Stakeholders at Emerson Alternative School elected to replace dilapidated portable buildings with a new, a $2 million wing built onto the main school building, said Dr. Debra Thomas.
There will also a be a $1.6 million remodeling of the aging, main school building.
After the MAPS oversight and other city officials review and sign off on the proposal, construction begin soon after. It is projected to take about 18 months to finish, she said.
Students, parents, teachers, administrators and local lawmakers met last week to give input on how they wanted their school remodeled under the MAPS for Kids program.
MAPS for Kids began in 2000; Emerson is among the last schools to be remodeled.
“We had a great turnout and a lot of support from the community,” said Dr. Thomas.
“We are excited about the whole idea and getting everybody under one roof, the principal said. “It adds to sense of collegiality and camaraderie of everyone involved.
“It also allow us to do more for community - to have better facilities to invite the community in to do things. We are really looking forward to it.” Sen. Andrew Rice (D-Oklahoma City) and Sen. Connie Johnson (D-Oklahoma City) attended the meeting to support the school and its mission.
Rice had fought at the legislature to retain funding for the school’s on-site prenatal clinic, but draconian state budget cutbacks were too formidable to overcome, Dr. Thomas said.
Emerson is an alternative school serving students grades 6-12 with special education challenges such as pregnancy, out-of-wedlock children, behavioral problems, abusive home situations or other challenges, said the principal.
Eliminating the portable buildings will be a relief. They were damaged in the 1995 federal building bombing, so they leak and have structural problems, she said.
In addition, small animals have burrowed into walls, creating an unhealthy environment for children.
Presently, young mothers have to go out into inclement weather to visit their children in day care in the main school building, she said.
The school has a free onsite child care center with a 48-child capacity.
