OKC MAPS PROJECTS – 25 YEARS
with middle and high schools being utilized at a far higher rate. 17 The district also faces impending cuts in state aid in the next two budget years based on projected enrollment trends. Extensive public hearings and discussions are underway to formulate recommendations for additional restructuring of building utilization patterns to better match district attendance trends. These efforts are part of the district’s Pathway to Greatness project to redesign Oklahoma City public schools for the future. 18 Current proposals are to close or repurpose 15 existing facilities. 19 Objectives include lower class size for K to 6, more teacher support staff, increased full-time elementary counselors, science labs in every school, more available seats at successful programs, reduced overcrowding at selected schools, and better access to athletics, arts, and other co-curricular activities. The potential closure of the least utilized buildings is under review along with changes to current school boundaries and the potential redeployment of district resources toward optimal uses. The district is also evaluating the prevalence of in-district transfers and the imbalances this can create in enrollment patterns. Discussions further include how to repurpose any closed buildings, particularly options for reuse as alternative community assets. A catalyst to Long-Run Reform . These are the types of internal reforms that city leaders hoped would be triggered through MAPS for Kids upon updating the district’s physical facilities and removing the financial burden of aging infrastructure. With better facilities in place, the follow-up step of streamlining facility use to better match changes in enrollment and educational programs is underway. These changes also represent a significant catalyst toward achieving the overarching and long-run goal of better educational outcomes. Much like the other MAPS initiatives were intended to enable private investment to thrive, MAPS for Kids is now returning the focus within the system to education delivery and outcomes so children can thrive.
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