Ozark School District finishing 2022 bond issue projects, including storm shelter

OZARK, Mo. — Today at 10:30 a.m., the Ozark School District is unveiling a new storm shelter and kitchen at the Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center.

These projects were made possible after voters approved a bond issue in 2022.

Dr. Curtis Chesick, assistant superintendent of operations, said he’s already had to go to a storm shelter twice this year, which makes this new addition a timely one.

“We know it’s a need for our district to keep our kids safe and the fact that we can offer that and dual-use, it’s not just a storm shelter that’s sitting here waiting to be used in, in case of an emergency, “ said Chesick.

The new storm shelter will serve as a full-time cafeteria.

Chesick said after the high school storm shelter is completed next month,  there will be a fully functional storm shelter in every building.

“So at the high school, we had a shelter in place because our storm shelter wasn’t complete yet, but going forward next year they will have a place to go. We had kids here. We had kids in all of the buildings, “ said Chesick.

But that’s not the only new addition to the Tiger Paw Childhood Center – they also built a new kitchen.

Previously, they used the gym as their cafeteria and transported over 400 meals from a different elementary school daily. But with the new kitchen, breakfast and lunch service will be smoother for the kids.

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