Acorn School Completes Nearly $1 Million Safe Shelter

BY MELANIE BUCK –

After completing multiple campus improvement projects, the Acorn campus of the Ouachita River School District is poised for continued growth in the 2016-2017 school year. The most recently completed project is the 60 ft. x 62 ft. safe shelter that was built on campus. Superintendent Jerry Strasner said the $982,984.96 project will not only provide safety for students and faculty, but also the community, and give the music department a nice, large area to practice in.

Strasner reported that the project came in around $13,000 under budget. “We had all the right folks working on it. Everybody did very well,” said Strasner. The school district saved money for over a year to pay their part of the project, $349,958.25 and the rest, $653,026 was paid by FEMA. School architect Craig Boone and Ashley Garris at Western Arkansas Planning wrote and submitted the grant that was secured. Because of the grant and the district saving money for a year, they were able to build the structure debt free.

Not only will the shelter hold around 600 people, it will also be available to the community. “If the tornado sirens go off, it will automatically open the doors on the safe room,” said Strasner, providing extra safety to the community during hours when the school is closed. In fact, the shelter was put to use during a recent storm. Strasner explained that he and other faculty were on campus last week when high winds came through and the electricity went out. He said a teacher from Tyler, Texas was driving down Highway 71 during the storm and when she saw the school she thought they must have a safe haven. And sure enough, they did. She was thankful and the shelter kept them all safe. “The emergency lighting worked well when the power went out,” said Strasner.

Besides providing safety, the music department will be able to use the room for band and choir. Music director Valerie Couch is really excited to be able to have the room for her budding band and choir program.

“We’re always trying to improve safety. It’s good to know that we have a place to get in from the storms and take shelter. It’s reassuring that we have that on campus for all the kids and adults, and for the community. The fact that it doubles as a place for our kids to have music classes is great. We had a need for that. The safe shelter will fill several needs we have and I feel grateful,” smiled Strasner.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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