Broken Arrow Schools Hosting Community Forums On Growth, Bond Issue

The conversations will start soon over whether Broken Arrow should build a second high school. The once small town has experienced growing pains for years, and school administrators say BA public schools have to expand.

They say their first focus is more classrooms for K through 5th grade, but those kids are going to grow up and could overcrowd Broken Arrow' only high school.

There's a lot of school spirit in Broken Arrow, but is there enough to go around? Enough for two Broken Arrow high schools?

"When you graduate with a thousand plus people, it's hard to know everyone. You don't know everyone," said Meri Schenk.

Feelings are mixed, but the district is making it clear: the decision to build a second high school is up to the people of Broken Arrow.

"Regardless of whether we have one or two high schools, we are growing and we do need to plan for that growth," said Shelli Holland-Handy, Broken Arrow Public Schools.

Starting Monday, Broken Arrow Public Schools will host a series of community forums to talk about the upcoming school bond, and how the district is anticipating growth.

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"We're planning on adding classroom spaces for middle school and high school but our most immediate need is for elementary schools," Holland-Handy said.

Broken Arrow was just named the best city for first-time home buyers, and more young families are moving to town.

Half of the new students in Broken Arrow are in K through fifth grades.

District spokesperson Shelli Holland-Handy says the superintendent is focusing - first and foremost - on adding classrooms at elementary schools, but the discussion about a second high school is not far off.

"We know that we're going to have more students over the coming years and that's what this bond issue is all about - to plan for that growth," she said.

The community forums begin Monday and run through October 28th.

The proposed bond will go to a vote before the school board on November 8th and could go to a community-wide vote in February.

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