School improvements finished before students return

The Ponca City Public Schools have completed several building projects this summer, improving school facilities before students return for the new school year next week.

A remodeling project at Trout Elementary was substantially completed by June 1, with details, cleanup and moving continuing.

Movers relocated the Trout teachers back at their home school and they are preparing for students. An open house will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, at Trout.

A new entrance is completed as part of a remodeling project at Liberty Elementary School.

Fire sprinklers are in and there is a new intercome system in the office. A new chair lift is operational and an elevator will be completed later this month.

Design continues on the new Concert Hall project, with parts of the project that are outside the room involving storage, access, materials and layout of rooms.

The district and city leaders are still in the negotiations phase of the 99-year lease.

Work continues to get the project into budget. A value engineering list is being generated to bring the project into budget.

Entry remodels are underway for Roosevelt Elementary and East Middle School, and the Lincoln Elementary School office remodel is almost complete. The library is larger and more usable, the new office area is nearly done and the old office is sporting a new look for support services. There will be some work on the steel trusses after hours to prevent birds from roosting on them.

Design work is underway on the Ponca City High School press box, Robson Fieldhouse interior improvements and the weight training area. Design drawings are being done for budgeting. The press box is very close to its final design. Robson Field House is
getting closer as well. The Weight Training facility and press box designs have met approval. The ticket booths and fencing designs will start soon and be constructed prior to
September 2017.

The new windows are in at East Middle School and the first round of window blinds are
being installed along with the inside trim. Any work after school begins will be completed in the off-hours.

RSC is gathering information and estimates for the football dressing room project. The
construction will take place after football season. The weight training facility will bid along with
the dressing room.

The Administration Center seminar room project is complete, though adjustments are beign made on HVAC controls to work with the energy management system.

The Pre-K remodel project at the former Washington Elementary School is complete and the new Pre-K teachers are setting up their classrooms.Fencing will be installed before school
starts on Aug. 17.

Playground equipment for Pre-K Center is scheduled for installation prior to the beginning of school. The City of Ponca City is allowing the district to install the old equipment, which is suited for older students, in the city park south of Garfield School.