LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Some significant changes are coming to the Little Rock School District as they work to cut a $15 million deficit.
After a board meeting Thursday night, the district is on track to building a new high school while closing several existing schools to address needed budget cuts.
"I think it's a really good time for the Little Rock School District right now," Little Rock school board member Greg Adams said.
Adams said a lot was voted on in Thursday's meeting.
A new high school in West Little Rock was among the most significant items.
"We feel like we need a high school in that part of the city," Adams said. "The board did vote to approve going forward with that project."
However, it took some time to agree because of the school's price tag.
It would cost a little more than $153 million, but Adams said they could approve it for a little more than $145 million.
"We'd looked at that and made a little bit more modification," Adams said. "They had eliminated 10 classrooms. We decided to keep six of those 10 classrooms and proceed with the project."
Most of the board voted yes on the project, but board member Vicki Hatter voted against it.
She said she's not confident the district has enough student population to fill that new school.
"That's a general concern," Hatter said. "Students are dollars."
Other changes include closing Cloverdale Middle School and Baseline Elementary because of low enrollment, something Hatter said is needed because of ongoing structural problems.
"That is why we're moving Cloverdale students to Lacey," Hatter said. "Now other junior high schools, middle schools [are] based on the zone they live in."
Adams said a new welcome center will also take up some free space in Hall STEAM Magnet High School, and there are plans to add a K-5th grade program for students with autism at Western Hills Elementary.
"This would be the first time we've done this kind of a program," Adams said. "We're really excited about the potential there and that we might be able to really up the quality we can provide for those students."
As he and the board look ahead, they realize the work doesn't stop there.
"We can see that there's a great potential that we could make improvements in the coming years," Adams added.
The board also approved three different task forces to look at some areas in the district that need special attention.