No tax increase

On the August 23 ballot for voters living in the Dibble Public Schools district is a $15.45 million bond issue that won’t raise property taxes.

How is that possible?

Superintendent Chad Clanton said the proposal will continue the district’s existing bond structure. The new bonds will be repaid over 15 years,

“Not increasing taxes was really important to the board and our patrons,” he added.

The board called for the bond election at a special meeting on June 2.

Since then, Clanton said the public feedback has been “really positive.”

The challenge, he explained, is getting the people to go vote. Like all bond issues, the proposition needs at least 60 percent of the vote to pass.

Clanton said the district will use the proceeds for the first phase of constructing a new high school.

A large portion of the existing high school was built in the 1930s.

“There are three roofs on it now,” he added.

To facilitate construction, the district plans to demolish the old elementary school and weight room, which Clanton described as “buildings we use, but can survive without them.”

The superintendent said Dibble Public Schools enrollment is at capacity in all sites and is definitely growing with more housing developments being planned or under construction.

Renaissance Architecture LLC in Oklahoma City is the architect for the project.

Also included in Phase 1 are new athletic lights.

Clanton said the existing lights were put in on used poles 20-plus years ago. One set of existing lights is in danger of breaking and landing atop the elementary school.

If approved by the voters, work would begin as soon as possible, Clanton said.

The time line for Phase 1 construction is 12 to 14 months.

A second phase not included in the bond issue would demolish a portion of the existing high school.