Approaching the finish line

ENID, Okla. The Enid Public Schools district has experienced a massive amount of change since voters approved a $99 million bond issue for renovation and construction of new schools in February 2010.

Atlanta, Ga.-based Carter and Associates was contracted to assist with strategic master planning for the project and overseeing of the work.

Now, work is approaching the finish line.

Amber Fitzgerald, communications and human resources director for EPS, said projects still under way include renovation of Longfellow Middle School and tuck pointing on brick walls at some of the older schools.

Right now, really, its the final stretch at Longfellow, Fitzgerald said. Its about 95 percent finished with the classrooms there.

Work currently taking place on the education services, transportation and technology buildings are not funded by the bond issue. They are funded by maintenance funds.

For the past three years, EPS has issued a February progress report. This year, as the districtwide overhaul grinds down to its end, the report will be delayed.

We will be publishing a final bond program report in early April that will include a complete look at the bond program, Fitzgerald said.

Before the February 2010 bond election, a committee of local residents and community leaders had spent a year exploring the needs of Enid Public Schools and looking at possible solutions.

Other school districts now visit Enid. Two new elementary schools and University Center at Enid High School have drawn the attention of educators statewide.

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Approaching the finish line