During its Monday night meeting, the Gosnell School Board discussed a rough draft of the district's 10-year master plan for facility improvements.
Currently, the district houses 1,356 students on one 58-acre campus. The campus's oldest building is 54 years old, and the newest one was built in 2010.
For its facilities improvement partnership with the state, the highest priority the district will take in the years 2013-2015 is the improvement of HVAC systems and energy efficiency in all buildings on campus. Other areas of concentration will be a new fire alarm system in the elementary building, additional new cameras for surveillance systems campus-wide, and roof replacement on the secondary physical education/weight room facilities.
The board also approved a new mission statement and goals for the district, which were created in a public meeting with all district stakeholders. The statement reads as follows:
"The mission of the Gosnell School District is to support each of its schools in accomplishing their missions and goals for providing the educational opportunities that enable their students to pursue and succeed in their college and career choices."
The district goals include providing and planning adequate financial resources to support daily operations and improvement initiatives, implementing policies and procedures that promote equitable, orderly, and safe educational and working environments, and providing and maintaining adequate facilities, technology, and other resources.
The school calendar's provision for possible snow days was also discussed. The holidays of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day and Good Friday (April 6) will be used to make up any days that are missed because of inclement weather.
The purchase of two new school buses was approved. Two bids were received on the buses, which are both used but with very low mileage. They will be purchased from Central States Bus Sales, Inc. in North Little Rock for $72,900 each.
The board's next meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12.
sharris@blythevillecourier.com