estimated cost for each to build a new gym/multi-purpose center at the Rison School campus.Elloitt and Jason Holsclaw of Stephens, Inc., the district's financial adviser, met with five of the seven board members for the workshop last Thursday evening in the administration building at Rison.In addition, those attending seemed to come to a consensus that if a millage increase is needed to build the new facility, they would like keep it in the range of 3 to 3.5 mills.Superintendent Davy King arranged the meeting to give the board an idea of what the district might need in terms of a new gym/multi-purpose center as well as what it would take to finance it.The Cleveland County School District has been awarded more than $2.7 million through the state partnership program to build new gym space and locker rooms for physical education. The proposed project would replace the current gym, and the state partnership guidelines requires the old gym to be torn down once the new facility is completed.Since no firm plans have been developed yet for the project, Elliott presented the board with what he described as a draft based on the 1,500-seat gym/ multi-purpose center that was recently built at Malvern.Former Cleveland County Superintendent Jerrod Williams suggested the district consider modeling its new gym after the one at Malvern. While it is a traditional gym used by the varsity basketball and volleyball teams, one end of it has an elevated platform that is converted into a stage area for special events like graduation, student assemblies, etc. In addition to using the bleachers, carpeted floor panels are put down on the gym floor to provide additional seating.King said he would like the new facility to serve a similar purpose, not only servin...