School bond elections pass in five of eight districts

<br>School bond elections passed in five of eight districts on Tuesday, including a proposal in Tahlequah that would fund improvements to parts of Northeastern State University. <br><br>Residents narrowly

Wednesday, October 10th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

School bond elections passed in five of eight districts on Tuesday, including a proposal in Tahlequah that would fund improvements to parts of Northeastern State University.

Residents narrowly approved a half-cent sales tax that would pay for $2 million worth of upgrades to NSU's Gable Field. The vote was 982 to 971, according to unofficial returns.

Voters in the Jenks School District, just south of Tulsa, approved $12.1 million in bonds to build an intermediate school. The vote of 1,162 to 370 also will furnish funding for roof repair and the replacement of air-conditioning units.

In Stillwater, school patrons approved a $2.1 million bond issue on a 1,976 to 1,047 vote. The money will be used to complete an $11.5 million project that passed in a 1999 election.

Bond issues that include library and technology improvements and the construction of a lunch room easily passed in Yukon. The votes were 1,315 to 227 for a proposition for buses and other vehicles, and 1,304 to 239 for the other proposal, according to unofficial election results.

In Duncan, voters approved two bond issues totaling $16.4 million. One for $15.7 million was approved 2,583 to 538. The other, for $745,000, passed 2,591 to 530.

Bond issues in three other Oklahoma school districts did not pass.

In Blackwell, patrons voted 1,076 to 529 against bonds that would help build two elementary schools.

In McAlester, a classroom addition and student activity center will not be built at McAlester High School, after voters rejected a $9.1 million bond issue. The final tally was 1,302 to 1,004, in favor of the proposal, but it failed because it didn't reach 60 percent approval, which is needed for passage in Oklahoma.

Severe weather was partly to blame for low turnout for a $2.2 million bond issue to remodel a school in Carnegie. Voters defeated the measure 190 to 117.

In Johnston County, voters rejected pari-mutuel, off-track wagering on horse racing by a 739 to 480 vote.

In Enid, voters approved a countywide 911 proposal on a 3,388 to 1,324 vote.