The Broken Arrow School Bond Election is Tuesday, December 8. This is a very important voting decision and will have a huge impact on students, teachers and property values for Broken Arrow. If you are a Broken Arrow school district voter and have not been following election issues closely, we encourage you to take a few moments to become informed and educated, and prepared to go to the polls next Tuesday.
Who supports Vote Yes and Broken Arrow Schools? A large and diversified group of Broken Arrow business and professional leaders have joined parents, teachers and other individuals and organizations of our community in a concerted attempt to save Broken Arrow School facilities, transportation and technologies from further dilapidation. Those who believe that a quality education can be achieved in crowded, unsafe, unhealthy and inadequate facilities have not been in one of our “temporary mobile buildings”. Those who think that the lunch room can suffice as a gymnasium, meeting room and specials room have no concept of disruption and inefficiency. Those who think our bus fleet is adequate should volunteer to drive a bus. This group represents free thinking Republicans and Democrats who believe that improving our local schools trumps all other political viewpoints. Many of this group are registered Republicans, all of us are conservatives or moderates; but none of us believe that reducing our property tax bill is better than improving our schools by leaving taxes as they are. Follow the Vote Yes Blog and Facebook
Who is opposing this effort? Few Broken Arrow residents have openly opposed efforts to improve our schools. No one locally is suggesting our schools are up to the standard of other school districts in the area. However, organized Statewide “No Tax for Any Reason” groups are attempting to influence Broken Arrow residents to destroy Broken Arrow property values by permitting the continuing deterioration of our school facilities in the name of reducing taxes.
There is some outcry about the Chamber receiving a lot of money if the bond passes. Why should the Chamber of Commerce get $5.9 million? Indeed, why should the Chamber get any money at all? Those who want to save a few tax dollars on the backs of our Broken Arrow children’s educational environment just flat made that one up! It is intended that the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority would be the public trust used to issue the school bonds (loans). The Authority would be paid a fee that is limited by state law to 1/8th of one per cent; the amount may be less than that. Whatever it is, it will not be close to $5.9 million. It is a mystery as to where those outside of our community who oppose adequate funding for our Broken Arrow Schools without increasing taxes came up with such a number or such an idea. FACT: A fee will be paid to the issuing trust whether it is a Broken Arrow trust, a Tulsa County or Salt Lake City trust. Whatever the case, the Chamber of Commerce has no say as to the issuing trust, what fee is to be paid or what the chosen trust does with the money once it is received. While the Chamber supports the idea of keeping the transactions as local as feasible, the Chamber will receive no fees from BAEDA or the School Board. Opinion: If BAEDA uses their fees to fund economic development efforts to expand local employment, increase new real and personal property investments that will expand the ad valorem tax base and encourage local consumption that will improve our local sales tax revenues . . . isn’t that a better use of the money than how a public trust elsewhere might use the fee revenues?
Proposition 2: $10M for student transportation needs
The bond issue features the building of three new schools (two elementary schools and one middle school), and the replacing of some 200 portable classrooms with permanently constructed classrooms (especially crucial at Park Lane, Indian Springs, Lynn Wood, Arrow Springs, and Westwood which have more portable classrooms than permanent classrooms on their respective campuses).
VIP Broken Arrow School Tour: A VIP Tour will be held on Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to showcase the items that previous bond money has provided and also to showcase the needs that the Dec. 8th bond issue would provide. Starts and Ends at the Performing Arts Center, complete with bus transportation and Q&A with school officials. RESERVE YOUR SPOT with Carolyn Hodges at 259-4301.
Facts and Fiction: For some reason, a group of people in Edmond believe they know more about what’s best for our schools and our kids than we do. Sadly, in an attempt to impose their will on us, they have resorted to a campaign of distortion and falsehoods. As the Dec. 8 election nears, it is important that we clear the air and separate fact from fiction. Click here to read the facts.
Where to vote? Precinct Locator:
For MORE information:
Still have questions?
First check the Q&A to make sure your question has not been answered. If not, contact Keith Isbell, Broken Arrow Schools at 259-5700 or email kdisbell@baschools.org your question about the Broken Arrow school bond issue.
The most important thing… is that on December 8, you go to the polls and VOTE. We encourage you to vote YES. If you would like VOTE YES signs, we have them available at the Chamber office, just stop by and pick them up at your convenience.
Commentary from Mickey Thompson, President, Broken Arrow Area Chamber and Economic Development Corporation ….There are plenty of reasons for all of us to be alienated and angered by state and federal politicians. Radical wings of both parties have become overly partisan, confusing some volatile issues with vital local issues, to the detriment of our community’s best interests. Most who live in Broken Arrow came here because of the strength of our schools; most continue to believe that our children’s future, the value of our homes and the quality of our community is more important than party labels and political dogma.
Some people will legitimately decide to vote against the bond issue proposal and that’s fine. Others will be misled by outsiders who oppose taxes but could care less about the quality of our schools or our community. Those who don’t favor the bond issue will show up to vote against our bond issue proposal. Therefore, it is VERY IMPORTANT that those who care about our community and our schools ARE NEEDED at the polls next week.
