Union Public Schools seeking input on proposed 2027 bond projects

Source: Union Public Schools

Union Public Schools is seeking public input from patrons as it considers items to be included in a proposed 2027 five-year series bond issue. The district’s Long-Range Planning Committee, comprised of community members, district leadership, staff and other stakeholders, has identified a preliminary list of projects which they would like the public’s help prioritizing.

Patrons living in the Union school district may take the Thought Exchange survey at https://tejoin.com/participate/565907283. The survey will be available from April 27 – May 8, 2026.

“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 Union Superintendent Dr. John Federline. “In Oklahoma, bond funds are designated specifically for capital improvements, technology, transportation, and other qualifying essential services, ensuring that every dollar goes exactly where it’s needed most.”

Among the items being considered for this five-year bond campaign are:

• Elementary school renovations: A number of the district’s elementary schools need interior renovations, updated mechanical systems and roof replacements. Union will prioritize school renovations based on where the growth occurs, age of buildings and other factors.
• Major HVAC replacements: Outdated heating and cooling systems throughout the district are nearing the crisis point. Some of the current systems are over fifty years old and in need of replacement. The quality of the learning environment is contingent upon the quality of the systems that heat and cool classrooms.
• Safety and Security: The district will likely allocate a portion of the bond to improving the safety and security of our students, staff and patrons. The improvements would include structural changes, programming changes and additional technology upgrades.
• Technology: As technology continues to evolve, investments will need to be made to prepare Union students for the future. This may include the purchase of new devices/computers, network infrastructure, cybersecurity systems, STEM/robotics equipment, digital learning tools, software subscriptions, etc.
• Other items such as buses, learning software, roofing and equipment replacement, as well as allocations to every school site and extracurricular programs to be used for their specific needs.

In addition to rating their level of support for proposed bond projects, stakeholders will also be asked to prioritize items as needs are likely to exceed the available resources.

The Thought Exchange survey is anonymous, and respondents’ personal identities are kept private and are never connected to their input. The survey will run through May 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. The results will be shared once all information has been collected and analyzed.

“We greatly appreciate the generous support our previous bond proposals have received from our patrons,” said Federline. “We look forward to collaborating with our constituents as we prioritize projects for this next bond so we can achieve our district’s mission of ‘100% graduation, college and career ready.’”

Union’s previous $152 million 5-year series bond campaign contained two propositions that were widely supported and approved by patrons in February 2023.