Bartlesville Public Schools’
The Bruin
Volume 1, Number 3 February 23, 2007
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School Board approves bond proposal Funds would provide additions and renovations to elementary schools, Mid-High as community continues to show signs of growth The Bartlesville School Board approved a motion to present a $29.95 million bond proposal to voters during a regular meeting on Monday night at the Education Service Center. The proposal, which will be voted on by patrons of the Bartlesville Public School District on May 8, would span approximately eight years and allow for renovation work and additions on three elementary schools – Ranch Heights, Wayside and Woodrow Wilson – as well as the Bartlesville Mid-High School. Areas such as technology, transportation, fine arts, athletics and curriculum materials would be supplemented as well. The last school bond issue which Bartlesville Mid-High School students such as freshmen Cory Frye and Britney Edens went before voters was passed in sometimes have to deal with congested areas around their lockers. 2001, with the majority of the funds designated for improvements on the BPS superintendent. “The facility 16,100. That would boost student Bartlesville High School campus. improvements in this bond proposal enrollment throughout the district, Thanks to the money raised, the would help us continue to achieve that especially at elementary schools such school now boasts new facilities such goal by providing improved classroom as Ranch Heights, Wayside and as the Fine Arts Center, the BHS and activity space. Wilson. Fieldhouse and the Science Wing. Still “This bond proposal focuses on Under the bond proposal, new in the construction phase – the span of expected student growth within the classrooms added at Ranch Heights, the bond was originally estimated for district.” Wayside and Wilson would allow for 10 years, though much of the work According to a recent report by increased maximum occupancies at was finished ahead of schedule – are the BPS Long Range Facilities each of the schools, not to exceed a library/media center and a connect- Planning Committee – a group which 570 students. In addition to eight new ing link. includes architect Scott Ambler – classrooms, Ranch Heights would get “Our primary goal for every there are currently around 14,000 a new pick-up area for the parents. student who attends classes within the residential lots within the school zones The area would be added in what is Bartlesville Public School District is to of the district’s seven elementary now the back of the building, a plan provide them with the best possible schools. But by 2017, that number is which would relieve some of the education,” says Dr. Gary W. Quinn, expected to expand to more than BOND - Continued to Page 2
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congestion of traffic in the neighborhood. Parents waiting to pick up their students sometimes have to idle in the street as they are waiting for the flow of traffic to rotate around the front entrance of the building. Both Wayside and Wilson would get six new classrooms, according to the proposal, while the Mid-High would get seven. The additional classroom space is expected to be beneficial immediately – as well as into the future – as Bartlesville continues to show signs of steady growth. “If you look at housing starts in 2005, we built around 126 new homes,” says Jim Fram, the president and CEO of the Bartlesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bartlesville Development Corporation. “In 2006, we had 1,000 lots Under the new bond proposal, Ranch Heights Elementary School would get some relief from approved and well over 300 houses the traffic problems it currently experiences. were built. So, in a year’s time, we’ve ment as well as maps and globes. In rently, there are areas of congestion at more than tripled the number of new the area of technology, computer the Mid-High – especially around houses built. upgrades would be made available for some locker banks – where the “There’s no reason why we students as well as faculty members, hallways dead end. Those hallways shouldn’t experience significant and software and educational hardwould open up with the new wing, growth within the Bartlesville Public ware such as LCD projectors would allowing more space for the students. School District.” be purchased. Earl Sears served as the chairAs is the case with Ranch Upgrades would be made in the man of the Long Range Facilities Heights, Wayside would get improved area of transportation to allow for Planning Committee, which helped to parking areas and traffic circulation. new buses and other district vehicles. shape the bond proposal. Sears, the Also, a currently unused, open-air New band instruments and uniforms former principal at Central Middle space in the middle of the building for the fine arts department would be School, is now a state representative. would be enclosed and roofed, provided. “The bond proposal is a wellallowing for more library or computer Bruin athletics would get a thought out, long-range plan that lab space. boost. A new indoor facility would be identifies facilities and educational “We can certainly see the constructed to allow students to needs for the school district,” says positive effects of the previous bond practice during inclement weather, and Sears. “This proposal is a continuation issue,” says Wayside principal Richa varsity softball field would be of the successful 2001 bond issue, ard Dennis. “We hope to see similar completed as well. In addition, the which enhanced our high school effects with the new one. football locker room area at Custer campus. I sincerely hope our commu“Community support of educaStadium would be upgraded. nity will once again support what we tion has always been awesome here – Throughout the district, more are trying to accomplish for public at Wayside as well as throughout the work would be done to remodel education in Bartlesville.” rest of the school district.” restrooms, repair roofs and replace Curriculum items which would The Mid-High would expand aging carpet. Heating, ventilation and be supplemented through the bond with another wing, transforming the air-conditioning work would be done proposal would include textbooks, “U” shape of the lower floor into one library materials and science equipPROPOSAL - Continued to Page 3 with better student traffic flow. Cur-
See the Sites The Bartlesville Public School District offers a wide array of useful tools for students as well as parents. To learn more about some of these tools, please pay a visit to the following web sites: Study Island http://www.studyisland.com Use the “Member Login.” · Student login information must be obtained from teachers. · Used by grades two through eight. Everyday Math Games https://www.emgames.com Click on “At Home Student Login” button. · Student login information must be obtained from teachers. · Used by grades kindergarten through five. ParentCONNECTxp https://pcxp.bps-ok.org/ · Parents/guardians sign up for an account by clicking on the “Register” button.
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in several different buildings, as well as at the high school. In December, the latest of the new facilities added to the Bartlesville High School campus was unveiled – the BHS Fieldhouse. The 2,200-seat facility – another product of the 2001 bond issue – features a hospitality room, spacious locker room areas, a sizable scoreboard which hangs over center court and a video message board. “We are fortunate and so happy that the community passed that bond and that our students are able to use these wonderful facilities,” says BHS principal Chuck McCauley. “They deserve it. “It’s really nice to have facilities where students and teachers from other schools come in here and say, ‘Wow.’” While the BHS Fieldhouse can play host to basketball and volleyball competitions as well as special events like graduation, the Fine Arts Center can accommodate a myriad of different performances such as plays and musicals. On Feb. 27, the Fine Arts Center, which has a seating capacity of 1,208, will roll out the red carpet for the Bartlesville Public School District’s 2007 Teacher of the Year reception. The Science Wing opened in 2002 – a year before the Fine Arts Center debuted – and features six state-of-the-art labs. The labs house classroom space as well as a teacher’s office. As the science department chairman for BHS, Granger Meador was instrumental in helping design the science wing so that it best fit the needs of the students as well as faculty members. A connecting link is currently under construction – with money from the 2001 bond issue – which will allow all of the new facilities to be reached from the main school building without students and teachers having to travel outside. “We are fortunate to live in a community,” says Quinn, “where the education of our young people is obviously so important to our citizens.”
Bartlesville Public School District Activities (Week of Feb. 23-March 1) Friday, Feb. 23 Tenth-Grade Enrollment in Library (Bartlesville Mid-High) Eighth-Grade Hearing and Blood Pressure Screening (Madison) First-Grade Dental Health Visits (Wayside Elementary) PSG Staff Luncheon in Library (Madison) Basketball: Varsity Boys and Girls in Regionals (TBA) Saturday, Feb. 24 Debate Marathon Day (Bartlesville High School) Instrumental District Solo and Ensemble Contest in Owasso Basketball: Varsity Boys and Girls in Regionals (TBA) Sunday, Feb. 25 (No events scheduled)
Bruins for Christ in Library (7:30 a.m.) (Madison Middle School) Staff Luncheon (11 a.m.) (Central Middle School) Teacher Tutoring (3 p.m.) (Central Middle School) 2007 Teacher of the Year Reception (5:15 p.m.) (Fine Arts Center) Wednesday, Feb. 28 Eighth to Ninth Enrollment in Library (Madison Middle School) Spring Pictures (Bartlesville Mid-High School) Parent Institute Newsletter (Hoover Elementary School) STUCO Meeting In Library (7:30 a.m.) (Madison Middle School) Sixth-Grade Locker Clean-Out (8 a.m.) (Madison Middle School) Seventh-Grade Locker Clean-Out (9 a.m.) (Madison Middle School) Stephen Fite Kindergarten Concert (9 a.m.) (Wilson Elementary) Eighth-Grade Locker Clean-Out (10 a.m.) (Madison Middle School) Make A Difference Bake Sale (11 a.m.) (Central Middle School) Science Fair (5 p.m.) (Wayside Elementary School)
Monday, Feb. 26 Tenth-Grade Enrollment in Library (Bartlesville Mid-High) Athletic Tutoring in Hospitality Room (5:30 p.m.) (BHS Fieldhouse) Senior Parent Meeting (7 p.m.) (Fine Arts Center) Percussion Concert (7:30 p.m.) (Bartlesville Mid-High) Tuesday, Feb. 27 Tenth-Grade Enrollment in Library (Bartlesville Mid-High) Eighth to Ninth Enrollment in Library (Madison Middle School) NEAP Eighth-Grade Tests (Central Middle School)
Thursday, March 1 Eighth to Ninth Enrollment in Library (Madison Middle School) NFL District Tournament at Tulsa Community College (BHS) Blood Drive (7:30 a.m.) (Fine Arts Center) Blindness Prevention Screenings (1 p.m.) (Hoover) Teacher Tutoring (3 p.m.) (Central Middle School) Athletic Tutoring in Hospitality Room (5:30 p.m.) (BHS Fieldhouse) Chemistry Tutoring (7 p.m.) (Bartlesville Mid-High School) Basketball: Varsity Boys and Girls in Area Playoffs (TBA)