Muskogee Public Schools seeks input on proposed 2027 Bond projects

MPS Seeks Input On Proposed 2027 Bond Projects

MUSKOGEE (August 24, 2026) – Muskogee Public Schools is seeking public input from patrons as it considers projects and priorities for a proposed 2027 bond issue. The district’s Long-Range Planning Committee, composed of community members, district leadership, staff, and other stakeholders, has been intentional in considering both the district's needs and the financial impact on local taxpayers.

A community survey will be available August 24 through September 4, 2026, allowing patrons to provide feedback on potential bond priorities and help the committee determine which needs should be prioritized.  Patrons may take the community survey at https://forms.gle/cbFc7iJPeRzAhso79

Any potential bond recommendation will be developed to address critical district needs while maintaining the current millage rate, resulting in NO TAX INCREASE.

“Bond funds are essential to the financial health of our schools. Without them, capital improvements would have to be funded through our general budget — the same budget we depend on to pay our teachers and support our students,” said Muskogee Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jarod Mendenhall. “In Oklahoma, bond funds are designated specifically for capital improvements, technology, and other qualifying essential services, ensuring that resources can be directed toward the needs of our students, staff, and schools.”

Among the items being considered as part of the proposed 2027 bond issue are:

• Elementary Site Improvements: Rebuilding Cherokee and Irving Elementary schools, along with renovations and improvements to Creek and Pershing Elementary schools.
• Secondary Site Improvements: Renovations and improvements at secondary sites, including the 6th & 7th Grade Academy and Muskogee High School.
• Student Services: Investments include upgraded instructional materials, athletic and fine arts improvements, and new furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
• Maintenance and Land: Critical maintenance needs such as HVAC systems, roofs, parking areas, and other facility improvements, as well as potential land acquisitions.
• Technology and Security: Districtwide technology and security improvements, including technology infrastructure, cameras, keyless entry systems, and other equipment and upgrades necessary to support teaching, learning, district operations, and school safety.

The list of items represents preliminary priorities being considered by the Long-Range Planning Committee and is subject to change as the committee reviews community feedback and continues its work.

The survey will be anonymous, and respondents’ personal identities will be kept private and will not be connected to their input. The survey will remain open through September 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Results will be shared once all information has been collected and analyzed.

The Long-Range Planning Committee will review survey feedback during its September meeting as it finalizes its recommendation to the Board of Education. The committee plans to present its recommendation in November 2026, ahead of the potential bond election on February 9, 2027.

“Community input is an important part of this process,” said Mendenhall. “We greatly appreciate the support our patrons have provided to Muskogee Public Schools through previous bond initiatives, and we look forward to collaborating with our community as we prioritize the needs of our schools and determine the best way to invest in the future of Muskogee Public Schools.”

Muskogee Public Schools’ previous $110 million bond issue was widely supported and approved by voters in 2019. The proposed 2027 bond issue would mark the district’s first bond initiative in eight years.