4 Things To Know About Putnam City Schools' 2025 Innovation Bond

Putnam City Schools serves 19,500 students in the Oklahoma City metro across 27 campuses. The district is now proposing a bond package to voters who live within the district.

The “Innovation Bond” is a $198.75 million package that would be spent over five years, if passed. The district says the bond would not impose a tax increase on folks in the area. It will extend the current tax from a previous school bond.

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Here are 4 things the district is focusing on with the Innovation Bond:

1) Prioritizing Safety

To complete a district-wide security upgrade, Putnam City Schools plans to add state-of-the-art weapons detection systems to all of its elementary campuses.

“It's very focused on bringing in some state-of-the-art facilities and, and help to our operations and our schools,” AJ Graffeo, Communications Director for Putnam City Schools, said.

2) Modernizing Facilities

“When we did a survey of our staff in our community, infrastructure was the number one thing,” Graffeo said.

The bond package would pay for new energy-efficient HVAC systems, roof replacements, and multi-functional storm shelters across the district.

3) Enhancing Operations

Graffeo emphasized the important role school bonds play in keeping day-to-day operations running throughout the school district.

“We'll purchase new buses, which is always needed, and will update musical instruments and uniforms for athletics and fine arts,” Graffeo said.

The bond will also fund new textbooks, subscriptions, and cutting-edge technology.

4) Expanding Educational Opportunities

Voters will also have the opportunity to approve a new “PC Innovation Campus” which would include a health and wellness complex.

“This health and wellness complex will be for athletics and will provide a pool and workout facilities and areas for golf and track and cross-country and everyone,” Graffeo said.

In addition to the health and wellness complex, the district wants to open a special services transition center.

“This will be for students with special needs that will continue on in the program beyond graduation,” Graffeo said.

What’s next?

The Innovation bond goes to a vote in the February 11th Board of Education Primary Election.

“Putnam city schools is really ingrained in the community. And this is one way to continue that partnership and work investing our future together,” Graffeo said.

The deadline to register to vote is Friday. You can do it online through the Oklahoma Voter Portal, by mail or in person at your County Election Board.