District unveils 10‑year capital plan; board told to decide on how to add 800 high‑school seats by next year

District administration presented an updated 10‑year capital and financial plan at the Oct. 9 work session that lays out near‑term and long‑range facility needs and funding sources.

Dr. Swanhauser told the board the plan projects the district will exceed 23,000 students by 2032–33. To address high‑school capacity, the district is considering three options: opening a professional studies high school to house an expanded Ignite program, adding another wing to Bentonville West High School, or building a new comprehensive third high school. "To be able to establish a construction timeline ... we'll need a decision about this time next year from the board of education," Swanhauser said.

The plan also identifies a need for an additional middle school in 2031. Swanhauser said the district’s operating budget shows roughly $265.2 million in revenue and about $255.9 million in expenditures for the current year, and that the district expects to transfer about $11.1 million in operating savings into the building fund to pay for capital projects without asking voters for new millage for some items.

Swanhauser previewed a proposed $9.1 million Bentonville West High School band and athletics expansion that would include a locker/weight room and coaches area (about $4.3 million), a turf practice field and equipment building, and a roughly 2,400 sq. ft., $1.9 million band room expansion. "Again, just like our 2 wings that we added in January 24, our savings will cover the cost of this project completely, and we do not anticipate needing to ask our voters for additional funding," he said.

Staff emphasized that projects listed in the plan (threshold set at $150,000) still require future board approval of guaranteed maximum prices before work begins. Board questions focused on how city sewer and lift‑station constraints could delay construction, how capital projects might affect operating budgets if financed with loans, and facility maintenance issues such as drainage at the high‑school soccer complex. District facilities staff said four of five drains at the field were clogged and were cleared; the district will monitor performance.

Swanhauser said the district escalates smaller project costs at about 3.5% and larger projects up to 5% per year in its modeling. The board was asked to expect a more detailed package on high‑school seat options and an athletics/arts expansion request in the coming 12 months.