Board approves plans for new Air Depot elementary in Covell area; members pressed drainage, traffic and pipeline issues

The Edmond Public Schools Board unanimously approved plans for a new elementary school to be built at the Air Depot/Covell area, district staff said during the Dec. 12 meeting.

Staff described the design as preliminary and emphasized that the school will open in 2026, which will require redistricting. The plan calls for an initial opening at partial capacity with three pods (about 50% capacity) and later expansion; staff said playgrounds and some recreational amenities are placeholders that will be completed in later phases. "We're opening with 3 pods only, so we're only gonna be at 50% capacity," a staff presenter said.

Board members and staff focused much of the discussion on traffic flow and bus routing. Staff said transportation has reviewed the site plans and does not foresee scheduling conflicts, but acknowledged concern about two-lane roads near the site. The board also asked about a pipeline and flood plain on the site. Staff said portions of the site are within a flood plain and acknowledged prior neighborhood flooding along Covell and Air Depot; they said city-led flood work is underway and that the design will consolidate and manage runoff, routing storm water into an onsite pond.

Questions about playground placement, a bus parking/transportation hub and drainage were answered by staff who described tradeoffs driven by topography and the site’s multi-level elevations. Staff noted the plan includes a designated bus parking area designed for up to 40 buses (with initial use expected for about 20) and a small office/restroom space for drivers.

The board moved and unanimously approved the plans to proceed to the next design and bidding steps. Staff said they would return with more-detailed construction, drainage and transportation information and noted that the district has already been authorized to stage dirt-work bidding in advance of full construction.