Broken Arrow Passes School Bond in Lopsided Election
Voters in the Broken Arrow School District have given their overwhelming approval of the district’s largest bond issue in history ($295-million). 70 percent of the voters said yes to Proposition I for school and district improvements totaling $285-million. 70 percent of the voters said yes to Proposition II for bus purchases totaling $10-million. 60 percent voter approval is required for successful school bond elections in Oklahoma. Voter turnout was a record for a Broken Arrow School Bond Election.
“We are so thankful to our voters and supporters for their approval of what many of us at Broken Arrow Public Schools consider the most critical bond issue in the history of the School District,” Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Gary Gerber said. “We’ll now be able to get rid of the district’s 200 portables and add gymnasiums and build three schools along with upgrading our bus fleet and student technology while increasing safety in a major way without raising taxes thanks to the lease-purchase revenue financial plan of this bond issue that received voter approval.”
Dr. Gerber credited a groundswell of support for the bond issue’s success.
“It is significant that various local groups, organizations and even media outlets who examined our proposal supported passage of this bond issue in a very public way.”
The bond issue was endorsed for passage by the Broken Arrow , Broken Arrow Area Chamber of Commerce, Broken Arrow Education Association, Broken Arrow City Council, BA Ledger, and Tulsa World.
“Our , Teachers, the Chamber, and City Council saw the benefits of this issue for our students and community and worked very hard to make this bond issue a success,” Dr. Gerber said. “We appreciate so much their support and assistance in this process that is ultimately going to produce a much better school district for our district’s children.”
Every school will receive major benefits from the successful bond issue. Removal of portables will transform the campuses of Indian Springs, Arrow Springs, Lynn Wood, Westwood, Park Lane, as they are currently more portable than permanent construction.
Westwood, Park Lane, Lynn Wood, Arrow Springs, and Indian Springs will also gain gymnasiums as part of their campus makeover as would Vandever and Rhoades meaning every elementary school will finally have a gym thanks to voter approval of the bond issue. Currently these schools have PE classes, assemblies, and school events in the cafeteria.
The successful bond issue will also produce an elementary school in the Park Lane attendance zone at 91st and Oneta, a new 4th & 5th Grade Center on the campus of the current Wolf Creek Elementary and Oliver Middle School, and a new middle school east of County Line.
Another area that will benefit immensely from the successful 2009 Broken Arrow School Bond Election will be technology which has over $20-million in technology upgrades that will enhance technology at every school in the district as well as the School District’s technology infrastructure.
A listing of the record number of school improvements provided by the successful bond issue is available on the district’s website at www.baschools.org. The Board of Education has also appointed a citizens’ School Bond Oversight Committee to provide additional oversight to the process that will turn the winning bond election into the much needed projects for the district.
“I am so thankful to live and work in a community that understands the needs of our school district and children; thank you Broken Arrow voters!” Dr. Gerber exclaimed.
Updated 12-10-2009
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