Board of Ed and Education Authority Take a Tour

On April 29, 2015 the Bartlesville Public School District Board of Education held a special joint meeting with the Bartlesville City Council acting as the Bartlesville Education Authority. The purpose of the meeting was to provide a construction update to the BEA with further discussion regarding the high school project as well as, the middle school project and bidding.

The Bartlesville Education Authority consists of chairman, Tom

Gorman; vice chairman, Dale Copeland; BEA trustees, Ted Lockin, Doann Nguyen, and John J. Kane; BEA secretary, Mike Bailey; city manager, Ed Gordon; city attorney, Jerry Maddux; and executive assistant, Elaine Banes.

During the meeting, BPSD superintendent, Dr. Gary Quinn,

discussed the $36.7 million 2013 bond issue and how the funds from the election have been utilized in the recent and upcoming construction. Construction taking place at the high school cost $20,139,968, resulting in a four-year high school and the extension of the north end science wing, all slated for completion by the August start of the 2015-2016 school year. Central Middle School’s renovation will cost $11,890,368. Work is set to begin this August. Changes taking place at the new Madison (Bartlesville Mid-High School) will cost $1,200,000.

In addition, a grant from Phillips 66 is providing $1.7 million to renovate spaces into Innovation Labs for STEM (science, technology, engineering math) work at each secondary site.

Other areas where funds are being used from the bond issue include safety and security measures across the district totaling $1,400,000; technology upgrades costing $700,000; furniture throughout the district, which will cost $291,471; demolition of the

current Madison Middle School building at $300,000; and cost of issuance, which was $798,193.

The high school project, safety/security items, and $3,285,764 of the Central project are being funded through a lease purchase arrangement with the Bartlesville Education Authority to accelerate the completion of these projects. Payments to the Authority will be paid through selling of school bonds approved

by district patrons in the 2013 bond issue.

Following Dr. Quinn’s presentation, Scott Ambler of Ambler Architects, provided an update on the construction progress, saying, “We will be ready for school in August.”

The two groups then toured the high school construction

site.

“I am pleased that the City and BPSD could work together in this fashion to accelerate the construction of this facility for the benefit of the students,” said Bartlesville Mayor Tom Gorman. “The

financing that we have completed through the BEA has made the timely reconfiguration of the schools possible. We will all be very pleased with the positive outcome.”