More than $1 million in new construction is slated for the Indian school at Chilocco, Oklahoma, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Philleo Nash announced today.
Award of two construction contracts paved the way for a new 320-student dormitory and related facilities, sorely needed on the campus of the 82-year-old school. An $890,000 contract for construction of the dormitory, a garage and related improvements to replace two obsolete and overcrowded sleeping halls has been awarded Munger Emmons Construction Company of Enid, Oklahoma. Fourteen higher bids were received ranging to a maximum of $1,200,000.
A utilities improvement contract for $144,000 calls for construction of complete water and sewer systems, a 200,000 gallon steel water tank, road grading, fencing and similar work. It was awarded to McNally Company of Dallas, Texas, the low bidder. Eleven other bids ranged Upward to a high of $400,000.
With a campus of 8,600 acres and 75 buildings, Chilocco Indian School enrolls about 1,200 students in grades 7 through 14. Intensive vocational programs comprise the two years of post-secondary offerings at this non-reservation boarding school for Indian youth. About 500 of the students come from the Navajo reservation, and the remainder represent 33 tribes in various parts of the country.
Construction of the new dormitory complex marks the second step in expansion and modernization of the school.
Last year the old vocational shop was replaced by a new modern structure. Long range construction programs include the replacement of the old kitchen-dining hall, gymnasium, and academic classroom and home economics buildings.
