PINE BLUFF, Ark. — It's been some time since the Pine Bluff School District broke ground on a new campus. In August, voters approved a millage increase to help build a brand-new high school.
"I think the newest buildings would be our elementary schools, Broadmoor and 34th," Pine Bluff Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree said. "They were added in the 2000s, so maybe 1986 was when Jack Roby was a whole new school built."
The district is one step closer to starting the construction of a new high school, which will be located at the current campus.
"Monday, we had our school board meeting, and our school board voted to go ahead and move onto the construction documents," Barbaree said. "What that means is our architect has been doing the design phase."
Barbaree said this gives them a better idea of what the new and improved campus will look like. She said they'll have to finalize the construction documents and get them approved before breaking ground.
"That bid package will go out so that we can receive bids on the subcontractors that will come in and do the building of the building," Barbaree said. "In April, once we have that price, we can begin the actual construction."
Barbaree said they want input from students and staff.
"A new building with innovative ideas because we all know the way it looked in 1970 is different than 2023," Barbaree said
According to Barbaree, this is part of a new era for the city and she's excited to be a part of it as a Pine Bluff native.
"Pine Bluff High was beautiful," Barbaree said. "It was like a college campus. It was something no other school had, and I want to continue to help our city and our students have that same pride in their school as our parents and my grandmother had."
Since construction will happen during the school year, the district is finalizing plans for temporary classrooms.
The superintendent said whatever money is left over will go toward upgrading other facilities within the district.