Safe room opens at Mustang school
MUSTANG — Students and staff at Mustang Education Center will have more peace of mind this storm season with the completion of a new shelter.
The storm shelter, constructed at the end of one wing of the building, holds 250 people and was built to Federal Emergency Management Agency codes. Heath Tate with MA+ Architecture designed the building, which has restrooms, backup power and passive ventilation.
Principal Sondra Bivens is thrilled.
“What a comfort to know the students and staff have a safe place to shelter if a tornado approaches our area,” she said.
When not being used as a shelter, the room, which has carpet and a whimsical polka-dot paint scheme, serves as a multipurpose room for indoor prekindergarten recess, meetings, professional development activities and testing sessions for PASS students.
PASS, or Partnership for Academic Student Success, is the district’s alternative education program for high school students who have not been successful in a traditional classroom.
“This shelter is such a beautiful addition” to the Mustang Education Center, Bivens said. “It is pretty and inviting. It’s also much bigger than I expected. The entire population of students and staff can fit comfortably in the room.”
The storm shelter was made possible by a 2014 bond issue.
Mustang Education Center was originally a nursing facility. Mustang Public Schools purchased the building from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $10. It was the first building renovated with MAPS for Kids funds. The facility made it possible for the district to open a prekindergarten program and provide a permanent home for PASS.