8/4/05

Press Release

Oklahoma City Board of Education Accepts MAPS for Kids Demographic Study and Changes

OKLAHOMA CITY – After careful review and collaborative efforts between Oklahoma City Public Schools and the OCMAPS Trust, the Oklahoma City School Board accepts the revised plans for MAPS for Kids. A special meeting of the Board of Education, OCMAPS Trust and Oklahoma City Council will be held Tuesday, August 2 to go over the revisions before the plan may be officially adopted.

“The demographics of our district have evolved much differently than first projected in 2000 when the plan was written. These revisions to the plan represent current and newly projected population growth as well as population decline in specific areas of the city.” explained Superintendent Bob Moore. 

The changes are a result of months of public input on the changing needs of the district.

“Throughout the demographic study, the district’s priority has been our students. It is vitally important that the plan remain as flexible as the district’s changing population for the benefit of the students and families we serve,” said Moore.

The most dramatic revision to the plan is five elementary schools will remain open that had been considered for closing. They include: Arthur, Capitol Hill, Hayes,

Rockwood and Spencer. U.S. Grant High School will also be getting nine additional classrooms.

“This ensures every child in the district will be in a new or fully renovated classroom.” said Cliff Hudson, Chairman of the Board of Education. “It also ensures our goal of preparing students to be successful and productive in life.”

The revised plan falls within the original MAPS for Kids budget since alterations in the recommended construction specifications will offset each other. To keep Capitol Hill Elementary open and completely renovate it, only one new elementary school will be built in south Oklahoma City.

MAPS for Kids is a community-approved plan to rebuild Oklahoma City Public Schools both academically and structurally in an effort to create a model urban school district. The plan was passed by voters in November 2001 and is projected to raise $512 million to rebuild or renovate every school in the district.

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