The Edmond Sun

Local News

Discussion

November 4, 2009

3 middle schools need athletic field upgrades

Patty Miller

EDMOND — EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a three-part series examining needs listed on the Nov. 10 Edmond Public Schools bond election. Wednesday’s story examined plans for elementary schools. Today’s story focuses on middle school needs. Friday’s story will look at high school needs.



Residents will go to the polls Tuesday to vote on two propositions on the 2009 bond election by the Edmond School District.

Proposition No. 1 totals $35.32 million. Part of the money will go for technology, library/media center books, instructional equipment, instructional materials and textbooks as needed and as funds will allow at all school sites.

Proposition No. 2, which totals $800,000, will be used to purchase school transportation equipment.

Proposition No. 1 also will include middle school athletic improvements totaling $1.5 million to upgrade existing baseball and softball fields at three middle school sites: Cimarron Middle School, 3701 S. Bryant; Sequoyah Middle School, 1125 E. Danforth; and Summit Middle School, 1703 N.W. 150th St., as well as to purchase athletic and fine arts equipment as needed in the middle schools.

The suggested improvements come in part as a result of suggestions from a district committee, which formed a plan five years ago to help improve the district’s athletic programs.

“We have no lights, inadequate or no dugouts, bleachers, scoreboards or sidewalks at these schools, and in addition to these items, we also will be working on improving their existing athletic fields,” said Bret Towne, assistant superintendent of district operations.

Two fields are maintained at Mitch Park during the year for Cheyenne and Central middle schools.

“Currently the conditions they have at the middle schools are primitive, and these plans will effect major renovation,” said Superintendent David Goin.

Cimarron Middle School, like Sequoyah and Summit, lacks field lighting.

Assistant principal and athletic director Lisa Adams said they have sunlight issues or a lack of sunlight when playing games.

“We can only play a certain amount of time after the sun sets,” Adams said, “and then we have to cut the times of games.”

Kacy Harsha is assistant principal at Sequoyah Middle School in charge of athletics.

“Our benches are in such deplorable condition that they are broken and in pieces and cannot be sat on,” she said.

Water stands on the field after a rain and the field was covered with dirt at the beginning of the school year, she said.

“Our coach was taking a shovel at the first of the year to dig down to the bases,” Harsha said. “Everything we have is old and well used. It has been taken care of, it is just old and weathered and from the fences to the dugouts we need extensive repairs.”

In addition to the fields, Harsha said replacement of softballs, batting helmets and catcher’s masks are expensive.

The bond issue will also cover the enhancement of the fine arts programs.

The repair and upkeep of musical instruments also is expensive, Harsha said.

A tuba can cost $10,000 and cellos run $2,400 each.

“That is buying in quantities,” Harsha said.

The school provides students with a larger instrument to keep at home for practice, and the school keeps a classroom set of instruments to be played during school.

“The larger instruments are provided because they cannot be transported easily, and they are easily damaged,” Harsha said.

“We are trying to maintain our programs. Our fine arts programs are notable because of the support we get from the community.”

Whenever the baseball and softball teams have been short of equipment, Summit’s Becky Cole, assistant principal and athletic director, said the other middle schools have been good at filling in with needed supplies.

“We are supportive of anything that will provide our players with safer, better, newer equipment as well as playing areas,” Cole said.

Last year 20 to 30 players were involved in each of the varsity and junior varsity teams for each sport.

Polls in Edmond will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Text Only
Local News
  • $6.8B budget crosses final hurdle

    House members found enough votes late Thursday afternoon to approve the state’s $6.8 billion budget for next year by a vote of 52-42. This came after an earlier vote failed by four votes in the House Thursday morning.

    May 25, 2012

  • Santa Fe principal resigns

    Edmond Santa Fe High School principal Earl Kirkpatrick resigned Thursday to explore possibilities in the field of ministry. His last day is June 30.

    May 25, 2012

  • devin derrick 2012.jpg Hollywood dreams do come true: Edmondite develops film, music career

    It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.
    At least that is what Edmond resident and 1990 Edmond High School graduate Devin Derrick will tell you about his rise to fame in the music and movie businesses.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • ASK A LAWYER: Trusts provide options for difficult heirs

    Q: We have a grown daughter who has a gambling problem. We want to provide for her in our will, but also want to protect her share from being wasted after we die. How can we do this?
    A: Your situation is not unusual. Most of us know at least one person who has difficulty handling money for one reason or another.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Pets

    This is a list of animals that have been found and are at the Edmond Animal Shelter, at Interstate 35 and Covell in the Cross Timbers Municipal Complex. Call the shelter at 216-7615 for more information.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Police and Fire

    Information in this column is gathered from city fire incident logs and police incident reports.

    May 25, 2012

  • Make-A-Wish Oklahoma hosts Lexus raffle

    Make-A-Wish Oklahoma will once again partner with Lexus of Tulsa and Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma City to raffle off a new Lexus, raising funds to support the organization’s efforts to grant the heartfelt wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in Oklahoma.

    May 25, 2012

  • Edmond youth are encouraged to make a difference

    The Edmond Youth Council programs are opportunities for students 15-18 years of age to learn about municipal government and potentially impact future city policies.

    May 25, 2012

  • Hiebert graduates from Field Artillery training

    Army Pfc. Cody A. Hiebert has graduated from the Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton.

    May 25, 2012

  • arcadia lake 3.jpg Police: Comply with lake rules during holiday period

    Summer vacation, hot days and a holiday weekend spell heavier traffic on Arcadia Lake, and police want to remind guests about rules and what happens if you break them.
    May 23 was the last day of school for Edmond Public Schools and the long Memorial Day holiday period has come.

    May 25, 2012 6 Photos