Balko Public Schools seeks funding to improve learning environment

BEAVER County, Oklahoma (KVII) — Registered voters in Oklahoma will head to polls on Tuesday to decide the future of a number of school bonds. One of the bonds voters in Beaver County will determine is a $4.7 million bond that would allow Balko Public Schools to build a new elementary campus featuring classrooms, computer lab, teacher work rooms and bathrooms.

“We are meeting some needs that our kids have and the main to get them out of the basemen and to get them together in an education setting that’s safer for students and staff,” said Roger Mendell, Superintendent of Balko Public Schools.

Two grades at Balko Public Schools are taught in a basement. There is currently just one exit for students and teachers to leave the basement. If voters approve the bond by 60 percent or more it would allow Balko Public Schools to do away with the current configuration and improve the learning environment for the elementary grades.

“Our first and second graders are down in a basement, they both have basically one way to exit,” said Mendell. “We’ve already been scared about in case of a fire or something like that.”

“The first grade is connected to me through a closet and so we can go back and forth to each other that way but we only have one exit,” said Jamie Pinckard, teacher at Balko Public Schools. “Parents have said you only have one exit and that’s near the kitchen and you can’t get out of any of your windows. In today’s times, you wouldn’t build a classroom like this.”

Pinckard is in her second year as a teacher at Balko Public Schools. She worries that if 60 percent or more of voters do not approve the bond a repeat of last year’s attempt may lead to major changed she doesn’t want to see happen.

“I worry that if state decides to consolidate schools if we don’t take care of our this school or update it, it will be real easy for them to tell us we have to go to one of these other schools,” said Pinckard. “The other schools that have passed bonds and have better facilities for elementary schools we may have to consolidate with them.”

Voters have between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to vote at two locations. Either at Balko Public Schools or in Beaver.