Fire & Life Safety

Bond proposal in Moore (Okla.) district would pay for safe rooms

Request comes 2 years after a tornado killed 7 students and destroyed 2 elementary schools
Oct. 12, 2015

Two years after a tornado destroyed two elementary schools and killed seven children in Moore, Okla., the district is asking voters to approve a $209 million bond request that would, among other things, pay for safe rooms at nearly two dozen campuses that don't have them.

The Oklahoman reports that the proposal on Tuesday's ballot is a response to the desire of parents following the deadly May 20, 2013, tornado who called for safe rooms at every school.

The storm destroyed Plaza Towers and Briarwood elementary schools in Moore and killed seven children at Plaza Towers. Neither school had a safe room.

Before that storm, only Westmoore High School and Kelley Elementary School had safe rooms. Since then, the district has built 10 safe rooms using grants, private donations and other funds.

But 23 facilities in the Moore district still do not have safe rooms. The bonds would enable Moore to build shelters at 16 elementary schools, three junior highs, two high schools, an alternative school and the district's administration building.

Bond funds also would pay for technology and transportation upgrades and for additional classrooms, gymnasiums, media centers and instructional materials.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy, senior editor, has written for AS&U on a wide range of educational issues since 1999.

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