Arkansas district plans $22.8 million expansion of junior high

The Farmington (Ark.) district is planning a $22.8 million expansion of its junior high school.

The school district is moving forward with construction of a 26,000-square-foot, two-story expansion of Farmington Junior High, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reports.

Jon Laffoon, superintendent of schools, says the Commission for Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation has approved $6.3 million in state money to help cover demolition costs and for an addition to the junior high. The district's $16.5 million share of the cost will come from refunding and construction bonds.

Students travel to five buildings during a school day, says Joe McClung, junior high principal. The goal is to get as many students as possible under one roof and to reduce the number of students who have to cross Double Springs Road.

The school district is proposing to build additions in two locations at the junior high school: a two-story building at the location of the former old high school gym, now demolished, and a second addition at the site of the old "H" Hall.

The first addition will have 13 classrooms, including specialty classrooms for science classes and special education. The second addition will provide three classrooms for band, art and choir. The band room will be a larger multipurpose room with a stage.

The district also is considering whether to build six classrooms and bathrooms at Folsom and Williams elementary schools.