An unnamed district official (Speaker 1) presented the Pulaski County Special School District’s 2026 master-plan priorities at a community meeting, summarizing recent capital work, committed projects and planned replacements while urging patience on timing until funding is secured.

The presenter said the district has completed "about $400,000,000 worth of projects" from 2023 to the present and described a three-tier capital plan that separates quick maintenance work from projects requiring board and state approval. He listed categories such as flooring, roofing, HVAC, doors and safety upgrades and said the district implemented a directed maintenance cycle that touches each feeder every four years; that approach, he said, reduced maintenance calls dramatically.

Committed projects named included Harris Elementary retrofit, replacement of College Station Elementary (Buildings 1 and 2), Robinson High School expansion and athletic upgrades, and remaining administrative HVAC and electrical work. The presenter said Harris is operating on a $2,100,000 retrofit budget that covered immediate needs to receive displaced College Station students (painting, new gym roof and flooring), and that a secure entry vestibule and media-center refresh are in design for completion next summer.

College Station replacement bids arrived the day of the meeting; the presenter said the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) package is expected in January for board and community review. Robinson’s Phase 1 work is largely complete; Phase 2 (an auditorium, larger cafeteria and renovation of the existing building) is under discussion but not committed. A new three-story education building at Robinson and new van facilities — which also serve as a storm shelter — are under excavation, and athletic restrooms were expected to be ready by Feb. 1 for the baseball season.

The presenter described Maumelle High School’s recent upgrades — new baseball and softball fields, an indoor practice facility, a level-4 track and updated locker and team spaces — as part of roughly $80,000,000 previously committed to district projects. He also said life-skills classroom expansions were completed at Mills High School, Pine Forest and Clinton Elementary because special-education enrollment had increased.

On older facilities, the presenter cited Baker Elementary — sited on a septic system despite being inside the city and about 70 years old — and said the district is considering whether to rebuild or add on but has not identified funding. He warned that post-COVID construction costs jumped around 40 percent, forcing the district to rebalance earlier plans after an initial $80,000,000 bond refinance.

Regarding financing, the presenter said interest rates are beginning to moderate and the district is working with its financial team to explore refinancing or new bonds. He noted asking voters for a millage increase is an option but acknowledged it could be unpopular; he framed that possibility as putting the choice to voters rather than making assumptions about community support.

The meeting included brief audience questions (Speaker 2 and others) to confirm whether Phase 2 included the originally envisioned buildings; the presenter said the Phase 2 layout presented was the original community design and was included to inform Robinson-area stakeholders.

The meeting closed with thanks from the presenter to the community for supporting the district’s children. The district did not record any formal votes or adopted actions during this meeting.