Owasso voters to decide on new school bond proposition months after previous rejection

People in Owasso will decide on a new school bond issue that is similar to the one voters rejected earlier this year. School leaders asked people for input and have made some changes.

What's different this time?

The price tag is the main difference. Voters rejected the bond proposal earlier this year, which would have prompted a tax increase. The new price tag is just over $169 million.

RELATED: Owasso school bonds: $193M construction bond fails, voters approve transportation bond

The district says it cut some items after learning why the last vote failed.

"The reason was the worry about the cost and the potential tax increase," said Margaret Coates, superintendent of Owasso Schools.

Coates says taxpayers would keep the same rate if the new proposal is passed.

What would it pay for?

The district says it would pay for safety upgrades, including automatic external defibrillators, security cameras and tornado shelters to some schools.

It would also pay for textbooks, technology and operational repairs, like roofs and HVAC units.

The plan also calls for the addition of a new elementary school that would house the district's fifth graders. It would be on the same campus of the current 6th grade center, but leaders say the atmosphere would remain split.

"That's been some of the worry or concern, is that fifth and sixth graders are going to be blended together and mix," said Coates. "Sixth grade will have their own building, fifth grade's a completely separate building."

Coates says the change is necessary because of the addition of full-day Pre-Kindergarten classes. Owasso Schools also anticipates to add 1,000 new students in the next 10 years.

Image Provided By: OPS

Where can I find more information?

The district has information listed HERE.