The Edmond Sun

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Discussion

September 8, 2010

Schools announce bond issue items

Patty Miller The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — At Tuesday night’s Edmond School Board meeting, the 2010 Bond Planning Document was presented totaling $29.9 million, with the largest monied item, a competitive pool, coming in at $10 million.

Associate Superintendent of District Operations Bret Towne said $15 million in funds were freed up because an elementary school originally planned to be built in 2011 has been put on hold.

“The new elementary school had to be put on hold because there would be no monies to staff it once it was built,” Towne told board members.

The pool would be owned by the school district and would be built as part of an interlocal cooperative agreement between the City of Edmond and Edmond Public Schools.

Edmond schools would contribute $10 million in construction funding for the addition to the $12 million recreational facility that was agreed upon by the city and the YMCA previously.

The city and the YMCA each will contribute $6 million for the joint recreation center including a non-competitive swimming pool. City funds will be paid for by money reserved from the 2000 capital improvement sales tax.

The school district’s $10 million will involve the construction of an attached but separate 80,000- to 90,000-square-foot building including an eight-lane, 50-meter swimming pool with seating for up to 800 spectators, Towne said.

“It will also provide shared space that could include a lobby area, a public restroom and locker room facilities,” he said.

The city is providing the land for the school’s swimming facility as well as the infrastructure that includes a parking lot and additional road access, Towne said.

“Edmond Public Schools will also provide up to $50,000 annually for the first five years of the building’s operating expenses, and at the end of the five years, the city and the schools will re-evaluate their agreement.

Board member Jamie Underwood requested a drawing be made available to the public in the near future.

Other items and cost estimates on the bond issue include: a technology plan, $2.86 million including $350,000 for new copiers; transportation, $900,000; elementary security, $200,000; and district equipment, $1.7 million, which would include fine arts, band, athletics, curriculum, textbooks and Child Nutrition equipment.

Elementary schools being considered for renovation include Angie Debo, Chisholm, Orvis Risner, Washington Irving and John Ross at a total cost of $6.7 million.

Sequoyah, Cheyenne and Central middle schools are on the list for renovation at a total cost of $2.8 million, North High School at a total cost of $2.44 million and Boulevard Academy at a total cost of $1 million.

Also on the list are support facilities construction at a cost of $1.3 million.

Towne explained bond issue money can be used for improvement of buildings and transportation and for equipment that has a life of more than three years.

Bond funds cannot be used for personnel, Towne said.



FOR A COMPLETE list of schools and cost estimates, see a related story in Saturday’s Edmond Sun.

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