Fate Of Record Tulsa Public Schools' Bond Issue Now Up To Voters

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa voters are casting their ballots Tuesday in the largest school bond in Oklahoma's history.

The $354 million bond for Tulsa Public Schools would pay for major building upgrades and everything from new classrooms and computers to books and buses. 

Polls are open until 7 p.m. across the city of Tulsa.

You might think elementary school students are too involved with their video games and art projects to keep up with politics, but some students at Disney Elementary's after-school program know a little something about what's at stake when voters head to the polls on Tuesday.

"We're gonna get new stuff for our school. We're gonna get a new library," said Kyndall Harrell, a Disney 4th grader.

The $354 million bond wouldn't just help Disney. It's broken down into four votes.

The first and largest proposition -- $261,415,000 -- is for building upgrades and renovations, including a complete facelift for East Central High School. 

The second has a $19,600,000 price tag which focuses on adding, renovating and stocking libraries throughout TPS.

The third totaling $61,290,000, would add more textbooks, computers and other classroom items.

The fourth proposition adds $11,695,000 to enhance and outfit the district's bus fleet.

See List Of Bond Issue Improvements At Each Tulsa School

Protesters took to the streets last weekend to encourage a "no" vote on Tuesday. Many think the bond is too broad, with too little oversight, and too much risk for waste.

"I would vote no for their sake, yes, because we don't need to be held down with all this tax money. It's not necessary," said Jose Quiroz, who is a school bond protester.

2/27/2010  Related Story: Some Protest Tulsa Public Schools Bond Set For March 2 Vote

Back at Disney, the students say a new library is necessary.

"We have a small library down the hall. You turn to the left, but it's small in there though," said Mindian Brown, a Disney 3rd grader.

"Our library we have isn't so big, so we're gonna get a new one. And the library we have right now will be classrooms," said Harrell.

But even those who can't cast a ballot have their criticisms.

"Yeah, but I'd like it if they give us computers to take home," said Brown.

TPS bond does keep taxes at the same level, but critics say voting no could bring taxes down. All four propositions need 60 percent of the vote to pass.

Tulsa Public Schools Ballot 1

Tulsa Public Schools Ballot 2 

Tulsa Public Schools says it has a track record for spending bond money responsibly. 

Improvements to the district's headquarters were approved during the last bond, but the superintendent says projects that directly affected students were moved to the top of the list. 

Bringing the Education Service Center's fire escapes up to code was the final project, but one the district needed to prevent disaster.

"You can't get out of this building, if there was a fire, you can see you could not get out of this building in a safe manner," said Dr. Keith Ballard, TPS Superintendent.

Rebuilding the fire escapes cost the same as the salaries for nearly 100 teachers.

For election results, News On 6 viewers can watch the News On 6 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.