The Watson Chapel School District has been planning to build a new high school since a mileage was passed earlier this year, and there have been a couple of snags that have presented themselves to the school board.
The first snag is that the District would like to build a “Gymatorioum” that will host both athletic events and special events such as assemblies, plays, band concerts, and other events. The building would host both a basketball court and a stage for the multiple uses.
The State of Arkansas recently passed a law saying that any new schools built could not host both a basketball arena and a stage in the same building, but that law came to fruition after plans were being drawn up and approved by the state for the new buildings at Watson Chapel. Due to this the district asked the state for a waiver that would allow them to build the Gymatorioum as planned.
Superintendent Tom Wilson said that the State did approve that waiver.
Another hurdle that is now on the horizon for the district is a new law that requires a safe room be built in each school building that is erected during or after the year 2023. Wilson said the State Fire Marshall said that rule may be relaxed due to so much school construction that is set to begin, but they are still waiting for a final answer.
Wilson said that they want to build a school that will be a staple for the Watson Chapel community, and that they have been viewing other buildings to get ideas to build something that will meet those standards. Additionally, the board is scheduled to approve the final plans for the new school on January 15, 2023.
Wilson also said they have to do something to draw students back to Watson Chapel. He reported that since 2017 approximately 670 students have left for other districts, while approximately 200 of those were lost over the past two years.
He said that he wants people to know that they are going to build a safe school, and he hopes that will help attract people back to the area.
