The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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  • Enid Public Schools Superintendent Shawn Hime, left, and school board members Willa Jo Fowler and Molly Helm celebrate the passage of the school bond election on Tuesday night during an election watch party at the home of Chad Dillingham. (Staff Photo by SHAWN YORKS)

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February 9, 2010

Bond issue passes

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — “Tomorrow morning we will start planning for construction and renovation work that will start when school is out in June,” Superintendent Shawn Hime said Tuesday night.

“It’s really a win for the community of Enid,” he said. “With-in the next three years the changes and im-provements to the community are going to be really, really wonderful, very much like the first MAPS proposal for Oklahoma City in the way it transforms what we’re doing as a community.”

Proposition 2, an $800,000 issue for transportation needs, passed with 63.73 percent of the vote, 3,789-2,156.

Hime said supporters pushed hard because of the threat of bad weather — which largely did not materialize — by urging people to vote early. The largest approval margin for Proposition 1 was from absentee votes, with nearly 77.5 percent of the vote — 578-168 — in favor of the bond issue. The next largest margin was in Precinct 301, which votes at Meadows Point Apartments, 1225 S. Cleveland. Voters there approved the issue by nearly 71.7 percent, 392-155.

The construction proposal received the required 60 percent margin or better in five precincts, plus the absentee ballots. Other precincts with more than 60 percent of the vote in favor were Precinct 304, West Willow Com-munity Church, 2217 Constitution; Precinct 305, St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 1924 W. Willow; Precinct 102, Calvary Baptist Church, 831 E. Broadway; and Precinct 101, First Missionary Baptist Church, 467 E. Garriott.

The measure received more than 50 percent of the vote but less than the needed 60 percent in 10 precincts. It received less than 50 percent in just one precinct, Precinct 206, which votes at the Hoover Building. The measure gained just nine votes in favor, with 21 against.

School officials will spend the rest of the school year planning with architects and engineers so the summer months can be maximized while students are gone, Hime said. The funds voted by Enid voters Tuesday will be helped by part of the federal Build America Bond program, which will pay about 35 percent of the interest on the bonds, between $5 million and $6 million.

The construction 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 issue will cost property owners an annual increase of about $12.02 per every $100 of property taxes paid. Construction is planned to be completed in 24-36 months.

Hime said the key to the success of the issue was the two-year process of citizen involvement. He said establishment of a committee of community members and teachers was essential in developing a plan for what is right for Enid.

“It was developed by citizens committee ... how to move forward, and I think that resonated with voters,” Hime said.

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