Edmond Life & Leisure - September 24, 2020

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September 24, 2020 Vol. 21, No. 19

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

Virus doesn’t stop projects of the Edmond Public Schools

Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.

AT HOME IN EDMOND Inserted today!

FRIDAY, September 25 Sunny High 86° Low 62°

SATURDAY, September 26 Sunny High 86° Low 62°

SUNDAY, September 27 Mostly Sunny High 83° Low 59°

PHOTOS PROVIDED

A great deal of work has been done to Central Middle School, thanks in part to the passage of past bond issues. The projects included a new look for the school’s entrance and a new storm shelter. Noting the work is Edmond School Superintendent Bret Towne, in the inset. The shutdown of schools across Oklahoma last spring to mitigate community spread of COVID-19 did not stop construction on bond-funded projects in Edmond schools. To keep class sizes optimal for learning, and provide relief to crowded schools, the district is constructing new schools and renovating others. Bond money pays for the construction of new schools and the upkeep and maintenance of existing facilities. Redbud Elementary, located on the southeast corner of Douglas Boulevard and Coffee Creek Road, is the district’s newest elementary school and the first to be built east of I-35. It is scheduled to open in 2021. “With the number of housing developments that have materialized east of I-35 and more going in each day, we anticipate that Redbud will be full upon opening in 2021,” said Superintendent Bret Towne. “Redbud will help to provide relief to full elementary schools in the Northern and Eastern areas of our district,” said Towne. Bond-funded projects completed or nearing completion this fall include the following: Central Middle School gymnasium/

storm shelter, front entrance and STEM Center Cimarron Middle School media center/storm shelter Cross Timbers Elementary media center/storm shelter Charles Haskell Elementary gymnasium/storm shelter Sequoyah Middle School gymnasium/storm shelter Edmond North High School classroom renovations Will Rogers Elementary classroom addition/storm shelter Tennis Facility (A joint project between the district and the City of Edmond located on 15th Street) Safety enhancements have also been a significant investment of past bond issues. Nearly $3.7 million has been earmarked on access control at every school. This allows only designated doors to be accessed through a secure card swipe. “This allows all exterior doors to remain locked,” said Justin Coffelt, Chief Operations Officer for the district. “It is going to make our schools even safer.” Plans to add cameras at main en-

A worker stays busy at Will Rogers Elementary. The school now continued on Page 3 has a new storm shelter.


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