Just three months after the 2007 tornado, Greensburg’s children returned to class in eighteen modular units set up on the school grounds. The community’s determination to keep education going mirrored its larger commitment to rebuild, and by August, 75 percent of the students and all but one of the teachers were back. From the very beginning, local leaders decided that when a new school was built, it would serve as a model for sustainability and a source of pride for the entire county.

The result is the Kiowa County Schools campus, a 130,000-square-foot facility that houses students from preschool through high school, with capacity for about 425 students. Designed and constructed to LEED Platinum standards, it demonstrates that high-performance, environmentally responsible design can thrive even in a small rural community.

Among its advanced features are ninety-seven geothermal wells that extend 410 feet into the earth to provide heating and cooling through a ground source heat pump system. The school also incorporates natural daylighting, which reduces the need for artificial lighting and creates a bright, welcoming environment for learning. Its ventilation system relies primarily on natural airflow, maintaining healthy indoor air quality while reducing energy use.

Rainwater collection cisterns on the north side of the building capture and store water for landscaping. The exterior siding is made from sustainable materials including gypsum and shale, and reclaimed wood salvaged from trees damaged by Hurricane Katrina is used throughout the structures.

Originally, the campus also featured an on-site wind generator that served as both a renewable energy source and a teaching tool about wind power.

Today, Kiowa County Schools stand as a cornerstone of Greensburg’s recovery. The building reflects a community that values its children, its environment, and its future, proving that education and sustainability fit perfectly together.