Previous bond projects under way

Patty Miller
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND December 02, 2008 11:28 pm

— Most projects included on past bond issue elections have been completed, but there are some that workers are still trying to finish, an official said.
Edmond Public Schools Director of Operations Bret Towne said all projects voted on in December 2007 are under construction with the exception of the Cross Timbers road improvements.
“This project was to match up with a DOT (Department of Transportation), City of Edmond and the Oklahoma County road improvement project of Kelly,” Towne said. “That project is now delayed by the Department of Transportation.”
In addition, all projects voted on in December 2006 are completed or are under construction with the exception of Sunset’s fire system improvements, Towne said.
“Money was voted on to improve the fire sprinkler system, but that was put on hold when we started planning the eight to 10 classroom addition we are doing this year.
“If the 2008 bond issue is successful, this will be added to the Sunset classroom addition project,” Towne said.
All other projects have been started and/or are being worked on for completion.
At Summit Middle School, construction began in August for locker rooms that were included in the 2006 bond issue. The cinder block locker rooms are being built attached to the existing gymnasium.
“At this time workers are building area C, which will have locker rooms for 100 boys and 100 girls,” said Summit Middle School principal Desarae Witmer.
“In addition to the bond money ($700,000), money was taken from MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects) to make the project larger,” Witmer said.
The district received a total of $4.5 million in MAPS money that is being used for renovations, Towne said.
Throughout the district there are additional projects awaiting completion.
At Chisholm Elementary School, construction is under way on classroom additions voted on in the 2007 bond election.
At Monday night’s board meeting, Edmond School Board members voted to purchase $13,280 worth of kitchen equipment for Chisholm Elementary School from the Norman Supply Company.
The 2007 bond issue also included new animal barns and pens to replace the existing animal barns and buildings and that project is under way at this time.
Quality in the projects is ensured by following specific steps.
“The first step in quality control is a set of design standards the district has that all architects must follow,” Towne said. “Edmond Schools has a full-time construction manager who reviews plans, attends construction meetings and monitors daily the construction progress of the contractors.
“In addition, plans are also reviewed by district maintenance personnel who check to see if the district standards and quality construction methods are in the plans.”
When pricing a project to be considered for a bond issue, Towne said there are many items to consider.
“Bond projects are based on the design program conceptualized for the project,” Towne said. “Costs are dependent on the civil work (dirt work, utility infrastructure), the type of construction, the size of the project, any special features (kitchens, gyms, locker rooms, science labs, etc.) in the building and miscellaneous issues such as parking, landscaping and playgrounds.
“Sometimes schematic designs are done to make sure the building is sized right and an estimated cost per square foot can be established. Also, there is a contingency allowance built into all construction estimates. This contingency is usually 5 percent to 10 percent.”
Funds left over from a bond issue are typically reserved for other bond issue construction projects that may go over budget, Towne said.
“If a project goes over budget, additional funds from bond projects that were under budget are typically appropriated to it,” Towne said.
Occasionally interest from bond funds are applied to the shortages, he said. MAPS for Kids funds have also been applied to fund shortages to projects where the schools are in Oklahoma City, or have students attending who live in Oklahoma City.
Towne said it is rare that funds from a future bond issue have to be allocated to a previously voted upon and approved project. However, it does sometimes happen.
When the 2007 bond issue projects were bidding between March and July of this year, oil was selling between $100 and $147 dollars a barrel. Financial uncertainty inflated prices on the majority of the district’s construction projects that were bid, but only two projects — Northern Hills and Chisholm — require additional funding from the upcoming bond issue to fund the projects’ completions.
A school cannot start a project immediately after passing a bond issue, Towne said. Architects are not assigned, or plans started until after the issue passes.
“Depending on the size and complexity of the project, it may take four to seven months for the plans and documents to be completed and bidding of the project to start,” Towne said.
“Funding for the bond projects arrive in two deposits, one typically in mid-March and the other in mid-July,” he said.
At this time there are still monies left from the 2007 bond issue.
“The available bond funds available from the 2008A fund is $1,115,675,” said chief financial officer David Fraser. “The 2008A fund includes a road improvement at Cross Timbers of $240,000.
“The 2008B bond fund balance is $1,951,204. The money was received in July 2008. A significant portion of the funds available is for technology that will be utilized during the second semester.”
Fraser said some interest earnings could be taxed based upon an arbitrage calculation that is performed by an outside consultant after the issue is five years old.
“It all depends upon the amount of the interest earnings. In today’s environment it is doubtful the earnings would be taxable.”
THE DETAILS
2008 Edmond school bond issue
Election Day: Tuesday
Election Time: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Election Locations: School elections will be at regular precincts. Voters must vote at the precinct in which they are registered.

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