Edmond school district voters to decide $80M bond issue

Members of the Edmond Public Schools Board have set Feb. 12 for an $80 million bond election, asking voters to approve $27 million for a new middle school, $16.5 million for a new elementary school and $3.2 million to buy 80 acres for a new high school complex.

An exact location is still being negotiated, but school board President Jamie Underwood said the school would likely be built east of Interstate 35.

“It's definitely planning for the future,” Underwood said. “Land's at a premium and to get it in a location that we need is important. Obviously at that time we will have to redistrict everything but that will be down the line.”

George Cohlmia, who represents District 4 on the school board, said there isn't a pressing need for a new high school, but it's only a matter of time.

“I don't know if you would say we have a need today for a new high school but we know we are going to need one,” Cohlmia said. “In my mind, it'll be about six or eight years.”