Classrooms, storm shelter, land purchase, sporting facility repairs among needs which would be addressed
An election Tuesday, November 18 will ask Newcastle School District voters to either approve or disapprove a $10.7 million bond issue. The proposal is not expected to raise taxes on area property owners.
Instead, the passage would provide for several school district needs while maintaining the district’s current bonding capacity.
Zack Robinson, senior vice president with BOK and the district’s bond advisor, said the $10.7 million bond would target the same tax rate as recent years, allowing the school district to fund important projects while maintaining taxes at their historical levels. Robinson said since 2022, the District’s Sinking Fund tax rate (for bonds) has averaged around 36 mills, the same target for this bond. He also explained this bond would be paid off with the current $79 million bond that was passed in 2022.
If approved, a portion of the bonds, $2,790,000, would pay for the construction and furnishing of a multi-classroom addition and storm shelter at Newcastle Elementary School.
School Superintendent Dr. Cathy Walker said there is a need for safe rooms at the elementary. In November, a tornado tore the roof from the gym, landing it in the parking lot.
“If the tornado would have happened during the day without warning, there would have been students in the gym,” Dr. Walker said.
She noted that fourth and fifth grade students walk from their end of the elementary school to the community shelter located a quarter of a mile away.
Bond proceeds would also pay $4,260,000 for improvements at Newcastle High School Racer Stadium and would include new restrooms on the visitor side and new seating.
Walker said for the past two years, stadium stands have been filled to capacity with fans standing around the fence to watch a football game. To accommodate, 790 seats will be added to the home side
BOND ISSUE on page 3 along with additional restrooms to the visitor side.
BONDISSUE: $1,750,000 needed to acquire land for future elementary school
She said the track also needs to be resurfaced and the auxiliary event areas updated.
Another $1,900,000 would be used for track resurfacing, infield resurfacing and new seating at the NPS Track & Field Complex.
“Currently, it is not meeting the needs of our students,” Walker said. “It is also the goal for the district to be able to host track meets in the future.”
Doing so is expected to bring in visitors to Newcastle who would shop and eat in the community, creating additional sales tax revenue.
Another $1,750,000 would be used for land acquisition for a future NPS building.
Walker explained that in order to accommodate Newcastle’s continued growth, another elementary school will be necessary. The elementary school has 717 students.
School bond issues for capital projects in Oklahoma require a super majority of 60% in order to be approved.
