The impact of Broken Arrow's growth on its school district

New home construction in the Tulsa metropolitan area is up 64% over last year around this time. Broken Arrow in particular is booming. <br><br>But the growth is putting some strain on Broken Arrow schools.

Monday, September 22nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

New home construction in the Tulsa metropolitan area is up 64% over last year around this time. Broken Arrow in particular is booming.

But the growth is putting some strain on Broken Arrow schools. News on 6 Anchor Terry Hood has this education update.

Some developers say its one of the hottest areas in town for new home construction. It's on the edge of Broken Arrow, from 41st to 51st Streets between 193rd and 209th East Avenues.

Meadow Homes Developers say they're building more than 40 homes in that square mile alone. The homes arenâ€™t finished yet, but they're already sold. Developers say they can barely keep up with the demand.

When this neighborhood is finished, there will be 600 new homes. And there are more new subdivisions coming nearby.

While construction crews are making room for more families. Broken Arrow Public Schools are trying to find room for all the new kids. Country Lane Elementary is bursting at the seams. They're supposed to have about 700 students, but they're squeezing in 762.

Assistant principal Sue Katterhenry says they're using every inch of space in the school. "We considered at one point using our teacher's lounge for a classroom but we were able to accommodate them in another area."

Just in the time that I was there, Country Lane enrolled three more students. But Broken Arrow schools are ahead of the curve.

They've already got a plan in place to accommodate the growth, another new nearby elementary school.