Voters approve $492.7M school bond issue

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Voters in the Mid-Del school district last week approved a $492.7 million bond package.

All three proposals passed with more than 75% of the vote.

“This is a game-changer for our district,” said Mid-Del Superintendent Rick Cobb. “There is so much we’re going to be able to do for our kids. We have an opportunity to make physical changes at every building for safety, storm shelters and ensure the sustainability of everything that we do from academics to technology to athletics and fine arts.”

The first and largest of the propositions includes $472,500,000 for construction of a new elementary school, renovation of three elementary schools, storm shelters, security upgrades and other construction projects. It also funds upgrades to athletic and fine arts facilities as well as recurring costs such as textbooks, technology, uniforms, and equipment.

The second proposition includes $10 million that will go towards the construction of an indoor aquatic center in partnership with the YMCA. Many details for the project including location have not yet been decided.

The third proposal will provide $10.2 million for school buses and transportation.

Voters decided on the three propositions separately. Proposition No. 1 received 77.57% of the vote with 1,961 yes, and 567 no votes. The second proposition was approved with 75.36% of the vote and a total of 1,905 to 623. Voters approved the third proposition with 77.40% and a vote of 1,955 to 571.

“This is a mandate to make some massive improvements to the district,” Cobb said. “I said it back in July when the board adopted the bond resolution, we’re not passing this so that we can catch up, we’re passing this so that we can lead. And I think we took a huge step in that direction.”

The strongest support for the bond issue came from precinct 578, located at Victory Faith Center, 11724 SE 29th St. All three measures received more than 79% and 100 votes. Three precincts (389, 570 and 571) did not receive any votes.

Each proposal needed at least 60% of the of the vote to pass.

The nearly 20-year bond issue is projected to increase property taxes by $33 per year for a house valued at $150,000.

Cobb said the district plans to move quickly on the building projects and have all work finished by summer 2026. The district will receive much of the money within a year and repay the bonds over the next 19 years.

“The first GO bonds will be sold in December and that’ll give us $7.5 million to start with things like fencing, cameras, badge readers, lighting and other security projects,” Cobb said during an interview last month.