After a recent rollback in the district's mills from 46 to 44.4 due to assessment growth, Gentry Public Schools is seeking to restore the 1.6 mills lost in the rollback to 46 mills, where it was for several years through 2024. This restoration will help fund key projects aimed at addressing the district's immediate growth needs and enhancing its facilities.
While it's easy to notice the improvements in our facilities from the outside, it's just as important to remember that great things are happening inside, too. Our students are achieving success in academics and making strides that may not be as visible from the road, but are just as impactful in shaping their futures.
Voters will decide whether to approve this restoration. This restoration will allow the district to continue making significant improvements while still planning for long-term growth. For more information on the millage restoration, see the Q&A below. Additional details can be found on our informational site here. The information is provided to help voters make an informed decision.
Q: What is the current millage rate at Gentry Public Schools, and why is it being restored?
A: The district's millage rate was recently rolled back from 46 mills to 44.4 mills due to growth in property assessments. Gentry Public Schools is seeking to restore the rate to 46 mills, which was in place through 2024, to fund important projects. This restoration is not an increase beyond the original 46 mills. The ballot will use the term "increase" because the vote asks to consider increasing from the rolled back 44.4 in place currently back to the original 46 mills where it was through 2024.
Q: Will my property taxes increase?
A: Property tax totals are influenced by several factors, including property values assessed by the county and the school millage rate. The district is not asking to raise the millage rate above the 46 mills that were in place through 2024. Instead, we are requesting to restore the 1.6 mills lost due to the recent rollback, bringing the rate back from the current 44.4 mills in place since the start of 2025 to the original 46 mills that had been set through 2024.
While the ballot uses the word "increase," it refers to this adjustment back to 46 mills, not an increase beyond the previous 46 mills. For example, if your property is valued at $200,000, restoring the 1.6 mills back to the original 46 would cost you an additional $5.33 per month, and for a $400,000 property, it would be an additional $10.67 per month. These increases are what it would be to go from the recently rolled-back 44.4 mills back to the 46 mills that had been in place for years through 2024.
Q: What projects will the restored millage fund?
A: The restoration will fund a middle school classroom addition and a new Pioneer Arena. The classroom addition will serve as a storm shelter for approximately 750 people and provide much-needed space for both middle and high schools. The Pioneer Arena will provide a new venue for school events and athletic programs.
Q: How will the middle school expansion help with the district’s growth?
A: The middle school expansion will alleviate shared space between the middle and high schools, creating more room for both schools. This addition will also double as a storm shelter for 750 people, offering a safe space during severe weather. By adding middle school space, we also help address high school space issues by freeing up shared areas between the middle and high schools—without adding square footage to the high school itself. This approach helps meet immediate space needs while positioning the district for the future, especially if enrollment continues to grow and we seek partnership state funding for a new high school.
Q: How will the new Pioneer Arena benefit the district?
A: The new Pioneer Arena will provide a modern venue with amenities that our 1980s gym lacks, helping to keep the district current and attractive to the many families moving to Northwest Arkansas and choosing schools for their children. However, the most important aspect is what it will do for our programs. The arena will support the growth of programs like volleyball, wrestling, and Gentry Youth Organization (GYO) teams, which currently face space limitations or lack adequate facilities.
The arena will supplement our existing gym, which will continue to be used, providing more opportunities for these vital programs that serve hundreds of students across the district. While teams may still need to schedule and plan around other users, this is a substantial step toward more convenient and efficient space usage.
While the current gym will remain in use, having more than one venue is common among districts and will help accommodate the growing needs of our programs and ensure that all teams have adequate space to practice and compete.
Q: Is the millage restoration related to the need for a new high school?
A: The restoration is not directly related to the need for a new high school. While additional space is necessary, we do not currently require a completely new high school. This is why the middle school addition will help meet our needs at this time.
Regardless, the ability to build a new high school depends a lot on securing partnership state funds, which is a separate matter. In order to qualify for these matching funds, we must first meet specific square footage requirements, which means we need to increase enrollment to demonstrate the growing need for additional space.
This is one reason why the district is actively promoting the school through various marketing channels to attract more students and address the square footage issue. Even if the restoration does not pass, we still likely face the same challenge of not being able to build a new high school until we surpass that square footage hurdle to hopefully receive partnership funds from the state.
The restoration does not mean the district will not continue to consider a new high school in the future when the time is right; it simply restores the millage that was rolled back, allowing us to focus on immediate needs, while continuing to work toward solving the enrollment and space challenges for the future.
Q: What is Gentry Public Schools doing for academics?
A: At Gentry Public Schools, academics are our top priority. Facility improvements are being made often using separate funding sources. Making facility improvements does not mean the district is sacrificing academic improvements.
The district has made significant investments in both modernizing facilities and enhancing academics. New buildings like the Intermediate School, Primary School, and Career Technical Center, along with updates to older structures, ensure students have up-to-date spaces for learning. Simultaneously, academic programs are being strengthened through initiatives like Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), providing targeted professional development for teachers to improve student outcomes. Curriculum committees are also actively reviewing and updating materials to ensure alignment with state standards and grade-level expectations.
In addition, Gentry High School’s recognition for student growth on state assessments, the performance of our Alternative Learning Environment students, and opportunities for concurrent credit courses and career-focused pathways demonstrate the district’s continued commitment to academic success. These efforts help ensure that all students are well-prepared for both higher education and the workforce.
Q: What are the other improvements being made?
A: Gentry Public Schools has made significant improvements across a broad range of areas consistently over the years. The district has constructed an intermediate school, primary school, and career/technical center, which are still relatively new. The district has also made significant upgrades, including renovating Pioneer Stadium with a new track and artificial turf, and updating the baseball/softball complex with turf and other improvements. The addition of turf enhances the facilities while providing operational benefits by reducing the need for tasks like seeding, watering, mowing, and landscaping.
New HVAC systems have been installed in the middle and high school gyms, and the district has invested in new band uniforms, instruments, and theatre equipment to support extracurricular programs. The interior of the high school is being repainted, including the hallways, lobby, and bathrooms, with new flooring being added to the bathrooms. The intermediate school has also been upgraded with fresh paint in older areas, including the cafeteria and older addition.
Student furniture and campus facilities have been upgraded, and academic programs such as concurrent college credit and career/technical education have been expanded. Curriculum committees have also been meeting to update curriculum materials to ensure they reflect current educational standards. These ongoing efforts support the district’s growth, enhance student experiences, and promote operational efficiency.
Though the upgrades to our facilities are visible from the outside, it's essential to recognize the remarkable progress happening within. Our students are excelling academically and achieving milestones that may not be seen from the street but are making a significant impact on their success and futures.
Q: Will this millage restoration prevent other district initiatives?
A: Restoring the 46 mills will not hinder other academic or planning initiatives from progressing. It simply restores what was lost in the rollback, helping the district meet immediate needs. Great things will continue to happen regardless of the restoration passing because it is not a situation where one choice impedes the other. Funding for academics and facilities often comes from different sources, and there are sometimes separate channels for things like routine upgrades and program support. For example, we do not have to choose between the restoration projects and updating the interior of our high school - those are two separate initiatives with different funding options. The restoration does not deny any progress in other areas of the district's growth and development.
Q: What is the timeline for the vote on the millage restoration?
A: The voter registration deadline is April 14, 2025. Early voting begins on May 6, 2025, with the election date set for May 13, 2025.
Q: How can I provide feedback or ask questions about this restoration?
A: The district is encouraging feedback through a survey and direct contact with central administration. It’s important to ensure accurate information is shared, and the district welcomes any questions.
Note:
If the plans proceed after the vote, the final details will be determined based on the bid numbers that come in at the time of the project. These numbers can be influenced by a variety of market factors, such as material costs and labor availability, between now and then. While we have outlined the general plans, it is important to note that the final scope and budget will depend on these factors. We are working to anticipate all variables and hope for no unexpected surprises during this process.
Below are conceptual drawings of the proposed projects for the millage restoration. These early sketches provide a general idea of the layout and key features, but details like colors and exact layouts may change as the project progresses.
