Picher Students Head Back To Class

Students returned to classes Thursday in what may be the last school year for Picher Schools in Ottawa County. 

Thursday, August 14th 2008, 8:30 am

By: News On 6


Thursday was day one of classes for an infamous Oklahoma town. The News On 6's Dan Bewley reports Picher-Cardin Public Schools opened its doors for the first time since a deadly tornado hit town three months ago.

They call it Gorilla pride. Regardless of a government buyout or a devastating tornado, Picher residents are taking pride in their school.

Fifty-one students in all; 10 seniors, 11 juniors, no Kindergarten through third, and only one fourth grader in the greatest school on earth.

Vicki Hayworth's daughter is a special needs student in 11th grade. She wouldn't think of taking her anywhere else for class.

"She's a lot more comfortable with the classes she's in and if she goes to another school that's bigger, it scares her," said Hayworth.

Picher's a town made famous for its piles of mine waste called chat, it's even the title of a school bulletin board. Declared a superfund site, the government was in the process of buying out residents when an EF-4 tornado in May turned neighborhoods into piles of rubble.

More residents left, leaving some to wonder if the school would re-open.

"The board of education here wanted to continue to have school for those families and those students who remained in this area so that they continue on without any more disruptions in their lives at this point in time," said Picher-Cardin Superintendent Don Barr.

There's a chance the Gorilla's could become extinct by the end of the year. The Oklahoma State Department of Education plans to tour Picher-Cardin schools and if they don't like what they see they could withdraw its accreditation. If that happens, no more state money.

Superintendent Barr says he's not worried and is focused on delivering the best education for his 51 students.

Hayworth says, no matter what happens school spirit will never leave.

"Gorilla pride will live on forever, it'll live in our hearts. It's sad that our town's dying but the Picher Gorilla pride, in my opinion will live forever," said Hayworth.

There are still officially 230 households in Picher, yet many parents have moved out of town, but still have their children enrolled in the school district.

There's no word on when the state plans to conduct its tour.

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