“We've heard time and time again from parents who say, ‘When my child goes to school, I want to know that they're going to be safe should there be threatening weather,’” Edmond Public Schools spokeswoman Susan Parks-Schlepp said. 

Currently, the school system's safe rooms can hold about 8,000 students.  The proposal would construct enough spaces to hold all 23,000-plus Edmond students during severe weather, the school said. 

The additions would not just be safe rooms, though.  Most would double with other functions for the schools, such as libraries, gymnasiums and band rooms, officials said. 

"We're giving the schools the spaces we know that they need," Parks-Schlepp said. " And making sure those spaces serve a dual purpose as a storm shelter." 

Officials argued the proposed safe rooms are more cost effective than having free-standing safe rooms that sit idle for months.  Construction of the storm-ready rooms cost 30 percent more versus just building the spaces using standard designs, officials estimated. 

The plan also includes upgrades to more than 90 classrooms. 

The bond proposal also would focus on investing in the high schools' stadiums to have all football teams play at the high schools themselves instead of traveling to play at the University of Central Oklahoma's field.  Three teams currently play their games at UCO's field. 

School officials pointed to the expanding student body and the anticipated need for a fourth high school. 

"We just won't be able to play in one stadium," Mike Nunley, district athletic director for Edmond schools, said. “ Expanding the existing high school stadiums allows our athletes to have home-field advantage." 

Taxes would stay flat with the bond's passage because other bonds are set to expire, Superintendent David Goin said.