By Stacy D. Johnson 

Staff Writer 

MOYERS - It's been 28 years since a senior class graduated from Moyers. Moyers' small school renews a traditional spring ceremony tonight as the district celebrates its 100th anniversary, and the 13 members of the 1996 graduating class proceed through commencement exercises. In 1968, the ninth- through 12th- grades were dropped due to declining enrollment. Four years ago, the ninth- grade was reintroduced, followed the next years by the 10th, 11th and 12th. The the Pushmataha County district has been scrutinized every step of the way. Senior Jason Kellett, 18, said he is following a family tradition. His father and mother graduated in the early 1960s from Moyers. "It's really important to me because. I'll be the first one of my family to graduate here since 1965. I thought that would kind of be really cool. The last graduating class had 13 also," he said. Jason said he is the only one in his class who has attended every year in the district since kindergarten. In 1993, then-Superintendent Jim Washburn was criticized by patrons who petitioned for a state audit on district finances, saying he misled them on a $190,000 bond issue that provided money to add four classrooms. The bond proposal narrowly passed. Four landowners filed unsuccessful petitions trying to nullify the results, claiming voters outside the district were solicited to guarantee approval. See MOYERS, Page 12 From Page 1 Citizens also asked the state Edu- cation Department to close grades nine and 10 and send the 25 high school students to Antlers before construction began. Washburn obtained state accred- itation for the high school despite the efforts. The school board ap- proved classes and hired teachers as enrollment grew and test scores soared, he said Wednesday. Washburn taught business and served as superintendent, elemen- tary and high school principals. He left last year to become super- intendent of Fletcher schools. Recent state laws have made the process of adding a high school nore complicated, he said. Moyers Superintendent Bruce awless said the reintroduction of he upper grades has created a reater sense of community. "This little old community has ulled together. (Graduation activies) will be a nice celebration for nem," he said. "The school really is family entertainment for the community. If you don't have a high school for your basketball and track and things of this nature as far as the congruity of the community, you don't have it." Lawless said the community has not dwelled on the controversies that led to the school reopening. "The district has gone through some tough times. Everyone's try- ing to say "That's in the past. Everyone's got something to cele- brate here." Lawless said. Today's events include a 7 p.m. outdoor ceremony, weather permitting, with speaker Leo Presley, state Commerce Department executive director. If it rains, activities will be moved to the gymnasium. Moyers postmaster Tommie Hill said a special cancellation stamp commemorating the anniversary and graduation will be offered be- ginning today. It features the school's mascot, a tiger, she said.”