Pawhuska Residents Protest Proposed Data Center Near Elementary School

Residents voice concerns over potential environmental and safety issues impacting the nearby school.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:21am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D macro illustration of a data center server rack and cables, surrounded by a hazy, neon-lit environment. The server hardware is illuminated by pulsing cyan and magenta lights, representing the digital infrastructure at the heart of the community conflict.As a community debates the merits of a proposed data center, the looming presence of high-tech infrastructure raises concerns about its impact on the local school and neighborhood.Pawhuska Today

Residents of Pawhuska, Oklahoma are planning a protest before the city council meeting on Tuesday evening to voice their concerns about a proposed data center that would be located next to Indian Camp Elementary School. The protest is being organized by local resident Isabella Ortiz, who is leading the opposition to the data center project.

Why it matters

The proposed data center has sparked significant community backlash due to its proximity to an elementary school. Residents are worried about potential environmental and safety issues that could impact the school and surrounding neighborhoods.

The details

The data center would be built on a site next to Indian Camp Elementary School. Protest organizer Isabella Ortiz and other local residents are concerned about the potential impact the data center could have on the school and community, including worries about increased traffic, noise, and environmental hazards.

  • The protest is scheduled to take place prior to the Pawhuska City Council meeting on Tuesday evening.
  • The city council meeting will discuss the proposed data center project.

The players

Isabella Ortiz

A Pawhuska resident who is organizing the protest against the proposed data center project.

Pawhuska City Council

The local governing body that will be discussing and potentially deciding on the data center proposal at their upcoming meeting.

Indian Camp Elementary School

The elementary school that is located adjacent to the proposed site for the data center.

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What they’re saying

“We must not allow a data center to be built so close to our children's school. The risks are simply too high.”

— Isabella Ortiz, Protest Organizer

What’s next

The Pawhuska City Council will discuss and potentially vote on the proposed data center project at their meeting on Tuesday evening. The outcome of this meeting will determine the next steps for the project and the community's response.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the growing tensions between corporate development and community concerns, especially when it comes to projects that could potentially impact schools and residential areas. The city council's decision will be closely watched by both the data center company and the concerned residents of Pawhuska.