Capital funding in Oklahoma school districts

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Qualitative research using data from three sources: Oklahoma State Department of Education documents, Superintendent on-line questionnaires, and Superintendent/School Finance Expert face-to-face interviews consisting of nine superintendents and two school finance experts. The interviewees were purposively selected based on ability and experience.

Findings and Conclusions: The study found that school officials hold negative views about the ability of the building fund to purchase and maintain capital items, such as buildings and equipment. Views on the ability of districts to successfully vote bond issues were more positive. Superintendents were asked to provide strategies for capital outlay, which included federal funding, facilities leasing agreements, sales tax to finance new construction, investing carry-over funds, force accounts, lease purchasing, lease revenue bonds, impact aid and equalization. The study recommended that equalization be achieved through legislative changes: state building fund, funding the State Common School Building fund (1984), raising the maximum bond issue percentage, establishing a superintendents' academy, eliminating the supermajority rule, enacting Oklahoma Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, and removing the limit on the annual increase in property values.