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Construction projects completed across the district in time for the 2014-15 school year

August 01, 2014

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From constructing new sites to renovating longstanding buildings, Broken Arrow Public Schools has worked diligently since the passing of the 2009 bond issue to make major improvements across the district.

These improvements include eliminating all modular buildings, securing school entrances and building additional school sites to meet the demands of enrollment growth.

“One of the key facets of the $295 million bond issue was to remove more than 100 portable classrooms and replace them with permanent structures to better our student’s safety as well as their learning environment,” BAPS Chief Operating Officer Michelle Bergwall said. “We are proud to say each has finally been removed due to the addition of 311 new classrooms encompassing more than 800,000 square feet.”

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Construction continued throughout summer and has resulted in a number of projects completed in time for the start of school this fall.

• Arrow Springs Early Childhood Center: The district will open its fourth early childhood center at the location of what was once Arrow Springs Elementary. This site has been remodeled to serve the needs of 4-year-old students.
   
• Oak Crest Elementary: Last year, Oak Crest staff and students temporarily moved to the location which was formerly Haskell Middle School while Oak Crest underwent a large scale remodel. On August 21, Oak Crest reopens its doors with new classrooms, a new library, a new playground and more.
   
• Indoor Athletic Facility: Built to the west of the Multi-Purpose Facility at Broken Arrow High School, the indoor athletic facility is nearly half a football field in size. Complete with a two-story weight and workout room, this facility will be used by athletes of multiple sports and will provide practice opportunities during winter.
   
• Turf Fields: Six Broken Arrow athletic fields received new playing surfaces after more than 475,000 square feet of artificial turf was installed this summer. The fields will be used by many organizations representing the Tigers, including baseball, football, softball, track and field, soccer and the Pride.
   
• Broken Arrow High School: Two major transformations took place inside of BAHS over the summer. The former media center is now a student union, creating a place for students to study and engage in student activities. The cafeteria has also been revamped with an interior renovation and the addition of several new food lines providing students with a greater variety.
   
• Transportation Facility: The BAPS Transportation Department maintains a fleet of 161 buses, 9 suburbans and a number of other district vehicles. To help maintain the vehicles, the Transportation Facility is now completely paved with asphalt, including employee parking, bus parking and access roads. The maintenance facility and work bay renovations are expected to be complete this fall.
   
• Freshman Academy: As part of South Intermediate High School’s transition to the Freshman Academy, much of the site was renovated including additional administration offices, a nurses suite, updated restrooms and an autism suite.
   
• Many other projects at several school sites were completed such as concrete sidewalks, interior remodels, exterior updates and maintenance repairs.

“Although the projects, which were part of the 2009 bond issue, are nearing their completion, we will continue to consider district needs that contribute to learning, safety and student engagement,” Bergwall said. “Our goal is to provide an excellent educational experience every day for every student in our growing district.”

For more information about current or future construction projects, please contact 918-259-7401.