Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Aug. 22, 2025 – A new construction project on the campus of the Westside Consolidated School District was unanimously approved earlier this week, the district announced Friday.
According to a news release from the district, an addition to Westside High School will feature a new cafeteria, 10 new classrooms, office space and a safe-shelter area. It was approved by the district’s school board on Monday, Aug. 18.
“We are excited about what this means for our students, staff, and community,” superintendent Chris George said in the release. “This addition will not only meet important needs but will also stand as a symbol of growth and progress for the Westside School District.”
School officials aim to break ground on the facility in early September, with the building itself to be completed in the winter of 2026-2027.
However, the release said, while classroom spaces may be ready at that time, moving teachers and students to new rooms mid-school year is “not conducive.” It added that it did plan to move to the new cafeteria as soon as possible.
Once the transition to the new cafeteria is complete, work on renovating the existing cafeteria will begin, which will then be converted into additional classrooms. Renovations are scheduled to be completed in summer 2027.
The district said the overall goal is to have all work on the facility completed in time for the 2027-2028 school year.
The news release said construction was originally due to begin in June 2022 with an $8 million budget. However, once final bids came in at $13.1 million, work on the project was paused.
“After weighing several options, our district made the decision to wait until the economic climate was more favorable,” George said in the release. “In the meantime, we placed a strong emphasis on building financial stability, so that when this day came, we could move forward without asking our community for a millage increase.”
K8 News reports that the district has multiple funding sources for the project, including 2025 and 2026 budget rollovers, the building’s current construction fund, approved state funding, and second lien bonds.
