Ready to build

By Violet Spader, Staff Writer

April 04, 2008 04:00 pm

— CASHION — After the passage of a $4.75 million bond issue passed with an overwhelming 91 percent majority in Feb. 2007, Cashion High School began plans to build a new classroom addition and renovate the cafeteria.
Superintendent Todd Garrison said it’s unusual for a bond issue to pass with such a high percentage.
“I couldn’t be happier to have the support of the community,” Garrison said. “It’s nice to have that kind of backing.”
They’re slated to begin next year’s classes in the new facility, according to Garrison.
Current projects in the construction process include bricking the classroom addition and framing interior walls. Sheetrock is scheduled to go up soon, as well.
The classroom addition is a free-standing building on the east side of the high school, south of the football field. Plans call for 10 classrooms, including two science labs and an art room, a teacher workroom and three offices, for a total of about 17,000 square feet. The cafeteria renovation will add about 1,500 square feet, including another serving area, to the existing cafeteria.
Other projects completed with bond issue funds were the addition of 300 lockers for grades 7-12, and replacing vehicles in the district bus fleet and driver’s education program. With $350,000 of the bond money going to fund transportation, five buses were purchased, including a 2001 model, two 2005 models and two 2008 models. All buses have security cameras on board. A new Chevy Impala was purchased for driver’s education, and a Suburban replaced a school van.
Garrison said the students and staff are enjoying watching the project come together.
“Our seniors this year won’t get to use it, so they’re a bit disappointed, but the rest of the students are very excited to have a brand-new facility,” Garrison said.
The projects have come together quickly, thanks to coordination and communication with Construction Management System of Norman and Renaissance Architects of Oklahoma City, Garrison said.
Cashion Public Schools has approximately 500 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

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