Texhoma Schools Closed Jan. 19 for Teacher Inservice; New Gym Off-Limits

Texhoma Public Schools closed campuses Monday for a teacher inservice day, a move that paused instruction but allowed staff to focus on professional development. Students returned to class on Tuesday, January 20. At the same time the district made clear that its new gym is still under construction and unavailable for use.

The district posted that the new gym is currently under construction and is not in use at this time. The announcement included a strict safety directive: "NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO USE THE GYM UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!" and asked for community patience: "Please be patient with us as we work to improve our facilities!" The closure affects school athletic practices, community access and any plans to host events in the facility while work continues.

Athletic and extracurricular schedules around the inservice day were adjusted. Middle-school teams played Hooker on January 19 at the OPSU Anchor D Arena with 5/6 and 7/8 basketball tipping at 4:30 p.m., and high school teams are set for the Merritt Tournament across January 22-23. Other district activities include class and club pictures for grades 5-12 on January 21 and the ALVA Speech Tournament at Alva on January 23. These events keep students competing and engaged even as the new gym remains offline.

For families and local businesses, a one-day closure and restricted facilities have ripple effects. Parents had to arrange care or alter work schedules for the Monday inservice; local childcare providers and daytime retailers sometimes see short-term shifts in demand when schools close. The gym closure also delays the district's ability to host larger tournaments or community gatherings that can bring visitors and local spending to Texhoma.

From a budget and planning perspective, the district’s investment in a new gym signals longer-term priorities for extracurricular programming and community use. Until construction is completed and safety clearances are in place, the district is preventing access to avoid liability and keep students and residents safe. That precaution preserves the long-term value of the capital improvement even as it imposes short-term limits.

What comes next for families is straightforward: school resumed Tuesday, January 20, and scheduled events continue through the week. The gym will remain closed until the district announces otherwise; residents should rely on official school communications for reopen dates and any schedule changes. The facility upgrade aims to expand athletic and community options once construction finishes, but for now the priority is safety and completing the project before the gym becomes part of daily school life.