Published: March 30, 2008 11:45 pm            

Letter from the editor: Time to vote yes

Fellow citizens



Don't worry. This isn't a plea to change the world. No political speeches about change elections or impossible ideas of world peace, fixing all of America's problems, nothing like that.

No flowery prose. No large words.

This letter is pretty simple. There is a major school bond election coming up Tuesday, and our school system needs your help.

We talk about wants and needs all the time.

There isn't much "want" in this $17.985 million bond issue.

These things are needs.

• Early Childhood Center. It's past time to begin updating school facilities and with full-day kindergarten on the way in 2011, this is a place to start. In addition, Oklahoma's pre-kindergarten program is a model nationally. To continue offering both and prepare for the future, we need larger and better facilities.

• Renovations to the other three elementary schools, including the addition of classrooms that can be used as saferooms - something that, while not required, should be a necessity for every school in the nation. Just eliminating portable classrooms is worth the cost. Anyone who has attended a Christmas, Veteran's Day or any other program at one of the schools understands the need for a multi-purpose area. Upcoming physical education requirements working their way through the legislature will also demand more room and time at elementary schools.

• Technology improvements - it doesn't take long for computers and software to become obsolete in this day and age. Technology is going to be involved in every bond issue at every school for as long as we can imagine.

• FFA facilities - Woodward's program is outgrowing its facilities. There is plenty of room to build and expand the ag barns at their current site by the high school.

• Improvements for band, a middle school walkway and indoor batting facility are also part of the bond issue.

• A transportation bond of $350,000 is on the ballot and in this part of the world, we all know the need for reliable transportation.

Will your ad valorem taxes for the schools go up? Yes, they will, by 11.7 percent. As an example, if your property taxes were $500 in 2006-2007, passage of this bond issue would increase them to $558.49, a monthly increase of $4.87.

Raising taxes is never easy, but when you consider the purpose and the need, a vote to approve this bond issue should be an easy one.

I know similar proposals have failed in the past. Much of the problem was supposedly based around leadership questions.

Those have been addressed.

Dr. Jeff Mills is among the most respected school superintendents in Oklahoma. He's been here less than a year, but you can feel the positive difference any time you're around a school function, or just at a routine board meeting.

He's here because he believes in quality education and he believes in Woodward.

I believe in him and his leadership.

That's not, however, the main reason you should vote for this bond issue.

That reason - our schools need these improvements. We've let too much time pass already.

Keep in mind, 60 percent is the threshold to pass the bond issue, so don't take things for granted. Get to the polls on Tuesday (or Monday if you want to vote early).

*****

There are also two city questions on the ballot Tuesday, both important, or at least interesting in their own right.

First, the proposal to double the hotel-motel tax from three percent to six percent.

Funds raised will be used to establish a tourism bureau to promote Woodward to potential visitors.

As a state, one of our problems has been marketing what we have to offer.

Oklahoma has a lot to offer and so does Woodward. Anything that will help tell Woodward's story to the nation and the world is worthwhile.

Most of us will not be affected by this tax because it is paid by people staying in the local hotels.

I'm voting yes, I hope you will as well.

The other question is making the city treasurer appointed instead of elected. It's probably a OK idea because, frankly, nobody seems even interested in running for the position these days and most other major positions in the city government are also appointed. At the same time, residents have turned this down before. Give the city guys credit, they keep trying.

We'll see what happens this time.



Johnny McMahan is managing editor of the Woodward News

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.