BEGGS, Okla. –
Beggs Public Schools officials are sharing new details about damage to district facilities after an EF-3 tornado struck the community on March 6.
District leaders say several athletic and transportation facilities were heavily damaged or destroyed.
The district’s softball and baseball fields were totaled and will have to be replaced. Officials also said the bus barn and maintenance shop were decimated during the storm.
Nearly the entire fleet of route buses was damaged. School leaders say all but one route bus is inoperable, though the district’s SUVs and activity buses survived the storm.
Middle School Building Severely Damaged
School officials say the Beggs Middle School building also sustained significant damage and will not be used for the remainder of the school year.
According to the district, the north end of the building suffered the most severe impacts, with structural supports bent and considered unsafe.
The tornado also pulled a gas line from the ground and damaged electrical systems and fiber network lines serving the building. Crews are working to restore power and other utilities.
The district said the middle school dome also sustained damage but is expected to be repaired and reopened.
Students Will Continue Classes On Campus
District administrators said students will not return to the middle school building this school year but will continue attending classes on campus.
School leaders said a plan has been developed for relocating middle school students, though details are still being finalized.
The district said the plan will be shared with middle school parents during a scheduled back-to-school meeting once information is confirmed.
Safety Concerns During Cleanup
Officials are asking the public to stay away from school property while cleanup and damage assessments continue.
District leaders said buildings on campus remain unsafe as crews work to clear debris and repair damaged infrastructure.
Administrators said student safety and education remain their top priorities as recovery efforts move forward.
