Patty Miller
EDMOND — Edmond voters passed Edmond School District’s $28.9 million bond package including two propositions in Tuesday’s election.
Cold weather and slick streets may have kept some residents home, but 5 percent of Edmond’s voters bundled up and made it to the polls.
Jim Peterson, a 15-year helper at the voting polls, said as of 6:30 p.m. 89 out of 2,830 registered voters had voted at his voting site. Although it is not the lowest number he had ever seen, it also was not a big turnout.
“We are grateful for the citizens who made the effort under less-than-desirable circumstances to get out and vote yesterday,” said David Goin, superintendent of Schools.
“We are very appreciative of the 85 percent approval,” Goin said. “Each of the approved projects will have a positive impact on student learning.”
Although not directly affected by the vote, some residents felt a responsibility to vote.
“We have the right to vote and I think as a citizen we should vote,” Gary Meyer said. “I have a couple of kids who teach and I like to support the community and my grandchildren.”
Those being affected directly by the vote turned out to support the bond issue as well.
“I’m a teacher so it is really important to make sure to support our schools,” said Sally Cable, who teaches at Washington Irving Elementary. “My principal called to remind us to vote. We don’t ever want to miss a vote, especially if it is one that directly affects us.”
Proposition No. 1 passed with 3,206, or 85.15 percent of the voters, voting for the proposition, according to the Oklahoma County Election Board. There were 559 voters, or 14.85 percent, voting against the proposition.
Proposition No. 1 with 14 items included Memorial High School’s $3.5 million renovation, classroom additions and school improvements at district schools. It also included the purchase of land for future school sites and the purchase of computers, software and support systems.
Proposition No. 2 had 3,162 voters, or 84.36 percent of the votes cast, for the proposition, the Election Board reported. There were 586 votes, or 15.64 percent of the votes, cast against the issue.
Proposition No. 2 covers the purchase of transportation equipment including but not limited to seven large school buses, three special education buses and two fleet Suburbans.
Goin said the first disbursement of funds will be in March, and he anticipates receiving funds for the second phase of the project in July.
“I think I can speak on behalf of the administration, the Edmond School Board and all of the individuals with the Edmond Public Schools, ‘Thank you very much to the Edmond voters.’”
