Berryville board OKs HVAC purchase

Berryville School District Superintendent Owen Powell will be happy not to hear the term “HVAC” again any time soon.

At its regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 18, the Berryville school board approved the purchase of a new unit at Bobcat Arena, one of several the district has had to purchase in recent months.

“We had an HVAC unit go out in the arena, one that controls the locker rooms,” Powell said. “It’s been tough because we’ve had a bunch of them go down, especially in the arena.”

The arena is around 15 years old, which is about the life expectancy of the heating and air conditioning units, the superintendent said.

“We’ve had to replace several units in the arena and we’ve had several around campus go out, too,” Powell said. “So, yeah, it’s been a rough year for HVACs for us.”

The new unit for Bobcat Arena will cost the district approximately $21,000.

Also at the Nov. 18 board meeting, the district’s Personnel Policy Committee gave an update, which included the early stages of working on the 2025-2026 school calendar.

Another purchase approved was approximately $20,000 for fuel.

The board approved the district signing a Memorandum of Understanding, along with districts in Green Forest and Eureka Springs, for the purchase of a building that will allow for the expansion of the Connect 4 program.

“We had legal write up a MOU between the three partnering schools, and just for transparency, we had the board approve it,” Powell said.

With the MOU between the three districts in place, the purchase of the building should move fast, the superintendent said.

“It should start moving pretty quick,” Powell said. “I don’t think there’s a whole lot left other than the purchase, writing the check and the seller accepting it. … It should be a pretty smooth transition from this point on.”

PLAYGROUND FINISHED

The district’s new pre-K building now has its own complete playground, Powell said.

“We finally got all of our playground equipment installed at the pre-K,” he said. “The building has been complete and everything done and I know the kids and teacher are glad to have their playground right there. It’s nice to have that finished.

The building, which opened at the beginning of the school year has received positive reviews, Powell said.

“It’s a really nice facility and everybody that goes into it is very complimentary of it,” he said. “We’re very proud to have it, and especially glad to get out of those portable buildings.”

‘VERY MUCH DESERVED’ BREAK

School is out this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, something Powell said came at a good time.

“It’s a very much welcomed break and a very much deserved break,” he said. “I think everybody is looking forward to a little time off.”