The Why Behind the 2026 Bond Proposal
Sustained student enrollment growth is the driving force behind Pryor Public Schools’ 2026 Bond Proposal, which goes before voters on Tuesday, April 7.
Superintendent Dr. Lisa Muller said growth outside the Pryor city limits, but still within district boundaries, continues to increase. In addition, planned housing developments on the outskirts of town are moving forward, bringing new families to the area. Another contributing factor is Oklahoma’s open transfer process, with families continuing to choose Pryor Public Schools as their district of choice.
While Pryor Public Schools did experience a dip in enrollment after the pandemic, the district quickly rebounded, returning to near pre-pandemic numbers by 2022. Since then, enrollment has continued to climb each year, reaching 2,944 students.
Dr. Muller said the good news for district residents is that passage of the bond would allow the district to address growth and facility needs while keeping school taxes stable.
What comes next?
As district leaders look to the future, the key question is clear: How do we provide students with the best possible learning experience as enrollment continues to grow?
Because space is already at a premium, the largest portion of the proposed bond funding—$73,033,520—would be used to build a new middle school campus across Ninth Street from Tiger Stadium.
Under the proposed plan, seventh and eighth-grade students would move to the new campus. That shift would allow the current middle school on Hogan Street to become an intermediate school serving fifth and sixth-grades. In turn, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Jefferson elementary schools would house Pre-K through fourth grade, reducing enrollment pressure at each elementary campus and opening additional classroom space.
The proposed new middle school would also place seventh and eighth-grade students closer to the high school and athletic facilities. District leaders say this would improve both student safety and instructional efficiency by eliminating the need to transport students across town to participate in programs such as athletics and agriculture.
Additional projects included in the proposal
The second major project in the 2026 bond proposal—$19,376,250—would fund Phase II of the Tiger Stadium project.
This phase would add practice space at the north end of the football field, along with a field house that would include team meeting areas, additional locker rooms, training facilities, a weight room, and hospitality space. The project would also relocate the band bleachers to the northeast corner of the field, improving acoustics and creating additional seating space. Student seating would move under the scoreboard, opening more bleacher seating for community fans.
A third component of the proposed bond—$5,745,240—would focus on ongoing facility maintenance to help protect the community’s investment in Pryor Public Schools. Planned projects include roof repair and replacement, HVAC maintenance and upgrades, parking lot maintenance across the district, and awning and canopy improvements at the transportation center and Jefferson Elementary School.
Building on progress from the 2022 bond cycle
Dr. Muller said the Board of Education’s plan for the future also builds on progress made through the 2022 bond cycle, which has already transformed facilities across the district.
Among the projects included in that cycle were remodels at Jefferson and Lincoln, the addition of a maintenance facility, and the purchase of band instruments, including larger, more costly instruments such as tubas and trombones that can be difficult for families to provide.
Dr. Muller described Phase I of Tiger Stadium as the hallmark project of the 2022 bond cycle.
Two additional bond projects from that cycle are also nearing completion.
At the current middle school, major renovations have raised the sunken library, creating a brighter, more functional space with additional room for students and staff. The updated area provides more natural light and includes four new classrooms and additional restrooms. The former maintenance building is also being repurposed to serve as the district’s Information Technology building and to house a new STEM Lab for students.
Also nearing completion is the Phase IV project at Pryor High School, which has added a volleyball gym, a second storm shelter, a new wrestling room, dedicated practice areas for cheer and pom, and new training and office spaces. Student safety has remained a major focus of that work, bringing more of the high school campus under one secure roof—from the AVRA Performing Arts Center to the Burdick Center—so students can access classrooms and facilities without leaving the secure envelope of the building.
The new athletic wing remains on track to open in August for the 2026–2027 school year.
Preparing for tomorrow, today. Please remember to vote on Tuesday, April 7.