BARTLESVILLE - A $36.7 million school bond issue will go before voters Sept. 10 under a resolution approved Thursday by the Bartlesville Board of Education.
The bond issue would pay for the construction of a new ninth-grade center, as well as additional classroom space and a new cafeteria at Bartlesville High School, infusing $20.5 million into the Senior High campus to accommodate a plan to move freshmen and sophomores to the facility. Ninth- and 10th-graders now attend classes in a separate Mid-High building.
The bond plan would also move students from Madison Middle School into the Mid-High. The deteriorating east-side middle school would be demolished, and $1.2 million in improvements would be made at the new Madison location. Central Middle School in downtown would undergo $12.1 million in renovations.
"We think this is an excellent plan," Superintendent Gary Quinn said. "We are going to get to work and try to inform the community about it."
Additionally, the bond plan would provide $1.4 million to pay for safety and security measures districtwide, $294,826 for new furniture and more than $700,000 for technology upgrades.
The board held a lengthy discussion on whether to include $5 million for storm shelters in the school bond proposal with the majority deciding to study the issue further before asking voters for the money.
"I really wanted to have (storm shelters) in this vote, but I don't feel like we have a good enough plan," board member Vanessa Drummond said. "I am worried about going out and asking voters for $5 million when we don't really know what we want."
Board member Randy Herren said he thought storm shelters were "more important than all the rest" of the items included in the bond proposal, and he voted against the resolution that will be put before voters. If the district had included storm shelters in the plan, the bond proposal would have been $41.7 million.
Other board members said they agree with putting safety as a top priority, which is part of the reason they decided to get more information on how best to construct shelters.
On other security measures in the proposal, Quinn said the district has done as much as it can within its budget to make schools safe, but bond money will be needed for further improvements.
School safety has been a hot topic in the district since December when student Sammie Eaglebear Chavez was charged with plotting a massive school shooting and bombing at Bartlesville High School.
John Wolff, Municipal Finance Services financial adviser, said that if voters approve the plan, the district can begin issuing bonds in December.
Under the proposals approved, officials say Bartlesville's property tax level would remain 27 mills.
"The important thing is priority," Wolff said. "Our goal was to go to the voters as soon as possible and get these projects done as soon as possible to address some of the major concerns."
Original Print Headline: $36.7M B'ville school bond goes to voters
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The bus had two occupants, a driver and an 8-year-old girl. The driver had a suspended license, police said.
The Regents will consider architectural firms to provide construction of storm-hardened shelters in the housing area on the Norman campus.
