Jenks seeks $11.5 million for growing school district's needs
BY KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
12/04/12 at 6:09 AM
JENKS - The Jenks school board Monday voted unanimously to send an $11.5 million bond issue to voters for the purchase of textbooks, school buses, classroom renovations, safety equipment and more.
"This isn't anything flashy. This is basically addressing some of the needs we have in the district with growing enrollment," said Cody Way, chief financial officer for Jenks Public Schools.
The election will be held Feb. 12. If approved, the money will go to maintain campus buildings and equipment, including the purchase of more interactive white boards, copiers and computer hardware and software.
It will also be used to purchase library books, database subscriptions and furnishings for media centers at various schools, said Lisa Muller, assistant superintendent of curriculum.
In other business, the board also voted to endorse the regional One Voice agenda, which is a list of top legislative priorities adopted by members of the Tulsa Metro Chamber and other chambers of commerce in the Tulsa area.
This year, the coalition put improving state education funding at the top of the priority list as it did last year, Jenks Superintendent Kirby Lehman said.
"Last year, unfortunately, placing education as their key No. 1 issue had very little impact on our Legislature," he said.
Lehman said that although the state's Rainy Day fund coffers have grown and are now "basically burgeoning," Oklahoma school districts did not receive the "same good fortune from the state Legislature."
He said he hopes state legislators will "see the light" and appropriately fund public education.
Last month, the Union school board approved an election Feb. 12 on a $20.4 million bond issue to expand and remodel the 6th and 7th Grade Center, replace the track at the high school, and other projects.
In addition, 16 Tulsa County school board seats are up for re-election, including two in Tulsa and Glenpool, and one each in Berryhill, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Collinsville, Jenks, Keystone, Liberty, Owasso, Sand Springs, Skiatook, Sperry and Union.
Tulsa Technology Center also has an open seat.
The filing period runs through 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Tulsa County Election Board, 555 N. Denver Ave.
Original Print Headline: Jenks seeks $11.5M for school district's needs
Kim Archer 918-581-8315
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com
