OKC Plan, 2000-2020 - City of Oklahoma City

Seek means to contribute to maintenance and construction of school facilities. Possible actions
might include
• establishing local tax assessment or other revenue districts for schools,
• continue encouraging development and reinvestment to increase the I-89 tax base through
programs like the Empowerment Zone and municipal capital improvements,
• prioritizing municipal improvements to reinforce major school initiatives such as magnet,
charter, and federal grant recipient schools,
• providing recreational, fire safety, and other joint-school programs which can benefit youth,
especially those from lower income households, and
• identifying alternative means of financing school construction and improvements. If City
funding sources such as a temporary sales tax are proposed, suitable management and
oversight structures involving the City and the schools should be developed.
Consider cost sharing with the Oklahoma City public schools using federal grants, volunteers,
and other means to help maintain joint-use facilities.
Continue efforts to institute programs outlined in the education component of City’s
Empowerment Zone (EZ) including:
• providing educational programs and activities to help EZ residents secure better jobs, decent
housing, and affordable healthcare,
• modifying EZ area schools for after-hours and weekend programs,
• providing day-care facilities before and after regular school hours and on Saturdays to help
residents gain employment and job training, and
• establishing a School-and-Neighborhood Council at each school.
Work to expand the scope of the education component of the City”s Empowerment Zone (EZ)
application to include all areas of the City based on a detailed analysis of the needs and
opportunities of additional areas and on the availability of funding.
Expand the use of Metro Transit for school bus routes in the Oklahoma City district, when
feasible, including free bus passes to students to encourage them to use buses at other times.
Continue the school guard crossing program currently operated by the City and I-89.
Neighborhood and Community Programs
Work with school districts to promote the use of school facilities for adult education, community
programs, and neighborhood and public meetings.
Continue and expand existing public and private programs with Oklahoma City schools targeting
benefits to children of lower and moderate income households.
Continue joint police and school programs to address gangs and other law enforcement problems
associated with schools.
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