Plans For New High Schools In NW Ark Put On Hold

Slowing growth, a money dispute with the state and red tape at the state level have put planned new high schools in three northwest Arkansas districts on hold, at least for a while.

The schools are planned in the Farmington, Lincoln and Elkins districts, but officials say it may be a while before they get built.

At Farmington, rapid growth has slowed a lot. The Farmington district has seen triple-digit enrollment increases slow to a just a few new students each fall.

In the Lincoln School District, progress on a planned new 105,000-square-foot high school has halted because of a dispute with the state Education Department. The district and the state can't agree on how much the state should pay to help build the new school.

Elkins officials say their project is held up in a 14-month approval process, or will be when plans are submitted to the state.