Owasso superintendent highlights student investment election as public debate intensifies

Owasso Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Coates on Sept. 8 urged the community to vote in a student investment election scheduled for Sept. 9, outlining the district's rationale for a facilities and safety bond.

Coates said the measure would allow the district to “invest in the long term health of our facilities and infrastructure,” naming roofs, HVAC systems, technology and safety upgrades as examples. She described bond funding as distinct from general funds and said it would be used for capital items that support students and the broader community.

Why it matters: The proposal is on the ballot the day after the meeting and would fund multiple projects district leaders say are required to maintain safe, modern learning environments. Public commenters at the meeting presented sharply different views on the proposal’s scope and priorities, pointing to the presence of a contested public decision the next day.

At the meeting, parent and community volunteer Kylie Killian, speaking as a member of Friends of Owasso Public Schools, urged passage. She listed specific elements included in the district’s campaign materials—tornado shelters, AEDs, security cameras, network and phone upgrades, repaired roofs, a new fifth-grade center, full-day prekindergarten at some sites, a fine-arts addition on the high school west campus, and athletic facility upgrades—and said the package would benefit students “from pre-K through graduation.” She concluded: “I urge you to go to the polls tomorrow and vote yes for this investment proposition.”

A different view came from Doug Hall, a public commenter who said the district could have pursued alternatives that prioritized classroom safe spaces and reduced busing and other schedule impacts. Hall referenced a figure he said was central to planning comparisons: “For the same $169,000,000 bond up for vote tomorrow, the district could have simply replaced the fifth grade center with five safe classroom expansions and two other elementary classroom expansions,” and urged the board to revisit priorities if the ballot fails.

Board members did not vote on the bond measure; the decision goes to Owasso voters on Sept. 9. Coates and others at the meeting emphasized both safety and long-term maintenance needs. Coates told the board the district seeks to “ensure every child has access to the safe, modern, and well equipped learning environments they deserve.”

Context and next steps: If the bond passes, district leaders indicated projects would move forward per the plan described in district materials. If the bond fails, public commenters recommended alternatives including a smaller dollar proposition, restructuring projects into multiple propositions for voter choice, and updating the district long-range plan to reflect capacity and program priorities.

Speakers quoted in this article are those who spoke on the topic during the meeting; the board did not take formal action on the bond at this session.