August 29, 2020 Issue, Page 11 of 18

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Serving Western Oklahoma Weekend Editio: Canute bond props fail to Beutler to retire gain necessary support from SWOSU Southwesterm Oklahoma By Cosette Wymer, Contributing writer es. Stephen H. McDonald and Associates Inc. suggested no State University President Canute Public Schools voters had the opportunity Tuesday more than a million dollar bond issue would be appropriate Randy Beutler announced as two existing bond issues still have principal. to pass a $1 million bond issue to update their facility and _ his retirement as university transportation needs for disabled students, to provide safe On the 2020 bond issue that failed, Proposition No. 1 in- president this week. route and activity buses and to install a more secure inter- cluded the improvement of a handicap bathroom located Beutler will close out a com system. near the special education room. This rebuild would have 35-year career in education A two-proposition bond failed, though, even as a majority also been a family facility that would have included a chang- and public service with his of voters approved both measures. ing table. Such a rebuild was needed to comply with the upcoming retirement, to be Even though the percentages were over 50 percent, for a American with Disabilities Act as well as meet local needs. effective June 30, 2021, the school bond to pass the percentage must be at least 60 per- Funds from the bond would have been $400,000. university stated in a news cent of the vote. In the same proposition, an additional $160,000 would release. Randy Beutler. Proposition No. 1, a $560,000 School Improvement Bond, have replaced two 2004 Excursions as well as a 7-year-old He was named the 17th had 180 Yes votes to 139 No votes, or 56.4 percent of the Ag pickup. Henderson had hoped to also purchase a handi- president of SWOSU in February 2010. He will be com- vote. Proposition No. 2, the School Transportation Bond, cap van. pleting nearly 12 years leading the institution, becoming earned 181 Yes votes to 138 No votes, or 56.7 percent. Both Proposition No. 2 would have provided $440,000 to re- the third longest-serving president in university history, the failed to gain the necessary 60 percent. place three route buses and a handicap bus. The district’s release stated. “SWOSU is a very special place, andI have been blessed The bond failure comes nearly one year after a $13.6 mil- whole fleet had been purchased in the last decade and be- to be part of the incredible Bulldog community,” Beutler lion bond failed in Canute. fore: 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008 and 2009. The newest bus in said in the release. “The work being done at this institution “A school bond is intended to be a partnership between the fleet is 2010. through teaching, learning, research, community engage- your community and your school,” Canute Superintendent None of these buses were considered dependable to take ment and academic partnerships is unprecedented in our Jill Henderson said after Tuesday’s vote. “We have to have students to out-of-town activities, so the school district has 120-year history.” the help of the community. There is not a school in the state been leasing two activity buses every year. With the new Beutler said that he would continue to help guide the of Oklahoma that can step up and purchase these necessities buses, the leases would not have been necessary. The plan school through the challenges posed by the coronavirus for themselves.” was to purchase one and possibly two activity buses out of pandemic. He said he has been “contemplating a retirement Henderson said the school board and administration did the bond funds. date for some time,” the release stated. not submit a bond issue for vote which would increase tax- See Bond page 2. “President Beutler has led SWOSU in providing an ex- traordinary education to students while increasing both New online arts academy degree and nationally-accredited programs, ensuring finan- cial stability and producing graduates ready to enter Okla- homa’s workforce,” said Susan Winchester, chair of the ready for high school students Regional University System of Oklahoma, in the release. “He has positioned SWOSU as a valuable educational asset for our entire state, and we appreciate his masterful leader- ship in higher education.” OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Arts Institute is Under Beutler’s leadership, SWOSU has accomplished kicking off a new program, the OSAI at Home Academy, many projects and milestones. The largest building project which will provide online education during the upcoming in the history of the university was done under his watch, school year for artistically gifted high school students, the See SWOSU page 2. OAT stated in a news release. The program is specifically targeting students from rural communities who have never attended the Oklahoma Sum- mer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain. The program is fund- ed by a generous grant from a private donor, OAI said. The recent success of their online Summer Arts Institute, OSAI at Home, convinced President and CEO Julie Cohen of the “powerful” effect online programming can make, even with the limitations of virtual classrooms, the release stated. Litzy Silos of Clinton attended the Oklahoma “While we were reluctant to move our students to an on- Summer Arts Institute (OSAI) at Home’s line format this summer, we were amazed by how much they photography program in June. Submitted by were able to accomplish,” Cohen said in a release. “It oc- the Oklahoma Arts Institute. curred to us that the virtual classroom could help us over- come a lot of the financial barriers we’ve faced in our efforts The new eight- to 10-week program, which starts in mid- to reach more talented students across the state. It’s always been a wish list item to provide this type of training to prom- September, will provide an opportunity for students to re- ising students who have limited opportunities available to ceive intensive, high-level training in their art form so that them, and this format has made it an attainable goal.” they Red Cross volunteers from Oklahoma head to Gulf Coast OKLAHOMA CITY - More than two dozen American will be deployed. Officials anticipate that more than 700 Red Red Cross volunteers from Kansas and Oklahoma have been Cross volunteers and staff from across the nation will be sent sent to the Gulf Coast to help after the destruction of Hur- to the Gulf Coast to assist in disaster preparedness and re- Delilah Senteno takes a sample from a patient ricane Laura. covery. This is in addition to nearly 500 volunteers and staff getting tested for COVID-19 during free drive- As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, 28 volunteers and staff of the who have responded to the wildfires affecting many western through testing Thursday morning at the Elk Kansas and Oklahoma Red Cross have been deployed to states, the release stated. City Fire Department. The Beckham County help with the Hurricane Response, including at least one “We have sent several volunteers from Kansas and Okla- Health Department and the Elk City Fire & person from each of the region’s seven local chapters, Red homa to help along the Gulf Coast and we anticipate more EMS crews conducted the drive-through Cross stated in a release. will be needed,” said Brittney Rochell, regional chief COVID testing site. Staff photo by Don Munsch. As the situation unfolds, it is possible that more people See Red Cross page 2. Weather tomorrow ® 100/ Vol. 118, No. 69 75 cents, 18 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com