OXFORD – Within three years, the student population in the Oxford School District is expected to outstrip the capacity of its already strained buildings.

“Right now in our three elementary schools, we don’t have any extra classrooms,” said Superintendent Kim Stasny. “The only way we can add more students is to increase the student–teacher ratio.”

One option being considered by board members is a new 1,200-student high school to replace the current facility, which dates back to 1963. A location near the district’s newest school, Della Davidson Elementary, is being strongly considered.

The current one-story high school was designed for 650 but now houses just shy of 900, Principal Bill Hovious said. Just this fall the school enacted one-way halls during class changes to relieve congestion.

“It helped some, but I’d prefer wider halls,” said sophomore Sam Howle. “We need a lot more room.”

Stasny said further expansion at the high school campus on Bramlett Boulevard would either destroy scarce parking or displace the trees and lawn that help Oxford High School fit into its residential neighborhood.

“This particular campus ... is pretty much bound by its current boundaries. There’s just no more room,” Stasny said.

During Monday’s board meeting, Dr. Sarah Lacy, chair of the school’s science department, suggested one possible exception – putting artificial turf on the football field to eliminate the need for a practice field for football, soccer and band.

She said a two-story building on the current practice field could accommodate juniors and seniors, with freshmen and sophomores staying in the existing building.

“With everything we’ve got here – a great baseball field, a great football field – I hate to see us give that up when we could just go back some and add that two-story building,” Lacy said.

School Board President Bela Chain Jr. said that option is on the table.

“One of the concerns that some have expressed on that is that this is a small campus and it’s crowded anyhow,” he said. “To put a lot more students would add more traffic. We haven’t ruled that out, though.”

Board members will meet on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. at the district office to continue weighing options.

“We’re shooting to come to some kind of conclusion before the first of the year,” Chain said.