Ozark School District cuts ribbon on storm shelter

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The Ozark School District yesterday cut the ribbon on an expansion to the Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center.

The 202 N. Fourth Ave. school's new storm shelter, which doubles as a cafeteria, opened to students May 13, according to a news release.

Branco Enterprises Inc. served as construction manager at risk, with design work by Esterly Schneider & Associates Inc.

“This new addition does so many things for our building as a whole. It allows our students to have a warm breakfast and lunch, which is something they haven’t had before,” said Elizabeth Dawson, Tiger Paw principal, in the release. “Also, of course, the safety of everyone here at Tiger Paw. We now have a storm shelter so that in those times of emergency we can easily transition to this space and have it be low stress for students."

The addition also frees up space at Tiger Paw's gymnasium, which previously doubled as its cafeteria. With no kitchen previously, meals had to be delivered daily from East Elementary.

The Tiger Paw expansion was financed through a $19 million no-tax bond issue approved by voters in 2022.

Also funded by the bond issue is an Ozark Middle School storm shelter that opened in March, as well as an Ozark High School storm shelter that's scheduled to open next month, according to the release.