Post date: Jun 14, 2013 10:47:27 PM
The Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee has recommended a bond issue proposal to the Board of Education. The board members discussed the recommendation at their meeting on June 13, 2013 and are scheduled to consider calling for a bond issue election at their next meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 27, 2013.
RECONFIGURATION PROPOSAL FOR $36.5 MILLION (NO INCREASE IN MILLAGE)
The main thrust of the recommendation is a $36.5 million proposal to reconfigure Grades 6-12 in the district WITHOUT increasing the existing property tax millage. The overall plan is to expand the high school from grades 11 and 12 to grades 9-12, with freshmen in a separate wing. Grades 6-8 would still be served by two middle schools, but the proposal addresses the facility problems at both of the district's aging middle schools by renovating and expanding Central Middle School while relocating Madison Middle School students to the existing Mid-High.
The proposal was driven by the aging middle school facilities as well as educational research showing that reducing the number of times a student changes schools is linked to increased achievement. The reconfiguration would reduce transitions for a student who stays in the district from three to two by removing the mid-high from the current elementary school > middle school > mid-high > high school configuration. The reconfiguration is also projected to eventually result in reduced annual operating costs to the district.
Central Middle School would be thoroughly renovated to seal the external walls and roof from water infiltration, enlarge its undersized cafeteria, build a new gymnasium, improve the fine arts rooms, relocate the office to form a more secure entry, reconfigure and link up the awkward ground floor corridors, and upgrade classrooms.
Madison Middle School would be demolished with its students relocated to the existing Mid-High, which would have air conditioning upgrades, some science and art room relocations for grade-level teaming, a secured entry, and interior finish upgrades.
Freshmen and sophomores now attending the Mid-High would be relocated to Bartlesville High School (BHS). A large cafeteria/commons would be constructed at BHS along with additional classrooms to serve sophomores. A new Freshman Academy would be constructed near the newer Bruin Field House, isolating them for most of the school day from other students but providing them full access to shared spaces (cafeteria, gymnasiums, fine arts center) and the option for advanced electives.
There would be district-wide safety and security improvements, including improved classroom door locks where needed, a staff badge entry system, lobby guard system for visitors, and new security cameras in schools and buses.
TORNADO SHELTER PROPOSAL FOR $5 MILLION
The committee also recommended the board consider whether or not to have a separate $5 million issue to build underground tornado shelters at each of the district's six elementary schools as well as the Mid-High site while funding improvements to existing shelter space at Central and the High School. The board would have to decide how to structure such an issue in regards to whether it would or would not increase property taxes by an average of $4/month.
DETAILS TO COME
After the board makes a decision, detailed information about the proposed projects will be posted here on this website, BRUINBOND.COM.