BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — As Broken Arrow continues to grow, the school district is looking into ways to support it. Bond dollars will allow the district’s first and only 8th grade academy be built.
The bond was passed in 2015. Out of those bond dollars, $30 million was supposed to be used for a new middle school facility. However, due to inflation the cost of construction increased making the district revisit the plans and decide to convert Sequoyah Middle School into becoming the 8th grade academy.
Karla Dyess, the district’s deputy superintendent, said this project will support the district’s growth.
“Right now, Broken Arrow has over 20,000 students and we project that to continue growing because we have such a great community, people want to send their students here. It will house 8th grade students and hold up to 1,800 students,” she said.
Current students at Sequoyah will relocate to the other four middle schools.
Dyess said the project will put a two-story extension on the back of Sequoyah. She said, with not having to build a completely new school from scratch, the project can focus on curriculum improvement as well.
“It offers a lot of instructional advantages for students. Those students who want to start that high school credit will be allowed to take classes and count toward high school credit. We’re also looking at the engagement for high school athletics, fine arts, all of our students right now if they do football, basketball, choir, they have to take a shuttle to another site for their practice so by being at the 8th grade academy they’ll be able to stay for their activities with their peers and not spend time on a bus getting to their practices,” Dyess said.
The 8th grade academy is expected to be completed in time for the 2025/2026 school year.
Right now, the district is in the planning stages. If parents want to be a part of the planning committee, reach out to your child’s principal.
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