(TNS) – An obligation of $ 90 million to pay for improvements to the Moore Norman Technology Center succeeded by just under 52%on Tuesday.
The vote was 3,798 for 3,537 against.
“We appreciate that the voters of confidence have placed in us and we are impatient to keep our informed community as these improvements are taking shape,” said Brian Ruttman, superintendent and CEO of Moore Norman Tech. He described it as a “formidable victory” for the community.
Some voters wondered if the link needed a supermajority to pass, referring to another law of the State concerning the educational obligations which call the “three -fifth (3/5) of the voters” to adopt an educational link. However, this does not apply to Moore Norman Tech because it is a technological center. Rather, it is a other part of the state constitution specifically for professional and technical schools.
“Our surety was in accordance with article X, 9b of the Constitution of the Oklahoma State which says:” … when the debt is approved by the majority of voters in the school district of the technological center … “ “ “ “ “ Agto “ “ “ `’
The school will use money to renovate existing operations or build new ones. Officials previously said they had to refuse a quarter of qualified candidates because they did not have class space.
Superintendent Brian Ruttman underlined the projections of the workforce stimulating the need for expansion.
“If you are in the construction professions, there will be growth of 10% over time, but 42% of the current workforce will retire in 10 years,” said Ruttman. “If you look at nursing, over the next 10 years, we will need 12% additional nurses we have today,” he said.
Data from the OKLAHOMA Employment Safety Commission project a 12.2% increase in the demand for approved practical nurses and an increase of 9.3% of the needs of the construction industry by 2030.
“Our goal is to have a seat for each qualified student who comes out here. So, in this spirit, we take into account population increases, ”said Ruttman.
According to Ruttman, industry comments have constantly highlighted the widespread shortages. Discussion groups with industry leaders earlier this year have highlighted critical requests in health and commerce stations, he said.
“Our goal is to ensure that each qualified student has a headquarters by 2033,” said Ruttman.
The $ 90 million will be reimbursed in 10 years and distributed in three main areas:
- $ 33 million towards a new construction trade installation and updating traditional VO-Tech areas.
- 25 million dollars for the expansion and modernization of training for health workers.
- $ 32 million for the business development training center for companies and the construction of safety rooms, with an extended capacity of high-demand programs such as cybersecurity, programming of AI and aviation maintenance technology.
The proposed solution implies a strategic relocation of the programs. Ruttman said shorter programs that last six months or less will move to their South Penn campus to open the space to more students at the place of Franklin Road.
“We move a large part of the training of the shorter duration that we do … then by recovering these spaces here,” said Ruttman.
For taxpayers of the surrounding counties, the obligation at 10 years means an increase in property tax by 1.25%. This cost is around $ 40 per year for properties worth $ 250,000. A complete graphic of the increases in land tax by value of houses in the respective counties is available in the drop -down list of the FAQ to Mntc.edu.
Royse provided additional details on the calendar and finance, and said that preliminary work would start in the fall with plans to start major projects in 2026. All projects are intended for completion by 2033, with a final deadline no later than 2035.
The voting of obligations affected residents of Cleveland, Oklahoma and MCClain counties in the technological district of Moore Norman which serves Moore, Norman and South Oklahoma City.
“We are grateful to our community to have continued to invest in students and the future of our workforce,” said Ruttman.
© 2025 Norman transcription (Norman, Okla.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.