The Pryor Board of Education opened its Nov. 2 regular meeting with a bit of Tiger fun as a PHS leadership student Cooper McCuistion filmed board members performing to the Full House theme song for a student lip dub.
GH2 Architects then presented renderings of the new Pryor Middle School, which voters approved in the last bond election. The architects showed how the two-story building will serve seventh and eighth graders, with an anticipated opening date of the 2028- 2029 school year.
A middle school designed for growth
The two-story building plan calls for two wings for core classes and one for electives. The classroom wings are angled to define distinct areas within the building, and a central commons will give students a place to gather. With hallways designed to be approximately 10 feet wide, the design gives students room to easily move between classes. An elevator and acoustic ceiling treatments are included in the plan to provide accessibility and help manage noise in shared spaces. The gym will serve as a storm shelter, providing a safe area for students.
When a board member asked how many students the new school could accommodate, Superintendent Dr. Lisa Muller said the district is “designing for growth.” The building is planned for approximately 550 students, which exceeds current enrollment in the two grades it will serve. Flexible rooms near the media center can be used for conferences, guest presentations, or additional classrooms as needed. The site also has room for a future building expansion.
All electives currently offered at Pryor Middle School are slated to move to the new building, with dedicated spaces for band, choir, and a new woodshop. Outside, raised garden beds will give science and horticulture classes space for hands-on lessons. Covers will allow the beds to serve other purposes between lessons. Plans also include a basketball court, permanent seating, a quarter-mile walking track, and green space for outdoor games.
The design separates bus and family traffic. Buses will use the front of the school, across the road from the district’s Transportation Center, while families will use a side entrance off Oklahoma Street. A covered walkway will shelter students as they enter the building from the family drop-off area. The site plan also allows for the possibility of a future widening of Ninth Street.
High school report highlights college readiness
Pryor High School Principal Steven Goss reported that 7 percent of Pryor students needed college remediation, compared with a statewide rate of more than 14 percent. He also reported that Pryor’s ACT scores exceeded state averages in most areas. The high school plans additional ACT-focused professional development for faculty to build on those results.
Goss identified expanded access to career tech, college, and industry opportunities as one way to help reduce the dropout rate. He emphasized the school’s goal of helping every senior see a path after graduation, whether that means enrolling in further education, entering the workforce, or enlisting in the military.
Transportation software and Tiger Quest
The board approved routing software for the Transportation Department. The district expects the software to improve the experience for families and help staff plan more efficient bus routes, with the potential to reduce fuel costs.
The board also heard about Tiger Quest, a two-night outdoor adventure the district is planning for October 2027 at New Life Ranch’s Concord campus. The experience will bring fifth graders from all three Pryor elementary schools together for outdoor activities, giving them a chance to meet and get to know their future classmates as they prepare for the transition to middle school. Cherokee Nation funding would help cover the cost of the trip.
Preparing for what comes next was a common thread throughout the Nov. 2 meeting. Pryor Public Schools is designing a middle school with room to grow, planning an outdoor adventure where fifth graders can meet future classmates, and working to expand the options available to high school students after graduation.