The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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Discussion

September 14, 2008

District superintendent says groups to target areas of need for the district

By Bridget Nash

Staff Writer



Enid Public School Superin-tendent Shawn Hime is well aware of the issues concerning Garfield Elementary School, as well as the crowding issue all over the district.

“With our increased enrollment, Garfield, like our other schools, is facing the problem of needing more classrooms,” said Hime. “We are full at Garfield.”



A 91-year school, Garfield has been feeling the pinch for awhile, and staff have had to make do since a bond issue for a new school failed in December.

But increased enrollment in the district has officials looking at ways to make the district better once again.

An advisory committee of community members and staff will analyze the needs of the schools in the district, Hime said, but a professional organization also will visit to provide an in-depth analysis of the schools and the community.

“We’ll use the expertise of the Facility Management Group,” Hime said, “so we know where we stand today to get where we want to be tomorrow.”

Facility Management Group will analyze school buildings, enrollment trends and Enid’s demographics and also make sure the schools are making the best of the space they have now.

“They’re ready to work with us,” said Hime.

Hime said the issues at Garfield Elementary will be among the first addressed in the district.

“The bottom line is, for all of our school facilities, we want to have a standard of excellence ... that meets today’s standards,” said Hime. “Garfield obviously does not have the facility to meet today’s standards.”

Once the district’s facilities have been analyzed the next question is, naturally, will there be another bond issue?

“Obviously, that is the only mechanism in Ok-lahoma for schools to build and maintain buildings,” said Hime. “Oklahoma is one of 13 states without state money for facilities.”

If a bond issue does arise, Hime and other school officials want to make sure the community has a chance to voice opinions on the matter.

“Our job is to lay out the needs, get feedback from the community,” said Hime. “Because this is a community school, it belongs to the citizens of Enid.”

Hime said skyrocketing enrollment is a result of a growing, prospering Enid, but if the schools do not grow with the city, many potential workers may choose to live elsewhere.

“Enrollment growth is a good thing,” he said. “We see it as a positive.”

In the meantime, Hime makes the assurance children turned away from Garfield are not children who live in the Garfield neighborhood but rather those who wish to transfer to Garfield.

However, if changes are not made, neighborhood children could be attending other schools within two years, said Hime.

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