Web posted
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Schools going for bond issue
Residents may vote on $36 million project
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
The Arkansas City Board of Education on Monday night directed USD 470 administrators to finalize plans for a multi-million dollar school facilities renovation project that would include the building of a new sports complex west of Arkansas City High School.
The seven-member board unanimously approved a motion by board member Joelyn Squires to approve the preliminary facility improvement plans, request final plans and begin bond issue exploration.
Total cost of all recommended projects in the district-wide facilities renovation plan would be $36 million.
"They directed us to finalize plans and bring back a dollar figure to the next board meeting Aug. 13," Assistant Superintendent J.K. Campbell said after the three-hour meeting.
A bond issue would be needed to fund the renovation project, and it could be put to Ark City voters for approval in a November election.
"For a Nov. 6 election, the first public notice would need to be published Sept. 20," said Superintendent Ron Ballard.
Ballard said he would bring in a final draft of calendar dates to the Aug. 13 board meeting. It would list the steps that need to be taken to get the bond issue on the ballot.
The board Monday night looked at updated architectural plans for 10 projects that form the basic plan.
The plan's architect, Kenton Cox, presented slides that depicted he expansion and renovation of five elementary schools, the replacement of one elementary school -- IXL, renovation of Arkansas City Middle School, expansion and remodeling of the high school and the upgrade of technology used district-wide.
Cox, a senior vice-president of Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey Architecture, a Wichita firm, and also is the architect who designed the Ark City High School on Radio Lane, built in 1983.
The facilities improvement project was developed with the input of a 20 citizens who formed a school facilities steering committee, Cox noted. They started work on a master plan for improving aging school buildings at a meeting attended by Cox and school administrators in September 2006.
"The four teams we've worked with did a great job," Cox said last night.
The athletics-activity facility needs group looked at four options for a football stadium including renovating Curry Field. The four options with price tags were listed on one of the slides shown at last night's meeting: Build a new stadium west of the high school, $5,335,000; build a new stadium south of the high school $5,335,000; expand Cowley College facility east of the City Ball Park, $4,218,000; remodel Curry Field, $6,300,000.
"Why is renovating Curry Field more expensive?" Cox asked. "The bus barn building (where school district buses are parked and maintained) would have to be moved. Only the field itself would remain the same."
Partnering with Cowley College to build would not qualify for state aid, Cox said.
At that point, Ballard pointed out that with an ownership change the option to partner with Cowley College for a facility might qualify for state aid.
The proposed new stadium west of the high school would have 3,500 seats for the home crowd and 1,000 for visitors, Cox said.
An optional proposal to build 10 new tennis courts -- four with lights -- next to the field was supported by Ballard and the board. That construction would cost an additional $550,000.
Ark City High School athletic director Tara Taylor attended the meeting and was asked to comment on the current availability of tennis courts around town. She said having courts in one place next to the high school instead of using Wilson Park and other courts around town could provide a more attractive venue for out-of-town teams that come here for tournaments.
"I'm more concerned with getting the tennis rackets out and having kids play for physical education class," Ballard said.
The superintendent also supported another optional project: expanding and upgrading a softball field complex south of the high school that is adjacent to an existing baseball field. The new softball complex would have four fields and would cost $1,562,000.
An issue that drew a debate among school board members at an April meeting was revisited at last night's meeting: a proposed expansion of the commons area including the cafeteria at the high school. Estimated cost of the expansion would be $560,000.
Board member Mike Walker said he still is not "sold" on the proposed commons area expansion, although he supports other renovations to the high school.
Walker said he could see the need for expanding the industrial tech building and adding music practice rooms and storage for music and art, because these are needed for improved academics. But expanding the commons area is not a needed change for academics.
Ballard and another board member, Daren Reese, supported expanding the commons area because students use it for social activities such as dances and awards assemblies.
"Kids need and want more space these days," Ballard said.
The plan adheres to the concept of neighborhood elementary schools by spreading early childhood learning classrooms among existing schools. Each of the schools would have several additional classrooms for early childhood education.
The additional classrooms would be designed to meet FEMA standards as storm shelters and could accommodate the entire population of each school.
Another key aspect of the plan is added security at each school, including front entrances that are visible to office personnel, and security cameras.
Each school would have upgraded heating and air-conditioning systems that would be more energy efficient than the current systems, Cox said.
IXL's east-west wing facing the street would be demolished to provide an expanded and safer parking area for the school, he said. The old wing would be replaced with a new 28,000-square foot building including three new early childhood classrooms.
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