ROGERS COUNTY, Okla. — Justus-Tiawah Public Schools only serves kindergarten through 8th grade. It's educated the community for more than a century, and the buildings show that.
At its north campus for grades K-3 and seventh and eighth grades, a basketball gym is the only building newer than 40 years old.
Its south campus houses 4th-6th grades and hasn't received major work since the 1980s, according to its administrators.
Superintendent Dr. Shane Boothe said the district could potentially receive $11.73 million in bond funding from the Feb. 13 bond election. However, the district can build new classrooms, a library, a cafeteria, and storm shelters at each campus just by using current property taxes through 2035.
- Previous coverage >>> Claremore school installs bathroom sensors to monitor student vaping
Dr. Booth said these projects will evenly split the schools, with all younger grade levels at one campus and all older grades at the other.
It will also offer major safety upgrades.
"We really wanted to focus on student safety and that's what brought us to the storm shelters," Booth said. "And I've always said, 'It's not if you're gonna get hit by a tornado but when,' if you live in Oklahoma."
A new sports field and softball diamond are also included in the plans.
Nichole Potter told 2 News she has two kids who play sports in the small district and that the added fields would be a big convenience.
"We have to go outside to host games, actually, in Claremore. Even football games," Potter said. "So nothing is housed here in Justus-Tiawah. So it would be nice to have our facilities for our athletes right here on our campus and not have to outsource."
Renderings also include several spaces for parking and parent pickup and drop-off spots at both the north and south campuses.
If approved, Boothe expects work to begin on both campuses within a few months and finish before 2027.
Potter said the decision should be easy for voters, especially because current taxes would not increase.
"New buildings, new facilities, new cafeteria, new library," she said. "Our school as a whole gets a new facelift, so I definitely think it's a no-brainer."
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- SUBSCRIBE on YouTube
