Rapid Growth, Overcrowding Prompt $10 Million TPS Expansion

Tulsa Public Schools is about to start a $10 million expansion of what's now a closed down school because of rapid growth in one part of town.

The old Mayo school building will open next fall and essentially be a new TPS school for about 700 students.

Disney Elementary is one of the crowded schools on Tulsa's east side. There are 861 students on the roll and there used to be more.

The district eliminated all transfers into Disney to reduce overcrowding.

Still, there are so many children they had to divide the hallways into lanes so everyone could pass.

Disney Principal, Donna Gilford said, "And everybody chooses a line, if there's one in between you just go straight down the middle, we can transition about 400 kids in the hall that way and everybody does pretty good with that."

The overcrowding isn't just at Disney, Cooper Elementary has the same issue, and like Disney there isn't much room around the building to easily expand it.

Both schools are in a part of Tulsa with lots of young children, where many Hispanic families are choosing to live near existing schools.

It's not out of the question that TPS would eventually need an entire new school near 21st and Garnett.

“We have to look at where the growth actually is, and so if we determine to reopen an old building or build a new school, we have to look at where are the population trends and what are they,” said Chris Johnson with TPS.

At Disney, every classroom is at capacity and the only reason the cafeteria isn't crowded is because it was just expanded to serve twice as many students.

The principal said they've done all they can on the campus, so new space elsewhere will be a relief.

"We have built walls, taken old media centers and turned them into classrooms and we have two trailers out in the back,” Gilford said.

On Tuesday October 28th and 5:30, the district will have a town hall to talk with parents about the plans for the building and the students who live around there.