Published: October 14, 2008 10:38 pm      

Edmond sets $36.2 million bond package vote

EDMOND — With 49 consecutive bond issues passed by Edmond residents since 1959, the Edmond Board of Education is looking for the approval of one more bond election.

On Dec. 9, the district will ask voters to approve a $36.28 million bond issue.

The district would use $35.48 million to improve and acquire school sites, construction, repair, remodel and equip school buildings and buy school furniture, fixtures and equipment.

The remaining $800,000 would be used to buy transportation equipment.

“This will help us to continue to grow our schools, to keep our technology up to date and continue to keep the Edmond school district one of the best in the state and nation,” said board member Kemp Cole.

If the bond issue passes, the bonds do not have to be sold immediately.

“The school can set the time and place of the sale of the bonds,” said Bret Towne, director of district operations.

“There is very little movement in government bonds at this time, and there is so much out there to be sold that things are being sold at a higher interest rate. Once this backlog of bonds washes out of the market, we hope the market will be cleared up by then.”

Towne said the district would want to sell the bonds as soon as possible but probably will wait until February or March.

All of the projects will be completed with prior bond money with the exception of the Summit/Haskell project. It will be completed with a combination of MAPS for Kids money at $4.6 million, and $2.8 million in bond money.

The $35.48 million bond list for Proposition No. 1 is as follows:

Technology: Improvements to the school district — $2.5 million.

Roofing: Orvis Risner Elementary roofing — $900,000.

School security: Memorial High School — $1 million

School equipment: Provide for purchasing of athletic and fine arts equipment — $1.4 million.

HVAC equipment: Washington Irving and Cross Timbers Elementary schools — $400,000.

Chisholm Elementary: Purchasing kitchen equipment, parking and renovation — $1 million.

Northern Hills Elementary: Upgrading electrical systems, install HVAC units and renovation — $900,000.

Orvis Risner: Classroom addition, rest room renovation and exterior windows — $2.615 million

Russell Dougherty: Classroom addition — $1.29 million.

Sunset Elementary: Classroom addition, upgrading fire sprinkler system — $4.8 million.

Central Middle School: Addition to media center and renovating classrooms, hallways and rest rooms — $4.6 million.

Summit/Charles Haskell: Replace student lockers, gymnasium floor at Summit; renovating shared parking lot and construct new lot at Haskell — $950,000.

Middle School Tennis Courts: Constructing and installing additional tennis courts and fencing at all five middle schools — $1.55 million.

High School Baseball and Softball Improvements: Add Santa Fe indoor hitting facility, renovate Memorial dugouts and press box and construct North bleacher covers.

North High School Front Addition, Renovation: Two-story front addition to existing facility, which will include expansion of administration offices, counseling and special education renovation — $3.3 million.

Proposition No. 2 includes buying school transportation equipment — $800,000.