$114 Million Bond Would Rebuild Sand Springs Middle School

Sand Springs Public Schools is asking voters to approve a roughly $114 million bond to make some big improvements in the district.

Some of the projects include making major upgrades at Clyde Boyd Middle School, making updates at Memorial Stadium Press Box, and ADA entrance at Central Administrative Services, upgraded safety and security features throughout the district, and maintenance repair.

The biggest project that would cost about $60 million would center around Clyde Boyd Middle School. One of the main projects there would be to build a new two-story building for all 7th and 8th grade students.

Sand Springs Public Schools Superintendent Sherry Durkee said the current building at Clyde Boyd isn't as conducive to learning as it could be.

One example Durkee gave mentioned that there were seven lunch periods throughout the day. She said that some students would have to go to one class for 20 minutes, break for lunch, and then go back to the original class to finish up instruction.

The bond money would also build a larger cafeteria to allow for fewer lunch periods but get more students in at once, on top of providing more learning space for students.

"It will encompass about half the bond request, but it is one of the flagship projects and definitely the most comprehensive. It will allow our 7th and 8th grade students to have a whole new space to be educated, which is going to be great for our kids," Durkee said.

Durkee said the school is about 50 years old, and there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed.

Durkee said while figuring out how best to make improvements, rebuilding the school made more sense instead of trying to simply patch things up.

"Let's consider what it would be like to break ground, and it made more sense. It was more cost effective. And it was just easier to maintain a building versus trying to troubleshoot buildings that have been piecemealed over time," Durkee said.

If the bond passes, Durkee said there would be no tax increase. Election day is February 13.