The Department of Defense has awarded Altus Public Schools a grant of $49,211,667 for the construction of the new L. Mendel Rivers Elementary School at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. This funding is part of a larger project valued at $61,522,311.
The initiative aims to address capacity and condition deficiencies that placed the school 55th on the 2019 Deputy Secretary of Defense "Public Schools on Military Installations Priority List." Once completed, the project will support 600 students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade.
The grant comes under the Department's Public Schools on Military Installations Program. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation prioritizes military installations with schools facing serious capacity and facility condition issues as identified by the Priority List.
A Federal Evaluation Team reviewed the project to ensure it addresses these deficiencies. The team included representatives from various branches including the Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force, Army, Navy, and the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.
This grant aims to improve education quality for defense-connected students and aid in recruiting and retaining vital skills at Altus Air Force Base. It also seeks to enhance partnerships between the community and the installation.
