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The needs of a school district go much further than books and learning tools inside the classroom. Students also need to be able to get to school and home again.
Ardmore City Schools currently have 30 buses. The newest buses in the fleet were purchased in 2007. While the newer buses fulfill the district’s field trip and extracurricular traveling needs, the district also has the daily job of transporting children to and from their daily classes.
Out of the fleet’s 30 buses, 13 have already traveled more than 100,000 miles.
According to a statement released by Ardmore City Schools, “The old buses, some of which would have been replaced with the passage of the bond, will remain in use. Repairs will be made to keep them running. However, funds are not available to replace the worn seats and repair the interior of the buses.”
The failed bond also would have built a new bus maintenance garage. Currently, district workers have to let the air out of the tires to push the buses into the existing garage and only half the buses can fit inside the building at any given time.
The purchase of other new maintenance equipment, needed to tend the district’s 185 acres, has also been put on hold due to the lack of funding.
According to district officials, “Vehicles, mowers and custodial equipment will only be purchased if absolutely necessary and if funds become available to replace the out-dated, less efficient equipment currently being used.”
While the district’s maintenance department is dedicated to repairing the equipment as it breaks down, facility maintenance is another issue. Since June, the district has completed repair projects to various facilities totaling approximately $250,000. Projects have included painting at Ardmore Middle School, new pumps for air conditioners at Charles Evans and Will Rogers elementary schools and storm damage repairs to the high school gym.
“Currently, the district’s facility needs far exceed our building fund capacity,” said Dr. Fred Wright, assistant superintendent for business and operations.
The plan is to continue to prioritize projects in lieu of the dollars needed to complete all maintenance needs.
“Projects such as repairing the high school tennis courts and replacing the 12-year-old torn carpet at the middle school will have to be done over the span of years, when and if money is available through the building fund and considered within the context of other facility needs and repairs. For example, an incident like the recent gas leak at Ardmore High School would take precedence over the need to replace carpet,” district officials wrote in a prepared statement.
Jennifer Lindsey 221-6536
The needs of a school district go much further than books and learning tools inside the classroom. Students also need to be able to get to school and home again.
Ardmore City Schools currently have 30 buses. The newest buses in the fleet were purchased in 2007. While the newer buses fulfill the district’s field trip and extracurricular traveling needs, the district also has the daily job of transporting children to and from their daily classes.
Out of the fleet’s 30 buses, 13 have already traveled more than 100,000 miles.
According to a statement released by Ardmore City Schools, “The old buses, some of which would have been replaced with the passage of the bond, will remain in use. Repairs will be made to keep them running. However, funds are not available to replace the worn seats and repair the interior of the buses.”
The failed bond also would have built a new bus maintenance garage. Currently, district workers have to let the air out of the tires to push the buses into the existing garage and only half the buses can fit inside the building at any given time.
The purchase of other new maintenance equipment, needed to tend the district’s 185 acres, has also been put on hold due to the lack of funding.
According to district officials, “Vehicles, mowers and custodial equipment will only be purchased if absolutely necessary and if funds become available to replace the out-dated, less efficient equipment currently being used.”
While the district’s maintenance department is dedicated to repairing the equipment as it breaks down, facility maintenance is another issue. Since June, the district has completed repair projects to various facilities totaling approximately $250,000. Projects have included painting at Ardmore Middle School, new pumps for air conditioners at Charles Evans and Will Rogers elementary schools and storm damage repairs to the high school gym.
“Currently, the district’s facility needs far exceed our building fund capacity,” said Dr. Fred Wright, assistant superintendent for business and operations.
The plan is to continue to prioritize projects in lieu of the dollars needed to complete all maintenance needs.
“Projects such as repairing the high school tennis courts and replacing the 12-year-old torn carpet at the middle school will have to be done over the span of years, when and if money is available through the building fund and considered within the context of other facility needs and repairs. For example, an incident like the recent gas leak at Ardmore High School would take precedence over the need to replace carpet,” district officials wrote in a prepared statement.
Jennifer Lindsey 221-6536
