Greenwood School District plans new elementary school at Chaffee Crossing
The Greenwood School District is in the beginning stages of planning for a new elementary school.
The school, which will be on Chad Colley Boulevard in Fort Smith, will be nestled on 12 acres in the heart of Chaffee Crossing. The district bought the land from Shire Inc. for $300,900 and closed on the property Jan. 10.
The estimated price of the school is $250 per square foot though officials have not determined the size of the school.
School officials saw a need for a new elementary amid the growth in the area as well as the promise of the new fighter jet program that will come to the region in 2023.
“It’s an exciting time to be part of this area in the state," Deputy Superintendent Kevin Hesslen said.
The school district is also experiencing growth on its own. Where districts usually lose students throughout the year or retain the same number of students, Greenwood has gained about 160 students this school year and 140 the year before that.
“We’re pretty full at both of our existing elementary schools right now," Hesslen said.
He does not have a date for when the school will open but expects it to be within the next five years.
The elementary school will serve about 500 students from kindergarteners to fourth graders. As of Tuesday, the district has 3,958 students.
Having an elementary school in the Chaffee Crossing area is something that Greenwood officials have wanted for about a decade said Suzy Wilson, assistant superintendent for elementary instruction.
“We have wanted to have a school in that area for quite some time and we're just excited because we know that's where a lot of our stakeholders live now and we're excited about having a school up there to serve them and to get their kids involved in the magic of Greenwood and what we do at an early age right there," Wilson said.
Alex Gladden is a University of Arkansas graduate. She previously reported for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Jonesboro Sun before joining the Times Record. She can be contacted at agladden@swtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Greenwood School District plans new elementary
