$27 million school bond issue for academies goes to voters
By Dawn Marks
Published: December 7, 2006
EDMOND — Voters will consider a $27.2 million bond issue Tuesday that includes nearly $18 million for freshman academies at Edmond North and Santa Fe high schools.
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The academies, where freshmen will take their core classes, are estimated to cost $9.1 million at North and $8.6 million at Santa Fe. Not only will the academies provide freshmen with their own space, but they also will help with expanding enrollment.
"We would be adding the classrooms even if we weren't building the academies," said Bret Towne, associate superintendent. "We need the quality space."
Crews already are building a freshman academy at Memorial High School.
The bond, which requires 60 percent of a vote to pass, shouldn't increase property taxes depending upon interest rates and property values, Towne said. Voters have passed every bond issue since 1959, he said.
Ed Story, North's principal, said that in 2002-03 the school had an average daily enrollment of 1,792, and that the figure now is at 2,200. Because of a lack of space, seven teachers don't have a classroom of their own.
History teacher Justin Jones, who traveled between classrooms last year, said some teachers put all their items on carts, but he carried two bags everywhere he went. Jones said he stopped taking his laptop with him because he lost 10 minutes of instructional time at the beginning of every class setting it up. That meant students often had to wait until the next day to find out their grades, and Jones often had to find time later to update his grade book.
"I am a much more effective teacher with a classroom," he said.
Joel Heath, Santa Fe's principal for freshmen, said the school already has five portable classrooms, and enrollment continues to grow. Enrollment is slightly less than 2,000 students, he said.
The bond issue plan also sets aside $1 million for the acquisition or improvement of land for a future school site. Towne said the school system needs land for a fourth high school and another elementary school and middle school.
Newly opened West Field Elementary School, 17601 N Pennsylvania Ave., also is included in the bond issue for a $2.4 million addition. The building is designed to allow for two additions, and this will be the first.
"We're full and need to build 10 more classrooms," Towne said.
If the bond issue passes, officials will allocate $700,000 for building locker rooms at Summit Middle School, where five teams are sharing two locker rooms. Towne said district officials also are asking for about $100,000 more in technology money than usually is included in bond issues for a total of $2.2 million. The extra funds will help equip Centennial Elementary School, which is scheduled to open in August, and the Memorial freshman academy.
Also included in the proposal is $700,000 for roof repairs at Memorial, Cross Timbers Elementary School and Sequoyah Middle School; $100,000 for security equipment at the middle schools; $400,000 for equipment, books and furniture at Centennial; and $900,000 for science, fine arts and athletic equipment for the district. Another $400,000 will pay for lockers at Sequoyah, and $700,000 will be allocated for transportation.
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Bond Money
The Edmond school district is seeking $27.2 million in bond money in the Dec. 12 election. The largest portion will be spent on the following, if the issue passes:
• $9.1 million — Santa Fe High School freshman academy.
• $8.6 million — North High School freshman academy.
• $2.4 million — addition to West Field.
• $2.2 million — technology equipment.
• $1 million — purchase of land for future school sites.
• $900,000 — athletic, fine arts and science equipment and library books.
• $700,000 — locker rooms for Summit Middle School.
• $700,000 — roof repairs.
• $700,000 — transportation.
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