Published: June 26, 2009 11:31 pm      

Buses get first-rate treatment

EDMOND — School buses are moving to the front of the line, with $2.9 million worth of construction for two new bus barns, a transportation building and additions and improvements to the existing shop building under way.

“We expect the bus barns will be finished around April 15,” said Bret Towne, associate superintendent of district operations, “and the 8,000-square-foot transportation building is expected to be finished about 10 months out.”

The cost of the bus barns includes raising the top of the new barns to accommodate the larger buses that are being purchased.

“The new buses are taller than the older buses,” Towne said. The district is purchasing eight large buses for $694,656 and one small bus for $57,172.

“Right now we have dug out the floor at the old bus barn in order to get the buses we have in the barn.”

In May the City of Edmond approved the sale of city property on East Campbell to Edmond Public Schools for $271,195.

This sale will help Edmond Public Schools facilitate the growth of its bus barn, Mayor Patrice Douglas said.

“It has become a difficulty to get 100 buses in and out in the morning and evening,” she said.

At this time the City Council is working on the second part of the project.

This would allow the district to move the road so the bus barn can go straight to Kelly.

Towne also said the school district is continuing to look for a possible location for a future high school.

“What we are looking at building is probably 10 years out,” Towne said, “and it will probably be east of I-35.”