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  • Tana Garrison (right) and Jason Stuever take advantage of absentee voting Monday at the Garfield County Election Board for the Enid Public Schools bond election. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)

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February 8, 2010

Voters go to polls today to decide Enid’s $99.45M school bond issue

By Bridget Nash Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Voters are choosing school board members in four districts and deciding whether or not Enid schools will be undergoing construction projects.

The two biggest questions in Garfield County today make up the Enid Public Schools bond issue. The bond issue is split into two questions, one for $98.65 million for construction, repairs and remodeling of school buildings and the other $800,000 for transportation needs.

The majority of the construction projects in the bond issue are meant to address an overcrowding problem in Enid’s schools.

Kelly Tompkins, the mother of a student at Taft Elementary School, sees the overcrowding each day and agrees with the need for new construction to address the problem.

“This would allow a little breathing space in the classrooms and allow the opportunity for more individual attention for the students,” Tompkins said “and more attractive class sizes for families considering Enid as their next home.”

Tompkins said a “yes” vote on the bond issue will not only benefit the school system but will increase property values in Enid.

The bond issue includes:

• Improvements to each school site in the district.

• A new Garfield Elementary School to replace the current aging facility and to accommodate growth on the east side of Enid.

• A new elementary school on the west side of Enid to accommodate Enid’s westward expansion and growth.

• A 10-classroom wing at Waller Middle School to replace portables.

• A new cafeteria at Adams Elementary School.

• A connecting hall for Coolidge Elementary School.

• Technology for all schools.

• Instruments for music education.

• New buses.

The bond issue will cost property owners an annual increase of about $12.02 per every $100 of property taxes paid.

The construction is planned to be completed in 24-36 months.

In addition to Enid’s bond issue election, four school districts will elect board members today in Garfield County. Each district is voting on the Office 5 seat of its school board.

• Drummond voters will choose between Richard A. Dominic and Robert “Bob” Moore.

• Kremlin-Hillsdale voters will choose between Kevin G. Andersen and Christopher J. Stein.

• Pond Creek-Hunter voters will chose between Gary Williams and Kris Grimes.

• Mulhall-Orlando voters will choose between Tim Cameron and Amy G. Hurst.

In-person absentee voting proved to be popular among residents.

“We’ve had a good turnout so far,” said Garfield County Election Board Secretary Lue Ann Root late Monday afternoon. “So many people are concerned about the weather.”

By 4 p.m. Monday, the election board had received 521 in-person absentee votes.

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