 Benton Superintendent Tony Prothro, left, and Jasen Kelley, who headed a community millage campaign, congratulate each other Tuesday night after learning that district voters approved an additional 6.5 mills to make facilities improvements. A major focus of the improvements will be on Benton High School, which was built in 1952. By Lynda Hollenbeck
Courier Staff Spirits were high among supporters of the Benton School District millage campaign Tuesday night after learning that their efforts were successful.
Voters approved an additional 6.5 mills by a 52-percent margin (1,901-1,734).
The millage increase will generate an estimated $28.6 million for facilities improvements, including an extensive renovation of Benton High School.
The district also will be able to obtain an estimated $10 million in state funding because of the successful election.
A similar millage proposal was defeated by 55 percent of the voters (1,617-1,315) in May 2007.
Twenty-two percent of the district’s 16,717 registered voters participated in this year’s election.
Andy Bloxom, Benton School Board president, said Tuesday night that he could describe his elation best by borrowing a quote from former state Rep. Dwight Fite of Benton, who was head football coach and athletic director, in Benton: “It’s a great night to be a fighting Panther.”
Sharing his enthusiasm at a victory party at the Market Street Events Center was Jasen Kelley, Boys & Girls Club of Saline County executive director who headed a citizens committee in support of the millage proposal.
“It’s been a long, hard eight weeks,” Kelly said. “We had a core group of 40 people who ran the campaign honestly and with integrity. A lot of people sacrificed a lot in the last few weeks.
“We have had excellent academics in Benton,” he added. “Now, we’ll have facilities to back them up. We can move forward to reward the kids.
“It will be exciting to see new buildings in Benton schools — a new high school and PE and music and art buildings on other campuses — all those that are on the [state] approved list.”
Superintendent Tony Prothro said the election was “won by a totally committed staff, school board, administration, a grassroots committee and the community.”
“The winning of this election will not have just a positive impact on school facilities,” Prothro said. “It is also a declaration of a progressive attitude and vision of the Benton community.”
Prothro added: “I’m so thankful for the 1,901 people who took the time to go and make their votes count.”
Among those celebrating the millage approval was Matt Brumley, president of the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber board had endorsed the millage proposal, along with the Benton Education Association.
Improved school facilities will have a positive impact on all facets of the community, Brumley said.
‘It’s crucial for us to have good school facilities when we’re talking about a progressive community,” he said.
Sue Shults, Benton Middle School principal, shared a comment she heard from a parent who was excited about the election outcome: “It’s like a breath of fresh air.”
Dr. Carol Entricken, who worked on the millage campaign, said it will be “great to go to ball games in an air-conditioned arena.”
“And it will be great for the dancers and cheerleaders have suffered when they practice there in the hot weather,” Entricken said.
One of the chief complaints about the high school arena is that it is has no air conditioning.
The actual construction process will be slow in coming, Prothro said.
“It will take several months to get the bonds in place and everything we do must meet with the approval of the facilities department of the state,” he said.
Later in the evening, Prothro, Brumley, Kelly and Bloxom talked about the election outcome in a special taping of “Saline Today” on Courier TV 95.
Bloxom said the additional mills will make it possible to turn Benton High School into “a real flagship” for the community.
He also mentioned multipurpose rooms at the elementary schools and liberal arts facilities to enhance school programs.
“And now the girls softball program can have facilities,” Bloxom said. “They deserve this and it can happen now.”
For some time, the district has faced a Title 9 complaint regarding providing equal facilities for girls. The district has a relatively new boys baseball field, but no girls softball facility.
Bloxom said he regrets that graduates this year and other upper classmen won’t enjoy the benefits the additional tax money will generate, but predicted positive results for those that follow them. “New residents [and prospective residents] will see the new high school and say, ‘that’s where we want our kids to go.”
Prothro pointed out the importance of district officials being “good stewards of the taxpayers money.”
Many positive academic results can come from the additional funding, the superintendent said. Among those he mentioned were distance learning labs.
Noting that the Benton district is one of only two in the county currently without such facilities, he said adding these will enhance curriculum opportunities for students.
Brumley pointed out that when he left his home Tuesday night before the polls had closed, he looked at his twin boys — who are 3 1/2 — and wondered what the school district’s future would be for the two.
“It’s like a raw piece of clay,” he said. “Unless you have the tools you need, you don’t have the completed work.”
Benton voters proved they are dedicated to shaping the school system in a positive way, he said.
After the high school is build, he said “real estate people can drive by our brand new Benton High School and be proud. Yesterday, they would try to drive around it ... “
Kelly expressed appreciation to his committee members for “staying focused and targeted” during the crusade.
“This is a giant leap forward for the community,” he said.
Brumley said he hopes that Benton’s successful millage campaign will be the start of a positive change statewide.
“I hope people will look at Benton and say, ‘see what they’ve done ... .’”
He added: “Good education breeds success. Our voters are educated, and we succeeded.” |
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