BOKCHITO, Okla. (KTEN) — Thursday was the first day of classes for Rock Creek Public Schools, and students and teachers are ready to begin the 2023-24 school year.

Students arrived bright and early, ready to learn.

"It's one of my favorite days of the year," said one. "I'm so excited to be here with my friends," another added.

It was a bittersweet moment for some parents to see their kids going back to school.

"I have a senior and a freshman, so we had to take last day of school photos," said special education teacher Autumn Whitaker. "It was a little hard. They were not real happy about it!"

While kids are looking forward to the first day of classes, teachers have set their goals high.

"Take them where they enter the classroom and see as far as you can take them throughout the year," said third grade teacher Kristin Boehme.

Later this year, taxpayers in the Rock Creek school district will vote in a school bond election. The 10-year $785,000 package targets security improvements across the district's campuses.

"We want to change out all our doors, wireless access controls, and all of our interior doors will be the same way, so we can go in the automatic lockdowns quickly," said Superintendent Rob Frederick. "We can try to protect our kids, and in 2023, security, I think, is of the utmost importance."

If the bond passes muster in the September 12 election, property taxes will increase by five percent.