ALTUS - The Altus school board voted unanimously Tuesday afternoon, in a special meeting, to begin renovations of the Altus Middle School, approving the bid from Joe D. Hall Construction, Elk City, for $1,140,000. The project is scheduled to begin as soon as all the necessary bonds are acquired.

According to local architect Jim Atkinson, who was previously hired by the board to design the new facility, there will be several new additions to the school site. The new project will allow the building of 10,000 additional square feet, which will consist of eight classrooms, one reading room, restrooms and related storage and equipment spaces. The new facility will replace the existing portable buildings which have been used for several years. The construction, Atkinson said, will also be compatible with the existing construction at the school's site.

Robert Bowers, middle school principal, is excited about the new facility and thanked the board for its decision.

"I am really excited about it," said Bowers. "It will allow us to put all our teachers and students in permanant classrooms, instead of portables ... it's past time, in fact, and I'm really excited."

The board had also taken bids on Atkinson's design for a new facility at the Altus Junior High. The board discussed the matter and decided to begin the work at the middle school and, later on when they could see how its building funds were standing, it would decide when and if the renovations at the second site would begin.

During executive session of the January meeting, board members discussed Superintendent Bob Drury's contract and evaluation. During Tuesday's special meeting, the board voted to approve Drury's new two-year contract as it was presented to them.

Drury told the board that this new contract was basically the same as his previous one, except the board added that if their school district is successful during the school years, there would be a 6 percent increase in his salary. The contract goes on to say that if the school district proves to not have been successful, there would be a 6 percent decrease in Drury's salary.

The board still has to get Drury's official evaluation together. David Walker, president of the board, suggested members do individual evaluations, then at the regularly scheduled Feb. 15 meeting, in executive session, they would collectively discuss their thoughts and put together one official evaluation to be submitted. The members agreed and the meeting was adjourned.