MAPS for Kids wraps up

The story of the Oklahoma City School District’s brick-and-mortar resuscitation is coming to a close.

With the city council’s vote to terminate the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Public Schools Trust, the MAPS for Kids initiative that won voters’ approval in 2001 is officially going out of existence.

Over 17 years, about $700 million overseen by trustees was spent to refurbish schools and build new ones in the Oklahoma City School District and 23 suburban districts.

While inner-city schools have not achieved hopedfor academic improvements, City Manager Jim Couch told trustees last month the district would be worse off if not for MAPS for Kids.

“I think we have to reflect back on the fact that if we hadn’t done what we’ve done with the buildings ... the Oklahoma City School District wouldn’t be to the level they are today,” he said.

Approved in 2001

Voters approved the MAPS for Kids sales tax and a companion bond issue on Nov. 13, 2001.

The sales tax raised around $514 million over seven years, with about 70 percent going to renovation or construction of more than 70 schools in the Oklahoma City public school district.

About $165 million was distributed to suburban districts, based on enrollment of students living within the Oklahoma City city limits.

A handful of remaining projects will be completed by the city.

David Todd, the MAPS 3 program manager, said work in progress at Cesar Chavez and F.D. Moon elementary schools is left to do, as is work at Capitol Hill High School.

The estimated $815,000 expected to remain when that work is done will be reserved for schools and overseen by the city’s School Bond Advisory Board and the Oklahoma City school board. ‘An amazing accomplishment’

Mayor Mick Cornett said civic and business leaders deserved credit for convincing a wide variety of interested parties of the wisdom of the MAPS for Kids model.

“I’ve often said, if there’s ever a hall of fame for consensus building, those involved with that MAPS for Kids design deserve some special accolades,” he said.

“To get 24 school districts to commit to one funding model was an amazing accomplishment.”

Couch noted that four trustees had served on the board since the beginning, including chairman Carl Edwards. Edwards also chairs the Water Utilities Trust.

Oklahoma City is the state’s largest school district with about 46,000 students.

Ward 5 Councilman David Greenwell recently suggested converting Oklahoma City public schools to a charter district in the search for better academic outcomes.

Funding reductions and a parade of superintendents have adversely affected attempts to move ahead.