Business leaders voice support of school bond issue proposal

Within a given community, who is directly affected by the quality of the schools?

The simple answer: Everyone.

Last year, the City of Bartlesville and the Bartlesville Area Chamber of Commerce launched a strategic planning committee. The goal of the committee was to evaluate issues related to making Bartlesville a better place to live and do business. An outside firm was brought in to help the committee gather input and develop strategies to best accomplish its goal.

In March, the committee released its findings and then formed three different sub-committees — comprised of more than 200 local citizens — to take on the issues that were identified. Of note was the fact that since 2000, while the area population grew by only 2.5 percent, employment grew by 20 percent. While several factors seemed to be associated with that statistic, research listed a sizable capital investment in Bartlesville’s public schools as a “priority project.”

The president and chief operating officer of the Jane Phillips Medical Center, David Stire is the chairman of the strategic planning committee.

“At the Jane Phillips Medical Center, having quality schools is vital in our ongoing efforts to attract and retain exceptional physicians, nurses and others who daily excel at meeting the heath care needs in our community and extended region,” says Stire. “The Sept. 10 school bond issue election is important for current and future families. But, it is also important to the people in our community of Bartlesville.”

A $36.72 million school bond issue proposal — which only extends current taxes, and will result in no tax increase — is scheduled to go before area voters on Sept. 10. While recent bond issue packages have helped the Bartlesville Public School District upgrade its elementary schools, this proposal places much of its focus on the secondary schools. One of the many highlights of the package allows for the expansion of Bartlesville High School so that it can accommodate all of the district’s students from grades nine through 12.

Not surprisingly, the package seems to have widespread support among those who have close ties to education in the area. However, many business leaders are stepping forward to champion the proposal as well.

“To attract and retain high quality employees to Bartlesville, we have to be able to provide their children a high quality education,” says Mark Headley, manager, Real Estate & Facilities Services, ConocoPhillips. “This bond proposal — and the funds it will provide our school system — will help them continue to deliver that high quality educational experience.”

Having served four decades as the president and chairman of the MedSource Corporation before his retirement in December, Roger Box is now a member of the BPSD’s Long Range Facilities Planning Committee, which spent nearly a year crafting the school bond issue proposal. He is a strong proponent of the package and has spoken to several groups – such as Kiwanis and Rotary — to help garner support.

“This plan is one for the future,” says Box. “It is strategic and directed toward results, achievement and the successful education of our children.”

Another strong proponent of the school bond issue proposal, and a member of the LRFPC, is Kelly Diven, who serves as the president and chief executive officer of Truity Credit Union, formerly known as 66 Federal Credit Union.

“Education is a key component of economic development in Bartlesville, and our school facilities are holding us back,” says Diven. “Today, there are people making decisions to work in Bartlesville and live in another community, and one of the reasons is sub-standard school facilities.

“We need Bartlesville to be an attractive place to live, and school facilities are a contributor. Good schools are important for our current students as well as those families who we may be trying to attract to the area.”

Created during last year’s repositioning, Phillips 66 shares a downtown campus with ConocoPhillips. The companies have a rich history in Bartlesville and are its two biggest employers.

“One of the most vital elements in the success of any business is its ability to attract, hire and retain skilled and talented people,” says Kay Sallee, chief information officer, Phillips 66. “Those skilled people are looking for flourishing communities in which to raise their families. These individuals have a choice as to where they live, and often schools are one of the deciding factors. Therefore, the quality of our public schools’ education and facilities greatly impacts our ability to compete for top talent.”

Currently, the BPSD features four secondary schools — BHS, the Bartlesville Mid-High School, and Central and Madison middle schools. While the district’s juniors and seniors attend BHS, its freshmen and sophomores attend the Mid-High School. The BPSD’s sixth, seventh and eighth graders attend either Central or Madison, depending on where in the district they live.

Under the terms of the school bond issue proposal, renovations would be made to BHS, the Mid-High School building and Central. However, the Madison facility, which has numerous structural challenges, would be torn down. So, while BHS would accommodate all high school students, the district’s sixth through eighth graders would be split between Central and the Mid-High building, which is located a stone’s throw from Madison.

If the proposal passes, then the district would realize savings and efficiencies by operating with one less school. Also, studies show that students fare better both academically and socially when they have fewer transitions from one school to another. By doing away with the “mid-high” concept, the BPSD would cut one transition for all of its secondary students.

In addition to improvements at the secondary level, the school bond issue package would allow for upgrades in the areas of security and technology throughout the district.

While schools obviously affect those who are closely associated with them — such as students, teachers, administrators and parents — their reach and influence stretch far beyond that. Ultimately, schools often directly impact the vitality of a community — whether it grows, stagnates or withers.

David Stire,

President & COO of Jane Phillips Medical Center

“At the Jane Phillips Medical Center, having quality schools is vital in our ongoing efforts to attract and retain exceptional physicians, nurses and others who daily excel at meeting the heath care needs in our community and extended region. The Sept. 10 school bond issue election is important for current and future families. But, it is also important to the people in our community of Bartlesville.”

Mark Headley,

Manager, Real Estate & Facilities Services, ConocoPhillips

“To attract and retain high quality employees to Bartlesville, we have to be able to provide their children a high quality education. This bond proposal — and the funds it will provide our school system — will help them continue to deliver that high quality educational experience.”

“This plan is one for the future. It is strategic and directed toward results, achievement and the successful education of our children.”

Kelly Diven,

President and CEO, Truity Credit Union

(formerly known as 66 Federal Credit Union)

“Education is a key component of economic development in Bartlesville, and our school facilities are holding us back. Today, there are people making decisions to work in Bartlesville and live in another community, and one of the reasons is sub-standard school facilities. We need Bartlesville to be an attractive place to live, and school facilities are a contributor. Good schools are important for our current students as well as those families who we may be trying to attract to the area.”

Kay Sallee,

Chief Information Officer, Phillips 66

“One of the most vital elements in the success of any business is its ability to attract, hire and retain skilled and talented people. Those skilled people are looking for flourishing communities in which to raise their families. These individuals have a choice as to where they live, and often schools are one of the deciding factors. Therefore, the quality of our public schools’ education and facilities greatly impacts our ability to compete for top talent.”