DALLAS — Three Tulsa, Okla., area school districts have $487 million of new bond authority after voters approved proposals in recent elections.
In the Broken Arrow District, voters approved $340 million for three new elementary schools, a middle school and an addition to the high school dedicated to science, technology, engineering and math.
The Jenks district won approval of $120 million for a new elementary school and other projects. In the Union district, a voter-approved $27 million bond will provide a new elementary, allow expansion of an 8th grade center and add a dozen classrooms at Rosa Parks Elementary School.
The bonds were approved in elections Feb. 10.
On March 3, voters in the Tulsa Public Schools District will consider a record $415 million of bonds to finance a centralized STEM center, and replacement of portable buildings with permanent classrooms, including storm shelters that double as either classroom or library space.
The storm shelter issue has been an emotional one in Oklahoma since a May 20, 2013 tornado destroyed several elementary schools and killed 24 people, including nine schoolchildren. Seven of the students who died were from Plaza Towers Elementary School in the Oklahoma City area.
In Broken Arrow, Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall said school officials next year would likely begin consideration of adding another high school. The projects will be completed over a 12-year period and in four phases.
