Edmond track facility plan draws discussion

Expansion is the keyword for Edmond Public Schools as its board signed off on a larger budget and new building projects topping $15 million.

Among the projects tentatively given the OK by the five-member school board Monday was a new track and field facility just north of Edmond Memorial High School off 15th Street. It comes with a price tag of between $7 million and $8 million.

However, the board's action didn't come without some serious discussion during the nearly three-hour regular session.

Board President Cynthia Benson questioned whether the facility could be used for ninth grade and junior varsity football. Now, those teams use the existing stadium at Memorial, which is due for a renovation in 2018 and 2019 with varsity football games starting in fall 2019. Benson was hoping the new track facility could host football games during the interim.

Athletic Director Mike Nunley said there were drawbacks to those plans. He said the field would have grass and not turf. In addition, if it was used for football, it would need 100 yards of the field. Therefore, the shot put pits would have to be moved outside of the track.

"People in the stands wouldn't be able to see the shot put competition," he told the board.

He further said stadiums at Santa Fe High School and North High School would be able to handle all the Memorial games. The Santa Fe stadium opened last year, and the North stadium isn't complete yet.

The proposed track site came under questioning by board members for other reasons, as well. Members wondered about the terrain not being level, as well as what kind of a retaining wall would be erected on the east side of the field. There are three single-residence homes that border the new facility.

"This sounds like a project that has change order written all over it," Benson said.

Track plans were outlined by Christina Hoehn, district chief operations officer.

Addressing growth

She also presented ideas for North and Santa Fe, which included storm shelters doubling as multipurpose rooms. In Santa Fe's case that room also will be a band room. The North safe room will have classes.

Board member Jamie Underwood was concerned about an entryway being too narrow in case half of the student body needed to be moved there in a hurry.

Both campuses will see about $5 million in improvements, Hoehn said after the meeting. All the work is being funded by a $111 million bond package approved overwhelmingly by voters last February.

Hoehn said the preliminary approval will lead to architects and engineers designing plans for final approval early next year. Then, the various work will be bid out with construction getting underway as soon as contracts are signed.

Increased student enrollment has led to campus improvements across the district.

During her presentation, Lori Smith, district chief financial officer, said Oct. 1 enrollment numbers showed the district with 24,894 students, up 491 from last year.

She said the general budget for 2016-17 was $156.4 million. This year's general budget is $163.2 million. More than 90 percent of the general budget funds payroll.

The 2016-17 payroll was $132.7 million. This year's is $139.8 million. The board approved the budget.

Also ...

In other board news, members scheduled Feb. 13 as the election date for the board No. 3 seat, now held by Underwood. Before the meeting, she said she was definitely running again for the five-year term. Her seat represents central Edmond. If a runoff is needed, it would be April 3.