School Board calls emergency meeting for Monday on weather damages

The Ponca City Board of Education has called an emergency board meeting for noon Monday, March 18, in the Board Room at the Administration Building, 613 East Grand Avenue.

Ponca City High School, East Middle School and West Middle School all sustained damage in a past hail storm, but severe winds and rain on March 13, 2019, caused excessive water intrusion into student classrooms and other staff occupied areas. The water intrusion created unsafe conditions for students, as determined by staff. The greatest damage is reported at East Middle School.

Damage is reported  to the roofing over all structures, and additionally to inside ceilings, walls, flooring and furniture, and is continuing, resulting in safety issues which could result in collapse. Immediate attention for repairs is necessary to halt further damage to the structures.

The School Board has declared that an emergency exists which threatens public health and safety and immediate repairs are needed to ensure the safety to students, staff and  the public. Further, failure to make the immediate repairs could put the district at risk for continued loss and damage.

A measure to be voted on by  the Board during Monday’s meeting would authorize Superintendent Shelley Arrott to contract for the necessary repairs to the severely damaged and leaking areas of the Ponca City High School, East
Middle School and West Middle School and the notice and bidding requirements of the Public Competitive Bidding Act shall not apply to those repairs which are necessitated by this emergency.