Crooked Oak Public Schools would consider a land swap if the Oklahoma County Jail is placed near property
OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) – Oklahoma County Commissioners say time is ticking to pick a new jail site, and right now, it’s down to two locations.
Now, it appears a nearby school district wants to make a deal if the jail happens to land in their backyard.
The shortlist is down to the current jail location in downtown Oklahoma City, which commissioners say they are not considering, and the site at East Grand and 15th Street in southeast Oklahoma City. That’s the location the Mid-Del community has been fighting for months to be removed for good.
However, commissioners say it’s the best option they have right now.
Del City students express concern over possible jail location so close to their community
“I don’t feel like they’ve looked adequately for them. They just want to put it here where history has shown let’s dump the deplorables there,” said Gina Standridge, Mid-Del school board.
For weeks, KFOR has been reporting on the Mid-Del community’s opposition to building the new Oklahoma County Jail at Southeast 15th and East Grand. However, Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson says all of the pieces are coming together for this property to work out.
“We’ve looked at probably 30 plus sites. We’ve gone through an extensive matrix on each one of them… But it always comes back to the grand location,” said Davidson.
Crooked Oak Public School bought a property just over 1,200 feet from the proposed jail site to build a new sports complex. It would sit too close to the jail, but it is also further than they’d like from existing school buildings. Now, everyone is working to come up with a solution.
So, the new idea is, what about a land swap?
Mid-Del community questions if possible jail location would violate the law
In a letter to the three Oklahoma County Commissioners, Crooked Oak Public Schools Superintendent Bradley Richards mentions they do not want a jail in their backyard, but if it comes down to it, Richards said, “Crooked Oak Schools would consider an even land swap for our sports complex, with detailed contingencies to be discussed.”
You can see the full letter below:
“There has been no official offer. I was approached probably a month or so ago and said, would we ever entertain the possibility? And of course, when we have the option of having a jail next to a sports facility or not, of course we would entertain that,” said Richards.
Richards says he is hoping commissioners could help them secure land close to their school if the jail ends up on Grand. But, so far, they haven’t been able to.
“Nobody wants a jail in their backyard. We’re certainly not asking for that,” said Richards.
It’s a swap he says any other superintendent would consider in his situation. If the location on Grand is selected, he wants the opportunity to move the sports complex to protect his students.
Mid-Del community not happy after property added back to list of possible OK Co. jail sites
This is not a done deal; the jail site still has not been voted on. Richards says this is rather a safety net if the jail ends up next to their future sports complex.
“I feel like I have a responsibility to our school community. If the jail goes there and we have an opportunity to move, yes, we definitely want to move,” said Richards.
Gina Standridge with the Mid-Del School Board says the fight is not over.
“There are other places that are better suited for that jail, and they need to look for them,” said Standridge.
The next county commissioner meeting will be held Monday morning.
The jail locations are not on the agenda, so there will be no vote. However, there will likely be another crowd from the Mid-Del community giving public comments.
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