Arkansas Investigates Monolithic Dome Schools
reprinted from the Roundup, Summer 2000
On April 27, 2000 in Little Rock, Arkansas, David B. South and David South, Jr. met with representatives from federal, state and local agencies, to explore Arkansas' goals and choices for new school construction. Dave Floyd, State of Arkansas Director of School Plant Services, said, "We should provide the safest environment for school children." Floyd endorsed construction of Monolithic Domes and said that tornadoes were their "greatest fear," followed by fire and earthquakes.
Floyd added that the indoor air quality of schools must also be improved. He explained that many of Arkansas' existing schools suffered from "sick building syndrome," usually caused by leaking roofs that lead to rotting wood, mold, and eventually sick children. Floyd emphasized that the concrete roofs of Monolithic Domes cannot rot, that the construction cost of Monolithic Domes compares favorably to that of traditional buildings, that the life expectancy of the dome "has no limit," and that its energy savings are "ongoing."
State Representative Mike Hathorn and Speaker of the House Bob Johnson, both with the Arkansas State Legislature, voiced support as well. They want Arkansas to be first in the construction of public school buildings that are safe from natural and nuclear disasters. Hathorn pointed out that communities near nuclear plants, such as Hector, Arkansas located near Nuclear I, need shelters that can be used in nuclear emergencies and that Monolithic Domes could do that better than conventional buildings.
U.S. Department of Energy, Senior Financial Specialist Ward Huffman noted that school construction should become a significant part of a "Rebuild America" program with structures that were self-powered as well as designated disaster centers. Huffman thought that Monolithic Domes could meet the challenges of this program. When Hector's elementary school principal asked Huffman what their priorities should be, Huffman suggested they "buy the dome first" because it offered the most energy savings, then use geothermal heating and cooling, and finally use solar if they can get a grant.
MDI President David B. South spoke to the group for forty-five minutes. Another thirty minutes of questions and answers followed South's presentation, that defined and documented the advantages of Monolithic Dome schools.
Hector, Arkansas School Superintendent Tommy Thompson stated that his community had already passed a bond for its new school additions, that they would be Monolithic Domes, and that the domes would serve as Hector's community shelters.
Others at the meeting who supported Arkansas' construction of Monolithic Dome schools included Dr. Kellar Noggle, Executive Director, Association of Educational Administrators; Floyd Farmer, State Engineer, Arkansas State Building Services; Dan Cicirello, Mitigation Division Manager, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management; Mickey Roberts, Vice-president, Raney & Beardsley, Inc., investment bankers who handle most bonds for Arkansas; Jake Jones, Emergency Management, Hector Fire Department; Terry Hagan, Hector Police Department; Connie Whitaker, Hector School District representative who initiated interest in Monolithic Domes.
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