Who has offered to buy district owned property?
Gravette School District has been approached by Colliers Realty of Bentonville with an offer to purchase 9.18 acres of land of district owned property located at Stagecoach Road and Highway 72. Colliers presented an offer that the district did not seek. The district does not own the full piece of land Colliers is proposing to purchase.
The for sale sign on the Highway 72 frontage is not district property. The district did not have the property listed for sale. The district will still maintain its access to Stagecoach Road and Highway 72 if it agrees to sell the property. The image above shows the land that is under consideration. The school district property for the 9.18 acres is shaded in lime green. The private property listed for sale is shaded in yellow.
How much is the offer?
The initial offer is $1,599,523 for the 9.18 acres
What is the intent of the purchaser?
The realty company represents a corporate retailer who intends to build a grocery store, pharmacy and gas station at an undetermined future date.
How much land does the district currently own?
The district has 51.46 acres at the Stagecoach Road and Highway 72 site. We would maintain 42.28 acres if the board voted to sell. The district also owns 30.37 acres on North Mt. Pleasant Road. Glenn Duffy Elementary sits on 9.96 acres and has room to add classrooms if needed. Gravette Upper Elementary sits on 14.78 acres and has room to add classrooms if needed.
Gravette Middle School sits on 10.02 acres and has room to add classrooms if needed. The district office, Volleyball Gym, McAbee Field and Western Benton County Career Center occupies 14.88 acres and has room for expansion if needed. Gravette High School and the Bus Facility sit on 65 acres.
How much land would be needed to build a future school?
The state recommends elementary schools have 10 acres plus 1 acre for every 100 students. Middle schools are suggested to have 20 acres plus 1 acre for every 100 students. High schools require the most land with 35 acres plus 1 acre for every 100 students.
When was the last time the district built a school?
Gravette High School was our last new school, it opened in 2006. Since then the district has added the spaces listed below:
8 additional rooms and a library expansion to Gravette Upper Elementary
10 rebuilt or remodeled rooms and a band and choir center to Gravette Middle School
Expanded the Westen Benton County Career Center to include large welding and auto shops with additional classroom space
The arena opened at Gravette High School in 2019
6 additional storm shelter rated classrooms at Gravette High School this year
What are district enrollment trends over the last 20 years?
When Gravette High School opened 20 years ago the district had 1,709 students. The preceding school year the district was able to house those 1,700 at our other three buildings. The district passed 1,800 students in 2012, passed 1,900 students in 2019, and passed 2,000 students in 2022.
What are the current enrollment trends in the district?
The 2025-2026 school year saw the biggest drop in student enrollment in the district's recent history. We ended last year with 1,915 students. This school year opened with 1,940 students enrolled. Many attribute the recent drop to other educational options becoming more accessible to families through the Arkansas Learns Act in 2023. That has been compounded by the drop in birth rate. Arkansas' birth rate has dropped by 10% over the last decade. The district has experienced our lowest kindergarten numbers in over 25 years the past three school years. This year's kindergarten class has 114 students, 1st grade has 126 students and 2nd grade has 111 students. Grades 3-12 range from 150 to 185 students. The district experiences a high percentage of transfer students from surrounding districts.
Gravette School District has grown by 231 students over the past 20 years.
Over the same time period Pea Ridge School District has increased by 1,220 students and Gentry School District has grown by 379.
What is the district's current financial position?
The district is currently able to carryover 9-12% of annual revenue to begin each school. State law mandates that balance not exceed 20%. We have reduced spending to meet the current enrollment numbers. The district has bonded debt annual payments that range from $2,700,000 to $3,100,000 that last until 2041. The total district bonded debt stands at $44,455,000. The district took advantage of refinancing options during periods of historically low interest rates from 2009-2021. The majority of the district's debt is financed at rates between 1.25% and 2.28%. The refinanced debt brought money back into the district that has been used to add additional student opportunities and support salary increases. Those financing options no longer exist as interest rates have risen the past 5 years.
How does Gravette School District compare to other area districts by school millage tax rates?
Rates for Benton County school districts are listed below.
District | 2020 | 2021 | 2024 |
Bentonville | 48.50 | 48.00 | 46.80 |
Decatur | 42.50 | 42.50 | 42.00 |
Gentry | 46.00 | 46.00 | 44.40 |
Gravette | 39.70 | 39.56 | 38.81 |
Rogers | 41.90 | 41.90 | 41.60 |
Siloam Springs | 45.00 | 44.90 | 44.20 |
Pea Ridge | 48.70 | 47.20 | 45.10 |
Gravette has maintained the lowest tax rates in the county for the past twenty years while continuing to build and maintain facilities that serve our students today. Increased property tax collections, refinancing debt and increased state foundational aid have contributed to our ability to maintain these low rates. Two millage roll backs have been in place by the county as property values have increased.
Does the district anticipate having to build a new school?
The two additional pieces of undeveloped land the district owns at Stagecoach Road and Highway 72 as well as the Mt. Pleasant Rd. property were purchased for future expansion. The district would consider building a new school once student enrollment consistently ranges from 2,700-3,000 students. A new elementary school would cost approximately $35,000,000-$40,000,000 at today's rates. That would require district voters to approve an approximate 4.4 mill tax rate increase.
How would the district use the sale proceeds if this sale is approved?
The Gravette School Board would determine how to use sale proceeds. Possible use options could be to lower existing debt, seeking additional land and increasing student and staff support. The board is considering options that would give the most long term value back to the district.
Has the district sought community feedback and informed the public on this issue?
The Gravette School Board heard a report from Colliers Agent Steve Lane on April 20th and ran a story on our website later that week publicizing the offer was for a retail development and asked for community feedback. Mr. Lane reported a corporate retail client seeks the property to build a grocery store and gas station. The board questioned Mr. Lane on the future use of the property and the ability of the district to have language added to the contract to protect how the land will be used. The board discussed the length of time that would be needed to seek public feedback on this matter. A link to Mr. Lane's presentation and board questions were linked in that story. Those comments can be watched at the previously shared link below.
https://www.gravetteschools.net/article/2842466
In May the district heard opposition to the potential sale from one citizen during public comment. The district published a story on those comments on May 22nd. The board expressed the desire to hear more feedback from the community in May as well.
The board heard from Colliers a second time at the August board meeting. A story was published on the district website covering the meeting. Below is an excerpt of that story.
"The board heard an update from Colliers Real Estate Agency. Collier's is proposing to purchase a 9.18 acre tract of district land adjacent to Stagecoach Road and Highway 72. Agent Steve Lane fielded questions from the board on the proposed price of $1,599,523. Mr. Lane reported that his agency represents a major retail company with a desire to open a store and gas station at that location. The district could still use the location to build a school or other district facility on the remaining 40 acres. The board plans to vote for or against entering into negotiations on this offer at the September 21st Regular Board Meeting. If the board votes in favor of entering negotiations there would be a later vote on accepting the negotiated offer. Mr. Lane detailed that the whole process could take 6-9 months. The board is seeking public feedback on the proposal."
At the August meeting the district heard opposition to the potential sale from one citizen during public comment.
How long has the district sought public feedback?
The September 21st meeting will mark 5 months since the offer was presented at the April Board Meeting. The board appreciates all who have given feedback.
Can citizens still give feedback on this issue?
Yes. Superintendent Jeff Gravette can be reached at 479-787-4100 ext. 1003 or at this email address jeff.gravette@gravetteschools.net. Board member emails are available at the following link. https://www.gravetteschools.net/page/school-board.
What are the next steps in the process to sell the land?
The board will vote whether or not to enter negotiations with Colliers at our September 21st meeting. If the vote is to enter into negotiations the process will take 6-9 months to see if the board can come to an agreement that it is comfortable with.