NEW SCHOOL YEAR, FRESH UPGRADES: Gainesville School welcomes students with campus improvements
Gainesville School was back in session Monday, and students were met with several new improvements for the school year including this digital marquee sign in front of the elementary school entrance.
New bathroom renovations campus-wide When the Gainesville School administrators, staff and faculty welcomed their school families into the buildings for open house last Friday, one of the most frequently commented on improvements was the district-wide bathroom renovations. The bathrooms now feature a Bulldog color-inspired red, white and black patterned epoxy floor (see pattern below), new bathroom stalls, red and white painted walls, along with new toilets, sinks and other fixtures. Bathrooms at both the elementary school and high school were renovated, along with those that sit between the city park and school track (more on that below).
Brand new bus barn The school district’s old bus barn was torn down, and a new one was built in its place, giving bus mechanic Luke Cooley a larger and renovated space to keep the school district’s fleet of 18 buses in tip-top shape. Superintendent Justin Gilmore said the school prioritizes using local businesses for its building projects when it can, and this project was almost completely finished with local companies. Among those who participated in the work was MLH & Sons Sand and Gravel (Michael, Manuel and Dusty Hambelton), Jamie Reese Heating and Air, Simpson Concrete (Greg Simpson and Winston Scott), North Arkansas Foam, Hambelton Buildings (Monty Hambelton), Colton Lawson Electrical and Felker and Sons Overhead Door (Ron Felker).
Elementary library revamp Gainesville Elementary School Librarian Becky Grisham worked with the company SSI over the summer to help bring her vision for the new library to life. The space got new carpet, bookshelves, tables, comfortable regular and fun alternative seating and more. “I wanted it to be an inviting and calm space,” she told the Times while giving a quick tour last week. That theme is reflected in the color scheme and the functional furniture pieces that are now featured in the space. A photo of the old library now hangs on the wall near the door, signifying the change. Before the renovation, the library space was primarily in the same shape as it was when the elementary school was first built 30 years ago in 1995.
Bathrooms and park/track get full renovation The Gainesville School has also completely renovated the bathrooms that sit between the school’s track and Hoerman Memorial City Park, giving those attending cross country meets and practices, track practice, graduations, field day, Fields of Faith and other school and community events a clean place to use the restroom. The bathrooms are also open to the general public and city park patrons when they are open. Due to repeated vandalism at the bathrooms, the school will lock them at various times. Gilmore said that during school days, they’ll be locked by the janitorial staff’s schedule (staff are usually on campus from 7 a.m. until around 10 p.m. at night). On days or breaks when school is not in session, they will likely be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The school acquired the bathrooms in 2022 when it swapped land with the City of Gainesville. Prior to that time, the school district owned the land that the city park sat on, and the city owned a piece of property across from the high school where the city airport was once operated. After the city airport was closed, the two entities swapped the parcels of land - meaning the school now owns the property across from the high school, where it has since built a new baseball and softball complex. The city now owns and maintains the land where the Hoerman City Park is built. The school’s property includes the tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, bathrooms and (as always) the track. Vandals should be warned that there is increased security camera coverage at the track bathrooms now, and the cameras provide a direct video to school administration through an online server, meaning that even if the cameras are stolen, the thief will likely be captured on video and prosecuted for the crime.
New security cameras, high school back door Gilmore said the school got a brand new security camera system for both interior and exterior spaces at the elementary school, which provides a much clearer video. Another security update includes installing a card reader onto a back door of the high school, allowing teachers and others to use their key cards to access the entrance like other doors at the school. Before that, those wanting to enter had to knock on the door and be let in by a staff member on the interior of the building.
Backpacks weren’t the only thing new on the first day of school in Gainesville this year. Students were greeted with a number of exciting facility upgrades across the district campus, improvements that represent months of work completed while school was out for the summer.
Superintendent Justin Gilmore gave the Times a tour of the renovations last week, offering a firsthand look at the progress made.
The improvements include full bathroom remodels at the elementary, high school and track facilities; a freshly renovated elementary library; a new bus barn; upgraded security cameras on both the interior and exterior of the elementary school; and a key card reader installed on a back entrance of the high school, among other smaller projects.
The upgrades are part of the district’s five-year capital improvement plan, which relies on input from staff through surveys. Administrators gather the information and present it to the Board of Education, which then reviews and selects the projects to be completed. “We try to prioritize the things that we want to get done first, and then just go from there,” Gilmore said.
The capital improvement plan focuses on updates to buildings and other facilities, while things like curriculum, textbooks, and academic materials are part of the yearly operations budget.
Gilmore noted that much of the facility work was aimed at balancing practical needs with enhancements that directly impact the student experience. For instance, the updated library gives elementary students a brighter, more welcoming space to read and learn, while the new bus barn helps the district better protect and maintain its fleet. Security improvements also remain a consistent focus, ensuring a safer environment for both students and staff.
Looking ahead, the superintendent said the district plans to continue making incremental improvements each year in line with the plan, as funding allows.