When 2020 comes, there are going to be some changes at Henryetta schools.
After the new year students should be riding in new buses following actin taken by the school board this week.
Board members approved the lease/purchase plan that will finance the new buses approved in the September bond package. Superintendent Dwayne Noble said the paperwork is written to allow the school to get the new transportation equipment all at once even though the bonds will be sold over a five-year period.
Even though the route buses will be ready in a couple of months, Noble said it will be spring before the new activity bus will be ready for use. Still undecided is the suburban or van vehicle purchases. He pointed out it is still cheaper to operate either of those vehicle types than a mini-bus when small groups such as the golf or academic teams need to go to a tournament.
The school will also be buying a new drivers education car with the bond money.
Another project having an impact on the students will be replacement of lights throughout the district. The old florescent lights, some dating back to the original school construction in 1965, will be removed and replaced with new LED fixtures.
Noble said that will get rid of dark spots in the classrooms as well as eliminate the buzzing heard from some of the ballasts.
First to be replaced will be the lights at the Knight Center. The current bulbs require a warm-up period and are energy hogs.
Board members approved the plan using Entegrity as the contractor. The work is expected to save the school several thousand dollars each year on the electrical bills.
Board members will be meeting Thursday morning to award the bids for the new gym floor at the Knight Center. That work will also include replacing and painting the drywall damaged by the September pipe burst.