Two Projects Get OK for MAPS for Kids Funds Nov. 3, 2014

Two Projects Get OK for
MAPS for Kids Funds
The board on Monday night approved two requests totaling about $2.8 million in
MAPS for Kids funds that would be used for improvements to Lake Park Elementary
School and for purchase of property near Putnam City West High School.
In May 2010 the board approved Phase 1 work of a geothermal heating and air
system at Lake Park Elementary School. Phase 1 included drilling a well field to be
used in heating and cooling classrooms. The cost of the improvements of that work
was covered by bonds approved by voters in October 2005.
Use of MAPS for Kids funds would substantially cover Phase 2 of the project,
which will include drilling a well field to be used in heating and cooling the gym
cafeteria and offices and construction of mechanical rooms to house geothermal heat
pumps. Phase 2 also includes the pipe, plumbing, electrical connections and ductwork
necessary to complete the system and put it into operation.
After the geothermal work is completed, old heating and air conditioning units
on top of the school will be removed and a metal roof will be installed. Metal roofs
reduce the need for costly, ongoing roof maintenance because unlike flat roofs, they do
not crack, shrink, erode or puncture. Metal roofs on average last twice as long as flat
roofs. Such roofs not only are strong and watertight, but when combined with extra
insulation, help lower the energy required to heat and cool the building.
The use of about $2.6 million in MAPS for Kids funds for the geothermal heat and
air system and metal roof must now be considered by the MAPS Trust. If approved by
the trust, the improvements will be paid for through a combination of MAPS for Kids
funds and building funds.
The district will also ask the MAPS Trust for authorization to use MAPS for Kids
funds to purchase property located at 2024 N. Eagle Lane. If approved by the trust,
the land will be used to expand the athletic complex at Putnam City West.
Board OKs at&t Work
The board on Monday night approved an agreement with at&t that will allow
existing cable buried near the west end of Arbor Grove Elementary School property to be
buried deeper to avoid damage during the final stages of construction at the school.
The relocation of the lines will allow Pope Contracting to complete work on the
west end of the property, including construction of drives that will allow access to the
school from Warren Avenue.
The $35,349.09 cost of the work will be covered by bond funds approved by voters
in November 2009.
Nov. 3, 2014
Board members thanked elementary
students for their presentations on STEM
classes.
Becky Haliburton asked district
administrators to make a presentation at
a future board meeting about how the
district helps students with dyslexia.
Bren Smith thanked Barbara Crump
for her presentation and congratulated
her on Central Elementary’s nomination
for an Apple Distinguished School
award. She also noted that Tuesday is
an election day, and she encouraged
everyone to vote.
Tammy West said West Fest,
featuring elementary school, middle
school and high school orchestras, was
delightful. She said the respect and
behavior demonstrated by Putnam City
West students at a U.S. Army rock band
concert was exceptional. She said it
was fun to walk and visit at the Putnam
City Cancer Classic, and she noted the
great job Isaac McCord does as the PA
announcer. She said the recent Marzano
(continued on page 2)
Meeting Date: Monday, Nov. 3, 5 p.m.
Location:
Administration Building
Roll Call:
All five members of the board were present: Gail LoPresto, president;
Cindy Gibbs, vice president;
Becky Haliburton; Bren Smith;
and Tammy West. Also present were
Dr. Fred Rhodes, superintendent;
and Sandy Lemaster, deputy board
clerk.
Next Meeting: Monday, Nov. 17, 5 p.m.
Putnam City Schools does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin,
age, marital or veteran status, or disability.
Nov. 3, 2014
On Saturday nearly 1,000 people participated in the 7th Annual Putnam City Cancer
Classic 5K/Fun Run to benefit cancer research at the Oklahoma Medical Research
Foundation (OMRF). This year’s location, near the Oklahoma River at Wheeler Park,
created a very festive atmosphere with participants such as Big Truck Tacos, Aloha
Ice and a climbing wall provided by the ROTC. Putnam City Schools and the OMRF
have a long time partnership, which has provided funds for cancer research as well
as opportunities for PC students through programs such as Junior Scientist and the
Fleming Scholars. This Centennial year, the goal is to raise $100,000 to donate to
OMRF. The funds raised by the Cancer Classic will go toward reaching this goal.
Congratulations to Coronado Heights Elementary teacher Tracey Deathe for
receiving the honor of being named the Public Personnel Employee of the Year at
the “24th Annual Mayor’s Committee on Disability Concerns” Awards Luncheon.
Ms. Deathe has taught at Coronado Heights for 25 years and has worked relentlessly to
improve the quality of life for countless students who have had the privilege of having
her as their teacher and advocate. We are very proud of Ms. Deathe and commend her
on her lifelong career of serving students.
Also receiving awards at the mayor’s luncheon were graphic design students
from Putnam City North High School. Kimberly Ma won first place and Hunter
Thephachanh won third place in the poster/billboard contest. Ms. Ma received $500 for
her winning design, which will be displayed on billboards throughout the metro area.
Mr. Thephachanh received $200 for his design.
We congratulate the staff of the 2013-2014 Putnam City High School yearbook.
At the Oklahoma Scholastic Media contest held Oct. 27 at OU, the 2014 Treasure
Chest yearbook received “Highest Honors” in Division I. The staff of the 2014
yearbook received near perfect scores in photography and design, thanks in part to
individual awards won by Sammi Rocha (Outstanding Photography) and Isaias Torres
(Outstanding Achievement in Design).
Wiley Post Elementary second grade teacher, Neeli Boyd, has been nominated
for the 2014-2015 National LifeChanger of the Year Award. This award annually
recognizes and rewards K-12 school district educators and employees who are making
a significant difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive
influence and leadership.
Board Approves Policy on Virtual
Education
The board on Monday night approved a new policy, Policy EO, on virtual
education offered by the district.
The policy allows the district to partner with accredited online learning providers
to provide instruction to students. Online courses may be taken as a substitute for
classroom-based courses or may be taken to accelerate learning.
Students must reside in Putnam City to be eligible to enroll in Putnam City Virtual
School. The new policy lays out additional information about eligibility, enrollment and
withdrawal procedures, extracurricular participation, and requirements for attendance
and state testing.
Board Comments
(continued from page 1)
side-by-side coaching session was
valuable for assistant principals who
attended. She also asked for prayers for
Linda Brown, the former drama teacher at
Putnam City West, following the passing
of her daughter.
Cindy Gibbs congratulated the
Putnam City North girls’ cross country
team on making it to state competition,
saying the investment and growth in
athletic programs for young students
is making a difference. She also said
that baseball teams at Putnam City
North and Putnam City West are selling
Thanksgiving hams as a fundraiser.
Boilers at Putnam
City West to be
Replaced
The board on Monday night adopted
a resolution declaring an emergency
at Putnam City West High School and
approved two purchase orders totaling
$209,060 for purchase and installation of
new boilers.
During the last two weeks of
October, heat exchangers failed on
two boilers that supply heat to 50-plus
classrooms in the two-story section of
the school. The heat exhanger failure was
accompanied other equipment failure
that will require replacement of the
boilers.
The declaration of an emergency
speeds the process of acquiring and
installing replacement boilers. The job
is expected to begin on Tuesday and be
complete in late November.
The cost of the work will be covered
by the district’s Building Fund.
PAGE 3
Nov. 3, 2014
S T E M
Science
Technology
More than 560 students in grades 4
and 5 at Coronado Heights Elementary,
Hilldale Elementary and Western Oaks
Elementary are this year taking part in
classes focusing on science, technology,
engineering and mathematics, better
known by the acronym STEM. On
Monday night, students and their teachers
showed board members what the classes
are like.
The intent of the classes is to
regularly engage elementary students
in hands-on exploration of problems
in which they wrestle with complex
questions, investigate issues and develop
solutions by integrating concepts of
science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics. Answers to questions
aren’t given to students in STEM classes.
Students find those answers on their own
by generating and testing ideas, then
analyzing test results to develop new and
more effective ideas.
The district is trying out STEM
classes in the three elementary schools
this year. Fourth-grade and 5th-grade
students at the three schools take a STEM
class in rotation with other “specials”
classes such as art, music and PE.
The classes are a new and important
part of STEM programs in the district.
Robotics programs, Science Olympiad
and many career technology programs are
considered STEM.
Engineering
Mathematics
Students from three elementary schools spoke to board members about STEM classes.
Above, a Hilldale Elementary student tells the audience about a project in which students
built and tested parachutes. Research shows that offering STEM at the elementary level
makes it more likely that students will pursue STEM in middle school and beyond.
“We must tell
young people that
understanding
STEM means they
can create things
that change the
world.”
—Barbara McAllister, director of Strategic
Initiatives and Planning, Intel Corporation
“STEM education
creates critical
thinkers, increases
science literacy,
and enables the
next generation of
innovators.”
—Francis Eberle, Ph.D., executive director,
National Science Teachers Association
4
Nov. 3, 2014
Work Approved at Harvest Hills, Mayfield
The board on Monday night approved the lowest best bid of $113,300 from
Homco Construction for installation of new windows at Harvest Hills Elementary
School and new doors at Mayfield Middle School.
At Harvest Hills, the windows to be replaced are those high in the school’s media
center. The existing windows are the ones originally in the building when it opened in
1975. New windows are far more energy efficient and far less likely to leak.
At Mayfield, new doors will be installed at main building entrances on the west
and south sides of the school. The entry doors in the building now were the ones
originally in the building when it opened in 1974. After 35 years, wear and tear on the
doors and their alignment means that hot and cold air flows through gaps. In addition,
the doors themselves have single pane glass, as opposed to modern glass doors that
contain a thermal break to increase energy efficiency. Over time the cost of new doors
will be paid back several times through energy savings.
The job also calls for new doors and frames to be installed at outside entrances to
the school’s kitchen, athletic area and a mechanical room. The existing steel doors and
frames, also original to the building, are inefficient, rusting and difficult to open and
close.
The cost of the work will be covered by bond funds approved by voters in
November 2009. Weather permitting, the jobs at both schools should start in January
and be completed in March.
Putnam City North
to Get HVAC
Improvements
The board on Monday night
approved the best bid of $633,600 from
Innovative Mechanical for replacing an
exterior cooling tower and and controls
that air conditions a portion of the main
core of Putnam City North High School.
In January the board approved
replacement of rooftop heat and air units
over classrooms in H hall and switching
classrooms in two other areas from the
boiler and chiller system to rooftop units.
The work approved Monday night, when
completed next spring, will finish the
HVAC update for the original sections of
Putnam City North.
The cost of the work will be covered
by bond funds approved by voters in
November 2009.
Board Highlights is not a comprehensive review
of every item that takes place at board of education
meetings. Its purpose is merely to provide
information about items that seem of most
interest to district employees and patrons.
Complete board meeting minutes may be found at
http://www.putnamcityschools.org/BoardofEducation/BoardMeetingMinutes/tabid/565/Default.aspx