On Sept. 21, 2010 the city of Springdale denied the opportunity for new schools to be built along with athletic facilities at Har-Ber and improvements at Jarrell Williams Stadium with a millage increase. The city allowed for a re-vote after the Springdale School District stood to lose $16 million if the millage increase didn’t pass.

“If we bring a second millage to the vote of the people, we must have a proposal that will pass,” said Springdale School District Director of Communications, Rick Schaeffer.

On May 10, 2011 a new millage was voted on and won by a mere 44 votes. According to springdalemillage.com, the vote won with 3,330 voting yes against the 3,286 voters who said no. The millage passed with a 1.9 increase with a raise from 38.6 mils to 40.5 mils.

Some say the winning factor was the removal of athletic facilities from the millage. Some residents even changed their position on the proposal.

Resident Ralph Jackson voted no the first time the millage was brought up, but he changed his vote to yes the second time around.

“I knew they needed the schools, but I wasn’t in favor of the athletic facilities because they aren’t as mandatory to education, so I voted no. As soon as they removed that part of the millage, I voted yes,” said Mr. Jackson.

The millage increase will fund two new schools in the Springdale School District, according to 5 News. The schools in Springdale are getting crowded and reaching capacity. Couples like Lyle and Kelley Nicholson voted yes because of the overcrowding issue.

“Our daughter is a math teacher and told us about how crowded her classes are and how much trouble it is to find room for every student. We need more schools just to fit everybody and allow every student proper education,” said Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson.

However, not everybody is an agreement on the passing millage, some think that even though the millage removed athletic facilities that they will be built anyway. They believe the money given to the schools has been used unwisely.

“I voted no and refuse to support the millage because we’ve spent enough money on schools and they don’t need it. If they were patient, they would raise money for schools and wouldn’t try and build more football stadiums,” said Mr. John Fulfer.

“If the millage does something for the athletic department, then it’s a hoodwink and not as many voters will say yes next time. I will never vote yes again if a stadium is built at Har-Ber,” said Mr. Jackson.

The millage promises only to build schools in an attempt to give more space for the schools running out of room. A new elementary school is currently under construction on Sonora Road and Highway 412 and the discussion for a new middle school and junior high are already underway.