Published: December 09, 2007 12:00 am            

Enid Public Schools $11.5 million bond issue election is 2 days away

Signs urging voters to remember to exercise their civic duty have been erected, phone calls prompting the same have been made and newspaper subscribers have been showered with stories and accompanying photographs detailing the plight of local schools.

But in two days, it’ll be up to the voters to decide whether they’re willing to accept an increase in property taxes to fund $11.5 million in improvements to Enid Public Schools.

District voters nearly five years ago approved about $25 million in bond issue and sales tax proceeds earmarked to renovate every site in the Enid Public Schools district. Other Garfield County school districts shared $2 million of the city sales tax proceeds.

Work began all over the district. Several elementary schools saw new classrooms additions, and Enid High School was renovated and a new food court and multiple-classroom addition were added. Coolidge, Monroe, McKinley and Hayes elementary schools have new classroom additions.

Other schools received improvements, as well, and still others are waiting their turn for renovations, although money already is secured for those projects.

School officials say the issues on the ballot Tuesday are a continuation of the 2003 campaign, and funds will provide needed facility, transportation and technology upgrades.

In 2001, a professional facility assessment company identified nearly $40 million worth of needs in the district’s facilities.

The proposed Dec. 11 bond issue would allow the district to complete those needs near original estimates, despite the rising cost of construction and the addition of a new school, officials say.

Tuesday’s measure would increase property taxes 3.9 percent. That money would give the district a new Garfield Elemen-tary School to replace the current facility constructed in 1919.

The funds also would provide a cafeteria for two elementary schools that currently do not have one. In addition, it would provide new flooring, windows and renovations to bathrooms and classrooms in a number of schools.

“We have an obligation to our community to provide the best education, teachers and facilities,” said Todd Earl, chairman of the current bond issue campaign and one held in 2003.

With a yes vote, Earl said, the community would position itself to have safe and progressive schools.



Voters will decide ...



Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at polling EPS district sites all around town. Voters will be presented with two questions. Proposition I outlines facility and technology needs totaling $10.9 million. Proposition II outlines transportation needs totaling $600,000.

Both measures must receive a 60 percent majority vote to pass.

Facility needs include about $3.4 million for a new Garfield Elementary School, with 23 classrooms, a library, a lab and other amenities. If approved, the money will be combined with funds already approved by voters in 2003 for renovations to the building. Other facility needs are those at Coolidge, Monroe, Taft and Glenwood elementary schools, Emerson Junior High School and Enid High School. The money would allow cafeteria additions at Hoover and Adams elementary schools.

Another 1.2 million proposed in proposition I is for technology upgrades.

The transportation purchases would keep the district on its bus replacement schedule. School officials say they need the buses to provide safe and reliable transportation to and from school and school-related activities.