TPS Bond Aims To Improve Student Access To Technology

A record $415 million Tulsa School bond is now headed to voters.

The TPS school board approved the bond Monday night and said it would greatly improve students' access to technology.

It's no longer unusual for students to have access to and use a device in school; this bond would bridge the digital divide that still remains in Tulsa schools.

The majority of the Tulsa Public Schools school bond, nearly $294 million, would be spent on renovating and constructing classrooms and facilities.

12/15/2014 Related Story: School Board Set To Vote On Tulsa Schools' $415-Million Bond Issue Proposal

A quarter of the $415 million bond, however, would go to putting a tablet or computing device in the hands of every student.

"Now we'll move forward. The vote will be March 3rd,” said Chris Payne with Tulsa Public Schools.

A TPS survey found that 72 percent of teachers think it's important for every student to have access to a computer or tablet at all times.

The bond budgets about $40 million to put a device in each student's hands.

A one-to-one ratio is a major improvement upon the current ratio of one-to-three.

"If the voters approve it on March 3rd, then we will be on a path to get one to one," Payne said.

The bond would also:

• Get rid of 80 trailers
• Add classrooms at 14 schools
• Fund a district-wide science and engineering lab
• Renovate 21 schools
• Put storm shelters in 20 schools
• Build and improve libraries
• Pay for new transportation equipment.

The bond is part of a 20-year plan.

"We just try to, over the course of 20 years, make improvements on all of our properties," said Payne.

The bond would not raise taxes.

The community-wide vote is set for March 3, 2015 and the bond has to pass with a super majority, 60 percent.