ENID, OK - Enid residents approved two school bond issues on Tuesday. A series of $1.2 million bonds will be yearly for the next nine years, with $700,000 targeted for technology, $200,000 for security and $300,000 for transportation.
Superintendent Dudley Darrow issued a statement saying, "THANK YOU Enid, for your support! I am thrilled to share that the 2024 Bond Issue was approved by voters today. Thanks to your generosity, our students will soon have updated 1:1 devices, safer schools, and new buses. We want to thank every student, parent, staff member, and resident who learned about the student investment plan and shared its vision with others. We also want to thank everyone who took the time to cast their ballot today. This was a plan developed by the community for the community, and we appreciate the generous support of our friends, families, neighbors, and fellow residents. Thank you for ensuring our students have what they need to be successful today and in the future. I am always proud to be part of this outstanding school district and community - but today is especially sweet. My heart is filled with gratitude for your support and excitement for our students. Thanks again, Enid! And as always, Go Big Blue!"
Proposition 1 was for safety and security and technology and passed 2,310-1,076, or 68.22% in favor. Proposition 2 was for transportation and passed 2,331-1,059, or 68,76% in favor. Bond issues require a 60% supermajority to pass.
“We are one-to-one on technology, which means every child has access to their own iPad or Chromebook,” Darrow said previously. “A Chromebook costs approximately $270, and each student from middle school through 12th grade in high school has a Chromebook.”
The bond issue allows school officials to upgrade security cameras, door locks, security entrances, keyless entry systems and more across the district.
After six months of planning, Enid Public Schools finalized the plan to provide students with safer schools, updated technology and more reliable transportation.
A community committee – consisting of parents, business owners, residents and staff members – began reviewing needs for the plan last July. Board of Education members voted Tuesday night to call an April 2nd bond election for residents to consider the proposal.
“We are grateful to those who assisted with the development of this plan by participating on the committee, having conversations and taking the parent/staff survey,” Dr. Dudley Darrow, EPS Superintendent, said. “We have identified priorities that will make a difference for students across the district every day.”
The plan includes:
• Upgrades to security cameras, door locks, secure entrances, keyless entry systems, and more at schools across the district to provide even greater safety and security for students.
• The purchase of Chromebooks (grades 1-12) and touchscreen devices (PK-K) to replace aging technology used daily in the classroom for learning.
• The purchase of new buses and smaller passenger vehicles to provide students with safer, more reliable transportation to and from school and school activities.
The district will now invest $1.2 million annually in safety, technology and transportation over the nine-year life of the bond. The total cost of the student investment plan is $10.8 million.
During their planning, school administrators and community committee members identified addressing and maintaining safety and security for students as an immediate and top-of-the-list need. About $1.8 million will be invested in safety-related equipment, including security cameras, door locks and keyless entry systems.
“There is nothing more important to me as a parent than knowing my children are safe while at school,” Amy Finnegan, parent of two high school students, said. “Enid is a wonderful place to live and raise a family, but we can’t be complacent. I’m glad EPS is making this a priority for the future.”
The committee also identified $6.3 million in needs to update the district’s 1:1 technology program, which began in 2017. The initiative provides a Chromebook for every student in grades 1-12 and a touchscreen device for every student in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. The devices are not used as a replacement for teaching, but rather provide students with additional learning materials and opportunities for review and enrichment, officials said.
The district’s current 1:1 devices need replacement and will not be eligible for software updates required for operation after 2025.
“Technology is a powerful tool that opens up new possibilities for learning,” Chris Jensen, a high school teacher and coach, said. “It engages students and makes education more dynamic and relevant to their lives. We cannot equip students with the skills they need for the future without ensuring they understand how to use technology effectively and responsibly. The 1:1 devices are key to our work in the classroom.”
As its final component, the plan includes $2.7 million to provide students with safe and reliable transportation – including the replacement of up to 14 buses and 10 smaller vehicles for student travel. District buses transport more than 7,625 students to and from each school and travel 1,376 miles a day for school activities.
Now that both propositions have been approved, the cost for homeowners with a $100,000 home is expected to increase by $4.57 per month.
The Enid community currently invests $1,219 per student for capital investments – compared to an estimated average of $1,761 for 6A districts. This bond program will move Enid’s investment to approximately $1,475.
“The Enid community has been very generous to the schools – providing much-needed facility improvements in 2010 and 2016,” Jay Sharp, community member, said. “That foundation allows us to now address ongoing needs that greatly impact the school experience for students – safety, technology and transportation. I’m glad the school board has a long-term vision that takes care of students and works to minimize the impact to local taxpayers.”
