Bartlesville Teachers Return To Century-Old Building After Recent Repairs

Teachers are moving in and students are registering for a new school year at Bartlesville's Central Middle School.

The 100-year-old building just got an upgrade thanks to a bond issue the city passed three years ago.

Tanya Williams is one of the many Central teachers getting ready for a new year in a new classroom - boxes and chairs are stacked everywhere, but she's confident.

"We'll be ready when our kids get here for sure. We're excited. We can't wait," she said.

Everyone we saw was excited to be back at Central.

Last year, they all moved to the old Madison Middle School so the renovations could get done.

Principal Ryan Huff said former students will be most surprised by the conversion of the basement, now the new first floor.

A labyrinth of locker rooms, gymnasiums storage and maintenance rooms were turned into usable classroom space for the music program.

With just a week left before school starts, there’s some finishing work to get done by the construction guys and additional set up by teachers, but after a year in temporary quarters, the old building has a new life.

"And they are back home, they're back home," Huff said.

The public is invited to see the renovation of Central Middle School on Sunday, August 21st. The open house begins at 2 p.m.