Published: August 13, 2008 10:03 am         

SHS parking hitch

70 spots not available as anticipated; contracts with teachers, support staff approved

Students driving to Stillwater High School this morning found an unanticipated scramble for parking spots.

Due to the football stadium project on the north side of campus, school officials have been seeking alternate parking to make up for spots lost to construction.

But Tuesday night, Stillwater Board of Education members were told one of the substitute lots — approximately 70 spaces south of the high school campus — is not ready because the city of Stillwater has not approved the plan.

Assistant Superintendent Jim Ryan said due to a backlog, city officials contracted a private firm to review the parking proposal.

“Our plans are sitting in Sand Springs waiting for review,” Ryan told the board, adding stadium contractor Lambert Construction can have the lot ready 48 hours after receiving the permit from the city.

On the positive side, board members approved an agreement to lease 100 parking spaces in Cimarron Plaza shopping center north of the high school, at a cost of $5 per space, $500 per month and $5,000 total for 10 months. The spots were marked Tuesday, Superintendent Ann Caine told the board.

Board members also approved the purchase of Import World, 1401 N. Boomer, for $240,000. The site abuts the new stadium site to the northwest.

Caine announced the school year would begin with teachers and support personnel under contract, as the board approved those two agreements Tuesday.

“I’m very excited that (today) we start the year with contracts with two of our important” employee groups, Caine told the board.

The pacts are similar to the previous year’s, with teachers receiving step raises and support staff receiving a 20 cents per hour raise.

In other business Tuesday, the board:

• Approved the hiring of Butch Lingenfelter as the district’s athletic director. Lingenfelter comes to Stillwater from Enid Public Schools and replaces Mike Simpson, who accepted a job with Ponca City schools. (Story, page B1)

• Approved the color scheme for the new football stadium as presented by architect John Hansen of SHW group. Hansen said the scheme was developed with Simpson.

• Approved two contracts for the stadium, with Triple A Landscape for landscape and irrigation at a cost of $309,610; and FieldTurf for the track surface at a cost of $129,455.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9.

     

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