John Rex Elementary

[wschnitt]

With the school district taking back the central high school, does that eliminate the need for the support buildings here?

[Spartan]

By support space I think they mean for the school's administration, like principal, vice principal, counselors, secretary, etc.

[Frustratedoptimist]

My husband said at the Mayor's Roundtable, Kirk Humphreys said that the downtown elementary school will open Fall 2013 and that they would be adding a grade every year so that it will eventually be K-12. Can anyone confirm?? This will fast-track us moving downtown IF we can find an affordable , 3-bed, residence ($250K or $2K/mo).

[mcca7596]

They better start construction within the next few months if they intend to have it open in Fall of 2013. I thought it was always Fall 2014 that they were shooting for.

[Pete]

I'm sure they can't start until the Devon construction crew wraps up (the school site is where they park) which won't be for a few more months.

[Spartan]

My husband said at the Mayor's Roundtable, Kirk Humphreys said that the downtown elementary school will open Fall 2013 and that they would be adding a grade every year so that it will eventually be K-12. Can anyone confirm?? This will fast-track us moving downtown IF we can find an affordable , 3-bed, residence ($250K or $2K/mo).

They can do whatever they want since it will be a charter school, and Kirk is the one applying for the charter. Get voted off the school board, then create your own little fiefdom in retaliation.. that said, there is no other workable model for this school that I envision.

On a side note, it sounds like this school just needs a Mr. Feeny teaching at it.

[ljbab728]

They can do whatever they want since it will be a charter school, and Kirk is the one applying for the charter. Get voted off the school board, then create your own little fiefdom in retaliation.. that said, there is no other workable model for this school that I envision.

On a side note, it sounds like this school just needs a Mr. Feeny teaching at it.

Spartan, I have no idea why you see that as a workable model. This and no other school in the metro will work as a K-12 school.

[Spartan]

I was referring to the charter model, not K-12. I personally think it will need to be an arts magnet school or something like that, and while I realize that charter and magnet mean different things, I think you have to combine the two. In fact weren't the two Harding schools (Harding Prep and Harding Arts) fighting each other for space? I don't see why they don't just move Harding Arts into this new building, giving the downtown school a good appropriate use, and finding a space for a student demographic that actually DOES exist currently.

[kevinpate]

I'm sure they can't start until the Devon construction crew wraps up (the school site is where they park) which won't be for a few more months.

Just wondering. If it is to open with only K in place Fall 2013, any reason they couldn't be elsewhere DT in temp leased space for the first year?

[Midtowner]

The elementary school will exist to help bolster Humphreys' upcoming developments. They'll be building $200-$300/sq. ft. homes. These folks are going to want reasonable assurances that there are options other than OKC Public Schools for their children. Maybe that sounds evil and elitist and maybe it is, but when this development is competing with Edmond, an elementary school separate from OKCPS is indispensable. Also, for many downtown workers, it'll be extremely convenient. Charters are not magnets. They don't get to choose their students. Admission is either first come/first serve or it's done on the basis of a lottery.

[Pete]

This school will bolster ALL downtown residential developments.

The path to greater community good is usually paved by private interests and development.

[wschnitt]

The elementary school will exist to help bolster Humphreys' upcoming developments. They'll be building $200-$300/sq. ft. homes. These folks are going to want reasonable assurances that there are options other than OKC Public Schools for their children. Maybe that sounds evil and elitist and maybe it is, but when this development is competing with Edmond, an elementary school separate from OKCPS is indispensable. Also, for many downtown workers, it'll be extremely convenient. Charters are not magnets. They don't get to choose their students. Admission is either first come/first serve or it's done on the basis of a lottery.

Which developments are you referring to?

[rcjunkie]

The elementary school will exist to help bolster Humphreys' upcoming developments. They'll be building $200-$300/sq. ft. homes. These folks are going to want reasonable assurances that there are options other than OKC Public Schools for their children. Maybe that sounds evil and elitist and maybe it is, but when this development is competing with Edmond, an elementary school separate from OKCPS is indispensable. Also, for many downtown workers, it'll be extremely convenient. Charters are not magnets. They don't get to choose their students. Admission is either first come/first serve or it's done on the basis of a lottery.

If it smells like BS, it's BS, and this has a very strong BS smell.

[Midtowner]

Which developments are you referring to?

Core to shore/downtown in general.

[gracefor24]

Core to shore/downtown in general.

What are their investments in downtown or Core to Shore? The Flatiron is dead for all intents and purposes. This will help but not in a huge way. Downtown Airpark is not included in the boundaries for the new elementary school. As far as I know those are the only investments/developments in the relative vicinity.

Again, it's amazing how ignorance informs public opinion. There is always a conspiracy theory that is based on nothing but some guy with a keyboard spouting about whatever crosses his/her mind.

[betts]

I'm a little confused too. What I think the downtown elementary school will do first is stimulate even more activity in SoSA. I see that as a good thing. If Kirk Humphreys wants to build great townhouses in Core to Shore, I'd say, "Go for it". But, I'm not aware of any plans there by anybody right now.

[Frustratedoptimist]

My husband said at the Mayor's Roundtable, Kirk Humphreys said that the downtown elementary school will open Fall 2013 and that they would be adding a grade every year so that it will eventually be K-12. Can anyone confirm?? This will fast-track us moving downtown IF we can find an affordable , 3-bed, residence ($250K or $2K/mo).

Okay, back to my original questions. Can anyone confirm? Count us as one of those urban wannabe families from Edmond waiting for a school in downtown OKC to open up so we can make the move.

[Pete]

What are their investments in downtown or Core to Shore? The Flatiron is dead for all intents and purposes. This will help but not in a huge way. Downtown Airpark is not included in the boundaries for the new elementary school. As far as I know those are the only investments/developments in the relative vicinity. .

I believe this is true.

Further, I have not seen any pattern of acquisition in the C2S area. For the most part, all those smaller properties are under separate ownership and by the same people that have owned them for some time.

And keep in mind that any sort of real development in that area is likely 2-3 decades into the future.

[Larry OKC]

Okay, back to my original questions. Can anyone confirm? Count us as one of those urban wannabe families from Edmond waiting for a school in downtown OKC to open up so we can make the move.

The school itself is definitely confirmed for grades K thru 6. Didn't see the mayor's Roundtable so can't speak to it eventually becoming K thru 12.
Read more: http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-...#ixzz1vbU6QyTt

The board of a new downtown charter elementary school is accepting applications for the head of the school. John W. Rex Elementary School isn't expected to open until the start of the 2013-14 school year…

May not need to move to attend either...
Read more: http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-...#ixzz1vbU6QyTt

The school will be open to students within its boundaries first. Then it will be open to students in the district, then students who live outside the district, but have a parent or parents working downtown and then students from anywhere in the state. If more than 500 students want to attend, the school must have a lottery.

[Midtowner]

What are their investments in downtown or Core to Shore? The Flatiron is dead for all intents and purposes. This will help but not in a huge way. Downtown Airpark is not included in the boundaries for the new elementary school. As far as I know those are the only investments/developments in the relative vicinity.

Again, it's amazing how ignorance informs public opinion. There is always a conspiracy theory that is based on nothing but some guy with a keyboard spouting about whatever crosses his/her mind.

Speaking of ignorance...

Charter schools don't have boundaries.

[gracefor24]

Speaking of ignorance...

Charter schools don't have boundaries.

This one does in some ways. It is a downtown elementary school and priority will be given to residents living within certain boundaries. So yes, it does have boundaries. Nice try, though.

[Dubya61]

Spartan, I have no idea why you see that as a workable model. This and no other school in the metro will work as a K-12 school.

Why do you say that? My kids attend what is basically a K-12 school and I don't perceive any problems with it.

[Spartan]

This one does in some ways. It is a downtown elementary school and priority will be given to residents living within certain boundaries. So yes, it does have boundaries. Nice try, though.

What are you talking about??

We know a lot about this school already. We have seen some preliminary filings from Humphreys already. There have been numerous news articles detailing the plans. There has been an official presentation to officials as well.

I'm not sure you realize that there is an existing body of work that goes beyond your speculation. I just wanted to politely bring that to your attention.

[gracefor24]

What are you talking about??

We know a lot about this school already. We have seen some preliminary filings from Humphreys already. There have been numerous news articles detailing the plans. There has been an official presentation to officials as well.

I'm not sure you realize that there is an existing body of work that goes beyond your speculation. I just wanted to politely bring that to your attention.

What speculation are you talking about? There is no speculation that this is intended to be a school for downtown residents first and foremost. And they use the word "district" because they are defining the downtown district by streets. Again, I really don't get what you are trying to say. I was responding to a post that said charter schools don't have boundaries but this one clearly does.

This is quoted from the article linked above:

The school will be open to students within its boundaries first. Then it will be open to students in the district, then students who live outside the district, but have a parent or parents working downtown and then students from anywhere in the state. If more than 500 students want to attend, the school must have a lottery.

Read more: http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-...#ixzz1veqFsbtv

[Spartan]

Sounds pretty fluid, like a typical charter school, to me. Even magnet schools tend to be that way - I grew up going to Westmoore High, but the girl who lived down the street actually transfered into OKCPS to go to Classen SAS, for example.

They're going to be getting pretty creative to come up with an enrollment of 500 when only 120 live in the area. Let's not understate the significance of almost 4 in 5 kids having to be found outside of the immediate vicinity or what would be considered the "district" of a normal grade school.