Demolition of the Old Jacksonville Elementary School

Jacksonville, Arkansas – As 2024 draws to a close, we would want to revisit a narrative we initially told at the start of the year.

Concerns about the former Jacksonville Elementary School being an eyesore in the neighborhood have been voiced by several Jacksonville residents.

The city is now happy to report that fresh developments are occurring.

“I said a few months ago that I would have it done by the end of the year, and due to our employees being able to do it, we’ve done it,” Mayor Jeff Elmore stated.

Mayor Elmore has achieved in his self-imposed timetable to have the old elementary school razed before the end of the year.

The cost of the project and the asbestos found inside were two of the main obstacles preventing it from being completed on time. These factors also made it difficult to locate contractors who were willing to work on the project.

At that point, Mayor Elmore used some of their own to come up with a solution.

Adam Whitlow, the Director of Public Works and Engineering, stated that a number of his staff members obtained certification in assisting the city with this process by completing a SAU tech workforce program.

“These workers are accustomed to doing drainage ditches, pothole patching, and similar tasks. Thus, this is quite out of the ordinary for us. However, they’ve [done] a fantastic job, and we have the tools, know-how, and experience,” Whitlow stated.

Although it has been a gradual process, crews are making headway. Whitlow claims that the fact that they were even allowed to retain some of the content is the best news.

“A large portion of the metal has been scrappable. Many of the structural components will remain at our facilities while we look for new uses for them,” Whitlow stated.

Mayor Elmore expressed gratitude to the community for their patience in seeing this through to completion.

“We’re moving forward and being proactive with everything, and we’re working to make Jacksonville a better place,” Elmore stated.

The land where the former elementary school stood is currently unplanned.

The Mayor’s Office claims that “PCSSD continues to own the property of the old Jacksonville Elementary School.”