Post date: Jul 23, 2013 6:12:26 PM
Facilities Planning Committee listened to the voters
An updated and enhanced Central will remain a functioning middle school
Middle schools will be maintained on both the east and west sides of town without constructing a new middle school
No tax increase will be required to fund the projects
Focus is on improvement in the academic setting in our secondary schools; the decision to move 9th and 10th grades to the high school is critical and enables these benefits:
Establishes a four year high school configuration prevalent in other high-achieving schools
Frees Mid-High building to become a superior facility for Madison Middle School students
Elimination of Mid-High configuration reduces one transition for students in changing from one school location to the next; research indicates that fewer transitions have a positive impact on educational achievement
Facilitates the establishment of a freshman academy with separate core classrooms to help smooth the transition for ninth grade students in making the significant move to a senior high school environment
Eliminates many non-productive round trips by students from the Mid-High to the High School for participation in athletic, musical and theatrical programs or to attend advanced classes
Permits the replacement of Madison Middle School, a poor facility for our students and an eyesore for potential newcomers to Bartlesville
Central Middle School, our 96-year-old city icon, is in need of updating; among other items, it will receive classroom renovations, an expanded cafeteria to better accommodate all students, and a replacement of its awkward gyms, often referred to as a "dungeon"
Reduced operating expenses - due to future maintenance of three secondary schools instead of four and reduced staffing, projected annual operating expenses will be reduced by $250,000 or more
Provides enhanced security from intruders in all Bartlesville schools