Editor’s note – This is the third of a three-part series detailing the bond question that Ardmore City Schools has placed on the April 1 ballot.

On April 1, Ardmore City Schools will ask the public to approve a school bond that would result in the construction of a new high school.

The cost for the construction of new high school facilities ranges between $86.34 million and $88.55 million, which costs $144,888,000 to finance in a bond. If approved, it will take about three years for the project to be completed. Due to the location of the new facility, students would not be displaced during that period.

Should the district opt for repair, the estimated cost is $66 million to $67 million with the cost to finance in a bond estimated at $111,040,000. Students would also be displaced as the current high school repairs are taking place.

The district says that it has focused on needs, rather than wants.

“Putting it around the north end of the high school, means the current high school would stay exactly as it is with little to no disturbance with their education and athletic seasons,” Davis said. “They are not going to be displaced. You have about a six month to a year window where architects will finalize all the designs, the mechanical designs. And there will be about an 18-month to two-year build time as long as everything goes as planned.”

The facility would be 117,733 square feet with 45 classrooms. The classroom setup in the proposed bond will not be finalized until after the bond is passed as the district works closely with its architects and builders to refine plans and make the best possible use of space for all programs.

Davis said if the bond passes, all the old facilities will be torn down following construction and moving into the new building. The tear down includes the high school and gym, which has flooding and other issues.

In the space where the high school sits, there are plans for a Phase 2 involving community partnerships to build a baseball and softball field. That phase is not part of the bond.

Davis said with the construction of the new high school, competition gym and practice gyms, security will be enhanced due to everything being under one roof.

“It is much easier to control the access to the building, period,” Davis said. “The current high school has doors everywhere. It is extremely difficult to monitor. The doors on the new facility would have alarms and a system to keep them monitored.

“We went to metal detectors with the current high school. I want to go with the Open Gate AI Weapon Detection Systems, which are very high tech but less invasive. You can get a larger flow of people through them quicker. It actually helps, but it is a much better system as well.”

Davis said the camera system will be upgraded as well.

In terms of transportation, Assistant to the Superintendent Morgan Manley said when students are dropped off at the entrance by buses, it can become congested. With a new high school, there will be designated drop-off areas that are separated.

Manley also said it would also be in closer proximity to the Jerome Westheimer Performing Arts Center, in comparison to where it is currently located. Students using the facility can park between the two buildings for easier access.

“It brings everything over there so that it functions like it is supposed to,” Davis said.

The district is also excited about the potential economic impact with the return of the Holiday Festival and the addition of volleyball. The facilities will also allow Ardmore to assume its role as a regional leader and serve as a hub in hosting OSSAA Fine Arts events in addition to athletic events such as regional and area basketball tournaments.

“Ardmore is the best and we want to bring people here,” Manley said.

Davis said the need for a new high school also holds implications for recruiting new industries and businesses as Michelin prepares to shut down its tire production.

“That is going to be huge,” Davis said. “Every business that is coming in wants to know where are my families going to live that work for me and number two, what are the schools like. Apparently, we have a school that is not meeting the needs of our students. A new modern facility will definitely meet the needs of the students for the foreseeable future. It will help us thrive as an educational community. It increases property value and helps with safer neighborhoods.

“It gives us the things we need for all the fine arts programs, athletic events, community meetings. A community storm shelter that we can open for the public when we are not in session. It can hold as many as 3,000 people with the current size we are designing so it is a safe place for any kind of weather event.”

Project estimates for the Ardmore City Schools bond

• $39.5 million – High school classroom building
• $13.5 million – PE gym and community storm shelter
• $21.8 million – Competition gymnasium
• $8.2 million – New fieldhouse and training facility
• $4 million – Campus site and safety improvements