One of the older school districts in Stephens County, Velma-Alma Public Schools, Okla. is hoping to pass a $350,000 bond to modernize their cafeteria building.
With the district and buildings having existed since the 1940s, the district has been slowly updating the buildings and improving on the existing facilities as they can.
The $350,000 bond will be to renovate/remodel campus cafeteria facilities; which includes the dining room, new floor covering, new wall covering, new ceiling, new lighting, new walk-in freezer and refrigerator, remodeling the restrooms, a new kitchen area and equipment — while also implementing plumbing repairs as needed.
Velma-Alma Superintendent Raymond Rice wanted to stress to voters and the community that this bond has no projected tax increase. Rice is hoping people will pass it with a super majority, which is required in order to approve the bond.
"We have committed the funds of that bond issue if we are fortunate enough for it to pass," Rice said. "Our cafeteria is old and dated and it needs a face lift — it is going to be a complete renovation and will basically be a remodel."
Rice said the reason there will be no projected tax increase is the previous bond has finished and is off the books. If the bond passes, the new one will take the place of the previous bond and the tax will continue at the same rate — so there will be no increase of taxes for the residents.
"I want our stakeholders to know [that] there is no tax increase and no projected tax increase, because it is basically replacing a $350,000 bond issue that went off the books in July," Rice said. "So we are hoping to just maintain it and there is certainly a need and our cafeteria is an area that we have identified that needs to be modernized and that is our goal."
Rice was not sure when the cafeteria was actually built, but said that he believes no renovations have been done since the opening of the cafeteria building.
According to Rice, one of the big reasons for the district's desire to modernize the cafeteria is community pride, as the district uses the cafeteria from time to time for community events.
"We have to be aware of the fact that we have aging facilities and buildings," Rice said. "We need to continue to maintain and refurbish the buildings we have and keep the modern and comfortable. That is kind of our goal."
To pass, it must meet a super majority of the votes, which means that the bond must receive 60 percent of the vote.
