MOORE -- With the chants of cheerleaders -- and the sound of a small thunderstorm -- echoing in the background, Moore opened the state's newest 6A high school Thursday -- the $44 million-plus Southmoore High School.
In a ceremony attended by city, county and state officials, Moore superintendent Deborah Arato praised the city's school board, city councilmembers and dozens of others for their assistance in opening the 300,000-square-foot high school.
The school's grand opening ceremony was held in conjunction with a ceremony marking the completion of work on Santa Fe Avenue.
"I cannot say enough about the intense pride of our partnerships," Arato said. "On the city side, we have a whole group of extremely dedicated and caring people."
Funded by a $30 million school bond issue and about $14 million in funds from the Oklahoma City MAPS for Kids one cent sales tax, the school is expected to open with 1,700 students and about 120 faculty and staff members, Arato said.
"But it was designed to hold about 2,400 students," she said.
Speaking during the ceremony, Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis said "there was no way in the world" he would have missed the grand opening ceremony.
"There are very few days in the opportunity of a mayor that you get to open a 6A school in your city," he said. "Especially something so fabulous as this. It's incredible."
While some portions of the school are still under construction, Arato said the facility would open with all four wings ready for classes. "We're hoping we will also be able to open our fine arts wing, too," she said. "But we're waiting to hear from the fire marshal on that."
Southmoore principal Roy Smith said he was ready for the school's opening day.
"It's just beautiful," he said. "I love the spaciousness of the building and the school colors. It's just beautiful."
Opening Southmoore, Smith said, will give students, faculty and school administrators a chance to develop new traditions in the district.
"We will depend on our faculty and our students. We're going to listen to them and let them have a lot of input into the shaping of this school."
Smith said the first day of classes for Southmoore is set for Aug. 14.
"I've been in education for more than 30 years," he said. "And every morning I get up and I'm ready to go to work."
M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com
Local news
Related Photos
-
Kevin Ellis
-
Kevin Ellis
-
Kevin Ellis
-
Kevin Ellis
Discussion
Moore opens its new Southmoore High School
- Local news
-
-
Veterans, community remember the fallen
Wesley Carroll lives on, but countless numbers of his friends and family have been laid to rest after their service in conflicts dating as far back as the 18th century....
-
Deputies arrest 10
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies made 10 arrests in a Saturday night and early Sunday morning saturation patrol....
-
Troopers release name in Thunderbird drowning
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers have released the deceased’s name in a weekend drowning at Lake Thunderbird....
-
Holiday fun
Sunday wasn’t just another church night at Harvest Church. The church’s pre-Memorial Day fellowship event featured a monster truck show, bike stunts and fireworks, among other things....
-
Volunteers clean up Bishop Creek
Norman’s Bishop Creek is home to a lot more than frogs, turtles and water skimmers, a group of volunteers say....
-
More travelers to hit the road this Memorial Day
NEW YORK — More Americans will hit the road this holiday weekend than a year ago. And they’ll have a bit more money to spend thanks to lower gas prices....
-
OBA names officers
TULSA — Brad Swickey, president and CEO of Valliance Bank in Oklahoma City, was inducted as chairman of the Oklahoma Bankers Association at the OBA’s 115th Leadership Forum and Annual Convention, held May 14 and 15 at the Renaissance Hotel ...
-
Rig count down by 3 to 1,983
HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down three this week to 1,983....
-
Cornerstone Metals Recycling opens in Norman
Cornerstone Metals Recycling has officially opened a recycling facility in Norman at 2350 Industrial Blvd. The facility will provide easy access drive-through for recyclers in the Norman area including South Oklahoma City, Moore and Pauls ...
-
Agriculture Department spurring exports
International Market Development Coordinator Barbara Charlet is constantly finding new ways to introduce Oklahoma’s agricultural products to foreign markets. With 18 years of experience in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and ...
- More Local news Headlines
-
Veterans, community remember the fallen
