By Cory Smith
A Tulsa Public Schools board member took the unusual step of voicing her stance on the district’s $414 million bond proposal.
Jennettie Marshall came out in opposition Monday night – on the eve of the public’s vote.
Board members are not supposed to voice a stance, and NewsChannel 8’s Burt Mummolo asked Marshall if she worried about getting in trouble for her public opposition.
“Good trouble. Good trouble,” she responded. “We have to speak truth to power.”
Marshall cited concerns with transparency, conflicts of interest, and spending accountability.
The Republican Party of Tulsa County is also urging people to vote no on the bond package.
It’s one thing to have members of the public voice their opposition to a school bond.
“I think there’s no accountability,” said Marsha Francine Campbell.
“Transparency,” Diana West.
“I don’t trust them,” said Paul Zelenski.
It’s quite another to have that opposition joined by a school board member.
“As an individual, I cannot support the bond and I will not be supporting it,” said Jennettie Marshall, her reasons against echo many of the concerns voiced by demonstrators; transparency, accountability, conflicts of interest.
“I do not believe that it’s in the best interest right now at this time until our community begins to get the answers to their questions,” she said.
But also out there…
“I’m feeling very confident that we will see a yes vote,” said Josh Roby, Chairperson of Citizens Bond Development Committee, who says he can see how bond money is being spent.
“I see the construction, I see the materials, I see the technology, I see the busses. I see firsthand where the dollars are spent in a way my kids interact with the school every single day,” he said.
But for Marshall…
“I cannot support the bond in good conscience,” she said.
Tomorrow will mark a new, albeit divergent milestone, in her long history with education.
“This is the first time in my voting life, and I’m not a baby, that I have ever voted against a bond,” she said.
