By Bridget Nash Staff Writer

Enid school board members Monday discussed the benefits of hiring a project management group to help manage the calling of a bond election and seeing the bond issue projects thro-ugh.

They also discussed the price tag of the issue, which includes several new items and now stan-ds at $99.4 million.

“The most important th-ing is that this project be done correctly and be done as efficiently as possible,” said EPS Super-intendent Shawn Hime.

A project management group would do such things as oversee architect selection, develop and review bid specifications and act as the school district’s agent with contractors and architects.

“Having somebody like that on our side would be an excellent th-ing to do,” said EPS board member Mark Selix. “It’ll probably actually save us money in the long run.”

The bond issue includes renovations at all sites, a new Garfield Elementary School, a new elementary school on the west side, the addition of 10 classrooms at Waller Middle School and the addition of a cafeteria at Adams Elementary School.

The proposed bond issue now also includes technology updates, transportation upgrades and instruments for music education.

With those additions and interest figured in, the price tag has gone up from the previous estimate of $71 million to $75 million.

“The total cost with interest, et cetera, would be $99.4 million,” Hime said.

By choosing to include all projects in one bond issue, construction costs will be locked-in until the projects are complete, he said.

“By doing that, we save over $70 million,” Hime said. “Costs are actually down right now because of the economy.”

No decision to call a bond election was made at the meeting.

“That will be special meeting, probably the first of December,” Hime said.

While current low prices of construction materials are a good thing for the district’s hopes of new construction, the current economy is not such a good thing when it comes to receiving funding for schools.

In his superintendent’s report, Hime said he expects the possibility of a 10 percent state funding cut before the fiscal year ends.

Current cuts have cost the district $496,775.36, and Hime said Gov. Brad Henry already has called for a 5 percent cut, which will increase the district cut to $1,531,054.91.

If cuts increase to 10 percent as is anticipated, the district will see a cut of $2,757,045.16, Hime said.

“The best estimate is that over a two-year period we’re going to take a 20 percent cut, whether it be 5 (percent) and 15 (percent) or 10 (percent) and 10 (percent),” said Hime.

“No changes in what we are mandated to provide or pay for?” said board member Willa Jo Fowler.

Hime said there currently is no relief in what the state mandates each school pay for, an issue that can easily cause financial hardship for a school district.

For example, said Hime, schools are required to spend $9 per pupil in library media expenses. So, hypothetically, Hime said a school could have to cut its library media specialist so it can continue to spend $9 per pupil on library media expenses.

Hime said superintendents across the state are working on a list of items to present to the state in hopes of getting some flexibility on certain mandates.

Also during the meeting the board called an executive session to continue contract negotiations with ESPO, Enid’s support personnel group. No decisions were reached.

Other than routine agenda items, the board heard a short presentation about positive goings on in the district from a student representative from each school in the district.

The board also recognized representatives of Community of Believers, a group made of representatives from several churches in Enid, which has made donations to help the school district.

The board also approved new employments of Tracy Lewis, Charity F. Digby, Kane Batchelder, Satara Brown, Michael Custer, Rose Nabu and Mona Wright.

Hime announced at the meeting he will be starting something called the “Birthday Club” for Enid Public Schools staff members.

Each month, staff members who have a birthday that month will have their names entered in a drawing. One name will be drawn and the person whose name is drawn will get a half-day off work, and Hime will take over their job duties for that half-day.

The next scheduled meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at Hayes Elem-entary School.