Bond proposal provides opportunity to upgrade middle school facilities

Central Middle School and Madison Middle School are currently in dire need of improvements. The Bartlesville Public School District’s Middle School facilities do not meet the needs of students and staff, and create a difficult learning environment. As part of a $36.72 million bond proposal set to go before voters on September 10, BPSD middle school facilities would be upgraded to meet district standards. Passage of the bond issue would result in no tax increase.

“I have given many tours over the past seven years to prospective families who are thinking of moving to Bartlesville, and want to take a tour of Central so they can get an idea of the quality of education and facilities. Unfortunately, even though we score higher on our state tests than our neighboring communities, families move to Owasso because they have newer and more attractive buildings. This disappoints me greatly because I know that their children will get the best education here in Bartlesville,” stated Central Principal, Ryan Huff.

Madison Principal, Joey Eidson added, “Every year, I hear about families who are planning to move to Bartlesville, but then see our facility and decide to move to the Tulsa area instead. It is very discouraging.”

Similar to Central, Madison presents many challenges that test even the most determined students and teachers. Constructed in the late 1950’s, Madison was constructed as a “California style” building with an open concept and many windows. Unfortunately,

Oklahoma weather is not conducive the to the “California style,” and over time the building has not aged well.

Eidson said, “Our building is in very rough condition internally as well as externally. We have issues with the roof, inconsistent temperature control and a lack of natural light because the windows have been painted over in an attempt to help with climate control. It is just a very difficult learning environment.”

Currently, climate control at Madison is very troublesome. The combination of aging building materials and single pane glass windows make successful cooling and heating of the building difficult and highly inefficient. Aging building materials also have led to walls, flooring and lighting that need serious attention similar to Central.

The combination cafeteria/auditorium creates problems at Madison as well. While popular at the time of construction, the mixed use facility is ineffective. Scheduling must ensure the auditorium is not in use while lunch periods are taking place. The Madison cafeteria was also constructed with uneven flooring to help with site lines during on-stage events, but the set-up is a trip hazard which makes ease of movement throughout the cafeteria very difficult.

The gymnasium at Madison is also in serious need of repair. The gymnasium currently has a groundwater infiltration issue which requires constant attention. Floorboards must often be replaced and the current gymnasium floor is a collection of repaired sections.

“Our gymnasium is in very rough shape. What was once considered a “glass icon” when it was constructed is now an eyesore that has leaks and has ground water infiltration,” commented Eidson.

The work that would be required to correct the outmoded Madison facility would be substantial, yet the result would still be the existence of a facility that is made in a manner not conducive to the Oklahoma environment and highly inefficient to operate.

Due to limitations at the current Madison facility, students and staff at Madison would move to the current Bartlesville Mid-High School facility which is better built, has more space and allows for a much improved overall learning environment. To further improve the BMHS facility, approximately $1.2 million would be spent on a number of upgrades including installation of a new heating and cooling system and an increase in the size of the cafeteria. Funds would also allow for upgrades to dated science labs, addressing of interior finishes that need updating and making the building conducive to grade level teaming.

Additionally, Central Middle School and the current BMHS facility -which would become Madison- are both currently without secured entrances. As part of the bond proposal, secured entrances would be constructed at both Central and BMHS. Secured entrances at Central and the new Madison facility would mean each school in the BPSD would have a secured entrance.

Ultimately, the proposal lays forth a plan that provides much needed attention to both Central and Madison.

“Improvements to Central would be very beneficial to students and teachers. Currently, we have lockers that are very old and constantly breaking, tile on the floor is coming up, and classrooms in our building are aging, particularly the walls and wood floors. Class sizes are growing here at Central and taking students out of classes that they really enjoy puts a strain on all stakeholders involved with education at Central,” Huff stated.

Eidson echoed Huff’s comments saying, “Our current facility poses serious issues on a daily basis. There are countless problems we must deal with throughout each school year. Moving to the Mid-High facility would mean the students have a safer and better environment to learn. The upgrades that would take place at the current Mid-High facility would help create an environment where our students and staff could thrive.”

The bond election will take place on Tuesday, September 10. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Passage of the $36.72 million proposal would result in no tax increase.

The proposal would allow for major renovations at Central Middle School, which would continue to house middle school students. Middle school students who currently attend Madison Middle School would be moved to the current Bartlesville Mid-High School facility, which would see upgrades and renovations.

Presently, each school has its set of facilities challenges. At Central, the undersized cafeteria requires five lunch periods to accommodate all students. As one might expect, five lunch periods makes scheduling quite problematic. During some lunch periods, students attend class for 15 minutes, go to lunch, and then return for the rest of the class period.

“Each year when planning our teaching schedules we have to make sure that we have allotted the appropriate amount of time for our students to eat. The five lunches dictate the class schedule that we have here at Central. Some of the classes we have are split lunches meaning they start in class, go to lunch, and then come back to class to finish the class period. This is very difficult for both our teachers and students because the amount of time students are out of class causes the kids to have to refocus on academics when they return from lunch, and that amount of time is lost instructionally,” Huff commented.

Central fine arts spaces and the gymnasium areas are dated and no longer functionally efficient. Currently, the fine arts spaces provide little space for students and instructors to successfully learn and teach. The fine arts rooms are also in serious need of repair and upgrades.

“We actually had to change the schedules of 12 students this year because we could not fit any more students in the choir room,” stated Huff.

The gymnasiums at Central, which are located on the bottom floor, are hard to access through a system of narrow hallways and are showing their age. Additionally, finishes throughout the building are in need of attention. There is cracking in the tile floors in the hallways, problems with the wood flooring in classrooms and many walls throughout the building are deteriorating.

In order to keep Central operating as a school, significant work must be done. It is often said Central has great “bones.” The great “bones,” meaning the well-built structure, allow the renovation of Central to be a sound investment that would create a facility capable of being used for decades to come.

The renovation at Central would encompass the entire building. All four floors of the existing structure would be renovated and repaired to make Central an efficient and functional learning environment. The undersized cafeteria would be renovated and enlarged creating a cafeteria and commons area with ample space for students. What is often referred to as the “basement” where the gymnasium facilities are currently housed, would be transformed into a fine arts space. A new gymnasium would be constructed on the south side of the existing building and parking would be added to the north side of the building.

The exterior of the Central building would be re-sealed to prevent water infiltration. Throughout the interior, finishes would be updated and brought up to the standard of other buildings throughout the district. As part of the interior updating, floors would be repaired and replaced, walls would be fixed where cracking is taking place and lockers would be replaced.