The Duncan Banner

Local News

Related Photos

  • Matt Tillson

    Town Meeting
November 6, 2009

DPS presents new bond issue to community

Matt Tillson

DUNCAN — In what has been going on an 18-month process for Duncan Public Schools, superintendent Sherry Labyer presented Duncan community with the DPS’ 20/20 vision plan.

The master plan was adopted by the Duncan school board in June of 2009. One of the biggest topics of the new master plan is to unite the different elementary school locations into one central location with three separate buildings.

“What will happen with these new campuses is that we will be able to give these children a step in the right direction,” Labyer said. “We want the best for our students not the bare minimum and we feel we can give it to them with this plan.”

One major concern for the building of a new elementary facility is the cost. According to building architect Ron Bailey of PBK Architecture in Houston, Texas, Duncan Public Schools will actually be saving money with the energy costs decreasing around $40,000 per year.

“By giving these buildings more energy efficient electrical systems and more efficient air conditioning systems, Duncan schools will be saving money,” Bailey said.

Another factor in the saving of money is that the cost of construction has dropped significantly.

The solution for the cost of the new facility is by receiving government money. Labyer said that in April 2010 she will be applying for a state Lease Revenue Fund to help pay for the buildings.

What the Lease Revenue Fund will accomplish is that a government authority will issue money to pay for the construction of the buildings. After the building has been finished the government will lease the building to the schools, and the schools will make payments in increments until the building has been paid off. With this lease revenue bond the buildings should be paid off in around a 14 year period.

According to Labyer one factor to having this plan for the new facility is that the current elementary buildings have become too old and too costly to keep maintained.

“Some of these buildings have been here for over 60 years and fixing these buildings would cost more than we would want to spend,” Labyer said. “The building and electrical codes were not what they are today. So, the wiring, and construction, and for that matter could be unsafe for our students.”

Another way that the new buildings will save money is the saving of teaching jobs. One Duncan citizen’s concern was that by creating these new buildings, there would be layoffs to the teachers.

“The elementary classes will keep the teachers that we have on staff currently,” Labyer said. “We will be reducing the class sizes, but we will be having around 600 to 700 students per building.”

According to Labyer the Kindergarten - first-grade building will have 600, The second - third grade will have 650-700, and the fourth - fifth grade will have around 700 students.

Along with the new elementary buildings the new master plan will have new improvements to the high school and the athletic facilities.

“All of the improvements that we are going to be making is just helping us compete with other schools around the nation,” Labyer said. “Excellence costs money and we just have to spend it.”

Text Only
Local News
  • Commission tables water district items

    The board of Stephens County Commissioners tabled bids on two services for the Stephens County Rural Water District 4 for the second consecutive week at the request of the water district.

    May 22, 2012

  • Weekend storm left many in area without power

    The city at large lit up Sunday morning around 8 a.m., with lightning strikes illuminating areas for a split-second at a time.

    May 22, 2012

  • Fire department fundraiser raises more than $12,000

    The Duncan Fire Department raised more than $12,500 during its Fill the Boot fundraiser May 17-18. Funds go to the Muscle Dystrophy Association in Wichita Falls and helps local patients.

    May 22, 2012

  • Dean Backr, left, and Joseph Lujan Carnival crews

    Warmer weather and school letting out means more time for fun in the sun. One of the season’s first opportunities is with the Duncan Lion’s Club Carnival.

    May 22, 2012 2 Photos

  • Arrest made in hit and run

    A Marlow man is in police custody after admitting to law enforcement he was involved with a hit-and-run accident that left the victim with major injuries.

    May 22, 2012

  • Jake Brown shows off the style of T-shirt You’re a good man, Jake Brown

    VELMA — Jake Brown knows he’ll never be able to repay all people have done for him. But he plans to pay it forward.

    May 22, 2012 1 Photo

  • Council to discuss Main Street Duncan program

    The city of Duncan will likely continue participating in the Oklahoma Main Street program, but it will depend on approval of the Duncan City Council.

    May 21, 2012

  • Check that ID


    On Friday, local law enforcement, along with the Alcohol Beverage Law Enforcement Commission, Wichita Mountains Prevention Network and student volunteers went into 21 businesses to see if those places were checking for proper age identification of individuals buying alcohol.

    May 21, 2012

  • Gas buydown ministry Waiting a long time for a steep discount

    Beginning at midnight Friday, cars were lining up around the block beginning on Kiowa Avenue and wrapping around to 2nd Street in Marlow. Cheap gas is one of life’s big encouragers.
    At 9 o’clock sharp Saturday morning, Pastor Joe Ligon of First Baptist Church Marlow began guiding cars to the gas pumps at the Hop and Sack convenience store to begin the church’s third annual Gas Buydown.

    May 21, 2012 1 Photo

  • GOP Fish Fry A fine kettle of fish

    It was evident it was an election year Saturday evening, as banners, fliers and pins dotted every surface at the rodeo arena for the eighth annual GOP Fish Fry.

    May 21, 2012 1 Photo