EDMOND —
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of three stories exploring various aspects of the $80 million bond proposal by Edmond Public Schools, to be considered by voters on Feb. 12. The first story examined proposed new construction within the school district. That story may be found at www.edmondsun.com.
Edmond residents who go to the polls Feb. 12 to vote on the Edmond Public School District’s $80 million bond issue proposal will be voting on updating school security measures already in place and adding new ones.
Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at regular voting precincts. Edmond residents have approved the last 54 bond issue packages, making this the 55th bond request since 1959. If this bond package is approved, the district will not ask for another bond issue until after August 2014, said David Goin, superintendent.
Goin told The Edmond Sun the district has always been concerned with the welfare of its students, and that after the December school shooting tragedy in Newtown, Conn., parents and school officials are even more aware of the need for improved security measures in schools.
The Feb. 12 bond issue proposes $400,000 in security features and enhancements to six schools.
In past years the district has fenced high school parking lots with a guard on duty and placed a LobbyGuard visitor management system and visitor tracking software in the front offices of all of the district schools for visitors to check in as they enter the building and check out as they leave.
“The LobbyGuards do background checks on the visitors, making sure they are not a security risk,” said Bret Towne, associate superintendent of general administration.
School security a continuing concern
As well as LobbyGuards, all schools have camera systems internally and externally, and the district is continuing to upgrade and add cameras where needed.
“The bond issue will ensure the ability to continue upgrading and adding cameras on our high school campuses and changing to digital rather than analog for hi-resolution and clearer images,” Towne said.
Fencing will be added at West Field, Angie Debo and Centennial elementary schools as the district continues to control access to elementary playgrounds, Towne added.
The approximate projected cost of this project will be about $100,000 for all three sites combined, Towne said.
“At this time all schools have a LobbyGuard,” Towne said, “and all schools with the exception of Ida Freeman and Russell Dougherty elementary schools, Sequoyah Middle School and Memorial High School have secured entrances.
“Angie Debo and Washington Irving elementary schools will have secured entrances installed as part of the construction at the schools.”
Towne added the district is working on designs for the four elementary schools that do not have secured entrances and those will be paid for using leftover bond monies from the 2011 bond issue.
The cost for the school entrances is considered school renovation and will be listed in the construction costs and will be coming from the 2011 bond money.
The secured entrances’ cost has been included in new construction and renovation costs.
The district’s security additions and changes were planned prior to Sandy Hook and are still needed so we are continuing working to put those in place, Towne said.
Over the next two years $400,000 is being allocated for security improvements, Towne said.
Transportation needed for growing student population
Voters will be asked to mark their choice on two propositions on the ballot. Proposition No. 1 is for $78.21 million and includes new construction, roof replacements, technology upgrades, school security updates, school equipment and school renovation projects. It also includes the purchase of land for a fourth Edmond high school to be built at a later date, and money to build both a middle school and elementary school to address the ever-growing student population.
Proposition No. 2 will include the addition of four large buses (77-passenger) and two medium buses (47-passenger), two special education buses and two activity buses (each holding 40 students), Towne said.
“A 77-passenger bus costs around $85,000 while a special education bus costs around $55,000 to $65,000,” Towne said.
“These buses we are adding are for the most part for growth (across the district),” Towne said.
He added very few buses will be traded in this year due to student growth in the district.
“Normally we would trade in buses, but this year we will be keeping them. Adding one new elementary will require about four more bus routes and with an additional elementary and middle school, we are looking at needing about a dozen more buses,” Towne said.
The district likes to trade buses in every 12 years, and at this time the average age of the bus fleet is seven years.
“Thirteen years ago the average age of a bus was 16.8 years,” Towne said. “We have done a good job with our replacement program, but we are trying to keep up with growth now.”
If the bond issue passes, one or two Suburbans will be purchased to be used for school activity trips where sending a bus is not as cost efficient, Towne said.
“The cost of a Suburban is $28,000 to $30,000 off the State of Oklahoma purchasing contract,” he said.
All activities use them including transportation for academic meets, band and orchestra tryouts and tennis and golf and other occasions where a group of eight or less will be traveling. Teachers also use them to go to conferences.
“It makes sense to send five members and a coach in a Suburban because of the versatility and cost savings,” Towne said, adding the district has around 16 Suburbans at this time.
Towne said the district picks up more than 10,000 students a day distributing them to their schools.
“Our bus drivers drive nearly 2 million miles a year in 141 buses and 12 Suburbans,” Towne said.
Education
School bond addresses security issues
- Education
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Deer Creek official says state ‘testing results could be flawed’
Deer Creek Public School District official Cindy Koss voiced concerns that testing results may be flawed due to circumstances surrounding the testing process that took place in April and May.
In early May Edmond School District Superintendent David Goin addressed similar concerns in a letter to the Edmond-area legislative delegation.
Koss, chief academic officer for the Deer Creek District, reported to the Deer Creek board members there were invalidations and screen lock-up delays resulting in tests having to be retaken. -
UCO instructors recognized as top Oklahoma professors
StateStats.org, in conjunction with partner website OnlineSchoolsOklahoma.com, recently recognized several University of Central Oklahoma instructors as top professors in Oklahoma.
Each year StateStats.org sets out to find post-secondary educators who had been recognized recently for excellence in the classroom, on campus and in the community.
The recipients recognized as top professors, followed by profession, are as follows: -
ACM@UCO opens registration for youth summer rock camp for ages 10-16
The Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) recently opened registration for ACM@UCO’s annual summer rock camp.
The summer rock camp will be from 1–4 p.m. July 22–26 on the fourth floor of the ACM@UCO building in the Bricktown district of downtown Oklahoma City. -
UCO student earns national scholarship to study in South Korea for 1 semester
For University of Central Oklahoma student Taylor Egger, spending a semester in South Korea this upcoming academic year will be more than just studying abroad — it will complete a longtime dream.
The sophomore international business major is the recipient of the highly competitive national Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the 2013-14 academic year. -
OCU Hebrew students to study Dead Sea Scrolls
Students in a Biblical Hebrew class at Oklahoma City University will get a chance to study one of the Dead Sea Scrolls during the fall 2013 semester.
Religion professor Lisa Wolfe’s class, Readings in Biblical Hebrew, will participate in the project that is part of the Green Scholars Initiative, a program associated with the massive collection of biblical manuscripts and related artifacts that have recently been acquired by the Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby. -
UCO awards leadership scholarships to local students
The University of Central Oklahoma recently awarded the President’s Leadership Scholarship and the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Scholarship to multiple Edmond residents recognizing their demonstrated talent and distinguished achievement in leadership, citizenship, service and communication.
President’s Leadership Scholarship recipients include Bishop McGuinness High School graduate Sheyla Rabei and Edmond Memorial High School graduate Lexi Banister. -
UCO College of Fine Arts, Design awards scholarships
The University of Central Oklahoma College of Fine Arts and Design recently awarded two scholarships to Edmond resident Ben Campbell for the 2013-14 academic year.
Campbell, a Music Business major at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO), received the Don Betz Leadership in Arts Award and the Freda J. Cross Endowed Scholarship.
“We are proud of our students. These scholarships show our pride and support for excellence in academics, leadership and performance,” said John Clinton, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design.
“We believe in our students and our program and aim to help them achieve success in all areas of life.”
CFAD is a center for excellence for the fine and performing arts, as well as a center of innovation for improving and promoting arts education. The mission of the college is to prepare creative leaders and professionals in the fine arts, education and design. -
Local students graduate from Rice
ECU lists honor roll students
Outstanding academic work during the 2013 spring semester has earned listings on the President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s Honor Roll for students at East Central University in Ada.
The President’s Honor Roll is reserved for students who earned A’s in all their courses for a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Edmond’s Gina Ann Mengwasser, physical education (teacher certification) was listed on the President’s Honor Roll.
The Deans’ Honor Roll lists students who have at least a 3.33 grade point average with no grade lower than a C. At least 12 credit hours must be completed successfully during the semester to be included on either honor roll. The following Edmond students are on the Dean’s Honor Roll: Sabina Koirala, nursing; Brandon Ray Nicholson, business administration; David Gregory Traxler, cartography (geotechnique); and Rachel Marie Watson, biology. -
Food Bank gives free summer meals for children
For thousands of children, the end of school means three long months of wondering whether or not they will have enough food to eat. Fortunately, children 18 and under can get a nutritious lunch, and/or snack through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Summer Feeding program at selected sites from June 3 through July 27.
“One in four children in Oklahoma struggles with hunger every day,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “No child should have to worry where their next meal will come from. This program ensures that children will receive adequate nutrition during the summer months when school meals are not available.”
Meals will be provided to all children age 18 and younger, without charge. The Regional Food Bank will provide free summer meals at the following sites and times in the Edmond area: -
Cancer Center welcomes 8 summer research scholars
Two students with Edmond connections are among eight college students who will spend their summer working alongside researchers at the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center as part of the Summer Research Scholars Program.
Crista Riggs is an Edmond resident and a student at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., and Max Lyon, from Oklahoma City and a student at the University of Central Oklahoma, will be joining six other students as they work at the cancer center.
The program is in its fourth year at the cancer center, and it affords students the opportunity to work under the mentorship of senior cancer scientists. The aim is to heighten students’ interest and better prepare them for careers in cancer research and medicine. - More Education Headlines
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