What does the bond provide?

• A new upper elementary building for grades 2-5, including storm shelter. This will allow 5th grade to stay with their elementary classmates, rather than moving to the secondary campus.

• Air conditioning for the main gymnasium at the Secondary Campus

• New parking lot for the Secondary Campus

How much will this cost?

In order to build and furnish the new elementary, as well as add heat and air conditioning to the high school gym and construct a parking lot at the secondary campus, the bond total is $62,495,000. The estimated cost for taxpayers will depend on their current property taxes. Based on the median annual property tax amount for Rogers County ($1344, as reported at https://www.tax-rates.org/oklahoma/rogers_county_property_tax), the potential tax increase will be approximately $22 (2 combo meals) a month.

Rationale and Strategy:

Adding an upper elementary building will provide the space and facilities to meet the current needs and future growth of all elementary age children. The current facility was built as a high school in 1964 with an early childhood wing added in 2008. In 2023-2024, the district had to begin using modular buildings to meet the needs of the growing enrollment.

The current school building serves grades 4K-4 with a total of 540 students, and there is a projection of continued growth.

Grades 4K - 1 will remain in the current building and expand throughout the building rather than being restricted to the early childhood wing.

The current elementary gym serves the PE classes, community and school events, such as school programs, ESA carnival and Little League Basketball. While the integrity and structure of the current gym is serviceable, it is functionally obsolete when it comes to hosting events or games due to the growing population of the district and community.

 Other Options Considered:

1. Continue with the current elementary.

Restraining factors for this option:

• Continued need for classroom space requiring the use of modular buildings

• Significant repairs will need to be made to the current building that would require repair to occur during the school year because the amount of time for the repair would extend beyond what can occur during summer break.

2. Build a new elementary to serve 4K – 5.

Restraining factors for this option:

• The cost would exceed the feasibility for the district and the taxpayers.

• The school would lose the small school feel where all students have an identity.

How does Inola compare to other schools?