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    Central High School Bond Results

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    Velma School Bond Results for Proposition 1

  • Velma School Bond Results for Proposition 2

    Velma School Bond Results for Proposition 2
February 16, 2012

The next step

With bond victories in hand, Central High, V-A move forward

By Jeff Kaley & Joshua Kellogg The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Superintendents at Central High and Velma-Alma were excited to see their bond issues passed in Tuesday’s annual school elections, and Bennie Newton and Jerry Garrett are ready to move onto the next phase of completing improvement projects for the school districts.

Newton, superintendent at Central High, was delighted with how the community was able to recognize the need to pass a $5.995 million bond issue, which will provide funding to replace the district’s current gymnasium and provide an improved heating and air conditioning system.

“They saw (the gym and HVAC system) was a ‘need’ and it wasn’t a ‘want.’ Tt was a need and the timing was perfect,” Newton said, after 64 percent of Central High voters approved the bond issue.

“With the momentum from three prior (bonds) in a row, it just happened and all three factors played a huge role.”

Phone calls have already been made Norman-based McDonald & Associates, which is the bonding company that will finance Central High’s project. Newton also has been in touch with an architectural firm  to tell them the bond passed.

He said McDonald & Associates will be calling within the next week to get progress started on the next step, and Newton is looking ahead at the bidding stage and how to best approach the process.

“Bidding is down the road and it will depend if we go the general contractor route or construction management,” Newton said. “Those are decisions that the board will have to make in the future.

“We’ve got to get the financing done first. We hope to get the work started in September or the first of October.”

More specific drawings are expected from the architect for approval in the future and the Oklahoma State Fire Marshall’s office will have to give the OK to the construction plans.

Two bond propositions for the Velma-Alma Public School district passed with more than 80 percent approval Tuesday, a lofty percentage Superintendent Jerry Garrett said the voters have reached in the past. He’s grateful residents in V-A district were very convinced it was time for improvements.

“I feel really excited for the support received from the community and we’ve been here before, when our bond issues have been received in the 80 percent range,” Garrett said. “The community came through again.”

The $550,000 total bond for V-A is dedicated to purchasing two new school buses and infrastructure projects that include asphalting the unsurfaced areas of the gymnasium parking lot, resurfacing and striping the front parking lot and other repairs and technology upgrades.

The bond isn’t dependent on one company constructing a building, Garrett said, but there will be multiple projects under way across the school campus. Some will be performed simultaneously, with September projected as date for completion.

“The parking lot may take time to bid out, but we have the football and softball lights being bid out as one project. Whoever gets that will start on the softball field first, to make sure the lights are set before the (2012 fall) season starts,” Garrett said.

With bond funds anticipated to become available in late June and early July, Garrett was impressed and touched by the reaction of V-A voters.

“We would like to thank the community, because they had another chance to support the school and they certainly did that,” Garrett said. “It makes our day when you have strong community support.”

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