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An Investment in Opportunity
AN INVESTMENT IN OPPORTUNITY
NPS Bond Proposition on the Ballot for Feb. 14 Election
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
The Norman Board of Education voted to approve a $353.9 million school bond proposal, which Norman residents will consider during the Feb. 14 election.
“This bond touches something for every student,” shared Carolina Cunningham, co-chair of Vote Yes for Kids, a community advocacy committee. “When this proposal passes, it will provide diverse opportunities for kids to get plugged in and find their place whether that be in FFA, football, esports, fine arts or aviation – students need to feel like they belong.”
Bond issues are a key funding component for districts, but it is important to note that these funds cannot be used to pay teacher salaries. However, as Kate Vahlberg, Vote Yes for Kids co-chair, pointed out, community investments “make NPS a great place to work and learn.”
“This bond is critical to the future of our schools and our community as a whole,” Vahlberg explained. “A lot of really exciting projects are included that will ensure our schools and kids will continue to be successful.”
“Without bonds like these, we would have rundown buildings with nothing in them,” Cunningham added.
Projects in the bond proposal were identified through demographic studies, facility assessments and input from parents, teachers, staff and community stakeholders.
“This bond will support the district in its day-to-day operations and provide improvements for our students and staff,” NPS Superintendent Dr. Nick Migliorino said. “These are steps in our long-term plan to maintain and enhance excellent educational opportunities for our students today and into the future.”
The ballot will feature two separate propositions since school transportation bond projects are required by law to be listed as separate propositions on the ballot. Thus, the first proposition, which is for the bulk of the bond projects, is $349.8 million. The second proposition, which is specifically for school transportation items like buses, is $4.1 million.
The bond also includes required updates to meet ADA and other code compliance issues throughout the district. If the bond doesn’t pass, these updates will have to be funded through the district’s general fund.
“I want to thank everyone involved for the collaboration and aggressive, forward-thinking planning that has gone into preparing this bond resolution,” Migliorino said.
If approved by voters, the bond would not result in an increase in the millage rate. Norman voters have approved more than $600 million in school bond funds since 1972.
“The district has staggered the bond proposals so that our millage rate does not increase but that our investment in our schools stays consistent,” Cunningham explained. “For any town, especially the size of Norman, our schools are the backbone of the success for everyone. This bond affects everyone, even those without kids in NPS.”– BSM
KEY PROJECTS INCLUDE:
• ALL-SCHOOLS FINE ARTS PERFORMANCE VENUE
• ANIMAL BARN FOR THE DISTRICT’S FFA PROGRAM
• STAND-ALONE FACILITY FOR THE OKLAHOMA AVIATION ACADEMY AT MAX WESTHEIMER AIRPORT
• NEW TRANSPORTATION BUILDING
• MULTI-SPORT ATHLETIC STADIUM AT NORMAN NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
• UPDATES TO HARVE COLLINS STADIUM AT NORMAN HIGH SCHOOL.
• MULTI-USE SPACES AT BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS FOR ESPORTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
• ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM ADDITIONS
• STEAM CLASSROOMS IN EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES FOR EVERY DISTRICT SCHOOL SITE
