The Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation experienced difficulty this year in processing the Partnership Program applications for the 07-09 biennium due to the applications being incomplete and the lack of project scope information. Time did not allow the Division the opportunity to meet and confer with every district on every project, therefore the Division relied heavily on the information provided to determine the state’s financial participation.
The Division is required to post the approved list of projects and the tentative estimated amount of state financial participation by May 1, 2007. Prior to posting, clarification will be given to the Commission explaining that the state financial participation is not a firm commitment for a specified dollar amount until such time as the Partnership Agreement has been signed by both parties.
The Division will sign Partnership Program Project Agreements upon completion of the review of schematic drawings for additions, renovations, and new facilities and upon review of the design drawings and specifications for all other projects. In addition, all waivers requesting a variance to the Master Plan project or to the standards as outlined in Chapter Seven (7) of the Arkansas Facility Manual must be submitted at the time that drawings are submitted for review. Once any issues have been resolved, regarding the drawings, plans, specifications and variances, the state financial participation will be corrected, if necessary, and the agreement initiated between the two parties.
This procedure will be further outlined in changes to the Partnership Program rules, but will be initiated at this time to ensure the accuracy of the state financial participation in the list to be provided to the Commission and the school districts on May 1st, 2007.