Norman Voters to Decide on $110M School Bond

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- A big vote is in place in Norman on a large school bond issue, and voter turnout may prove to be the crucial factor.

Compared to past school bond issues, this one is a whopper at almost $110 million, which is five years worth of bonds.

"So really on an annual basis it's an equitable or equal amount. We won't have another bond issue for five years," said Norman Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano.

The biggest dollar item is earmarked for a new elementary school at a site in southeast Norman. If the bond issue passes, $16.5 million will be set aside for the school in one of Norman's fastest growing areas.

Every existing school would get an upgrade-- $2.6 million for Norman High School, $2 million for Wilson Elementary, plus $9 million would be earmarked for technology intelligent classrooms district-wide.

"This is basically in our view creating 21st century classrooms in all of our schools," said Dr. Siano.

Opponents say education is important, but the poor economy makes this a bad time for such a huge undertaking.

"People are having trouble making their mortgage payments. They're having trouble making their household budgets. People are being laid off of work and people just don't have the money to spend for you might say extraneous things," said Will Mattoon, a Norman attorney.

Because the bond issue must get sixty percent of the vote, supporters are running their own ads and urging voters to get to the polls.

The last time a Norman school bond issue failed to pass was in 2003.