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Post date: Jan 22, 2012 4:48:07 PM
In 2001, and again in 2007, voters in the community passed a pair of bond issues to support the Bartlesville Public School District. The initial one helped to make over the Bartlesville High School campus, as added were the Science Wing, the Fine Arts Center, the BHS Fieldhouse, the Library/Media Center, the Connecting Link and a new heating/air-conditioning system.
Six years later, voters approved a bond issue proposal focused on the BPSD’s elementary schools. Thus, classroom additions were made at Ranch Heights, Wayside and Woodrow Wilson, and renovation work was done on the buildings as well. The school bond issue helped support the district in areas such as technology, transportation, fine arts, athletics and curriculum also.
In February 2012 a large $49.5 million bond issue, which included a reconfiguration of the secondary schools, failed to receive the 60% supermajority required to pass a school bond in Oklahoma. The district's Long Range Facilities Planning Committee reconvened and was enlarged to include a variety of viewpoints on the failed issue and a community survey was conducted to gather feedback from voters. The committee is continuing the study the thorny issue of how best to configure grades 6-12, and will deliver a recommendation on that for the Board of Education when it is ready.
But meanwhile the district has pressing needs for operational funding over the next seven years and there are smaller construction projects at the six elementary schools that should proceed. So the Board of Education unanimously approved a motion to bring a smaller $12.7 million bond issue. The proposal, which will go before voters on August 28, will bring no new tax levy increase, maintaining the school millage at current levels.
In August 2011 some of the final products of the 2007 school bond issue were unveiled in the form of the new additions and renovations at Wayside and Wilson. Eight new classrooms were added at Wayside and six at Wilson, all for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten use. New secured entrance areas were added at both sites as well to help make the schools safer for students.
In August of 2010, the curtain rose on the classroom additions and renovations at Ranch Heights. The school received a completely remodeled new front area, which included new office space and a secured entrance. In addition, eight new classrooms were added for pre-K and kindergarten students.
The new pre-K and kindergarten classrooms at Wayside, Wilson and Ranch Heights all feature a “pod” concept. Thus, four classrooms are clustered for each of the two grade levels with a commons area in the middle. The set-up helps to establish a little community for the pre-K students at each school and another for the kindergarten students. If the new bond issue passes, new classrooms at Kane Elementary School will be constructed in the same fashion.
The bond issue of 2007 allowed for a seven-room classroom expansion at the Mid-High School, turning the building from a “U” shape into an oval, offering more space and less congestion at the site. Among the athletic additions made possible by the proposal were the varsity football locker room facility, the Bruin Activity Center and the Bruin Softball Field.
Those who venture onto the BHS campus can’t help but be impressed by the additions which have been made in recent years. Located on the north side of the school, the Science Wing is first-rate learning area. The Fine Arts Center, which has a seating capacity of 1,208, is home to a myriad of student productions in a given year. The Bruin Fieldhouse, which holds approximately 2,200 fans, is home to the Bruin basketball and volleyball programs, and is utilized for numerous other events as well.
Debuting approximately four years ago, the Library/Media Center is an inviting space which features a 32-computer lab among other amenities. The Connecting Link helps keep students and staff members safe from inclement weather as they pass from building to building on the BHS campus, while the new HVAC system keeps everyone more comfortable and operates more efficiently.
The summer of 2012 brings more work at BHS, including new floor tile throughout the 1939 main building, 1954 stadium, and 1958 annex. Those classrooms have also been repainted and will be equipped with new teacher desks. New white markerboards are going up over the old chalkboard throughout the campus. The former science labs in the main building and annex, which were made obsolescent when the science wing opened ten years ago, are being renovated into regular classrooms. The 1963 metal building behind the school, which was showing its age, was removed. All of these 2012 improvements were funded by the 2007 bond issue as it draws to a close.
Part of the foundation upon which the BPSD is building its future is made up of products made possible by the school bond issues of 2001 and 2007. The district's proposed 2012 bond issue seeks to continue that progress.
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