Oklahoma state agency endorses closing some Mid-Del elementary universities

MID-DEL, Okla. (KFOR) – A a long time-lengthy analyze by a state company dug into how to increase the Mid-Del University District and advisable closing some elementary educational institutions since of small enrollment fees and out-of-date or beneath-used properties.

“If there’s a room to change points around, I imagine it’s value seeking at it,” said Mid-Del Faculties Superintendent Dr. Rick Cobb.

In all, the Oklahoma Workplace of Educational Top quality and Accountability uncovered 71 suggestions for enhancing functions and university student education and learning in just the district. One of them was a recommendation to shut down four elementary educational institutions.

“We could possibly close zero, a single, two, [but] I really do not see us acquiring to four,” stated Dr. Cobb.

The universities up for attainable closure incorporate Cleveland Bailey, Nation Estates, Highland Park, Ridgecrest, Steed and Townsend Elementary Educational facilities.

Mid-Del Superintendent, Dr. Rick Cobb, claimed even ahead of the pandemic, the colleges saw reduced enrollment quantities.

“We would have to align the attendance boundaries to make positive we’re not pushing course measurements way up,” reported the Superintendent.

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Mid-Del College District

Dr. Cobb mentioned a lot of of the universities are also outdated. Several of them have been standing considering that the 1950s.

“We have some areas where by young ones are going to school in a building that’s 70-decades-old, and it’s less than a mile away from a further faculty that is less than 10 several years old,” he mentioned.

“I would say seasoned buildings,” explained Kanika Polk, a previous Mid-Del substitute instructor and mom of seven.

One particular of Polk’s daughters attends Highland Park elementary.

“It delivers communities with each other, in its place of [saying] just, ‘Oh we just in this article for college,’” stated Polk. “You are ready to grow with every other when you are there. When you’re bussed out, it kind of takes away some of that.”

Polk claimed she’s fearful about the notion of her young baby staying bussed throughout city for college and concerned other youngsters could miss out on right after-faculty things to do since they can’t stroll to school.

“There are lots of folks little ones that can’t participate due to the fact they’re dad and mom, just can’t get them back and forth. But if they have it in their community, they can walk there,” she explained.

“Whether we close educational institutions or not, we need to make some decisions about how we’re heading to keep the services that we preserve open,” explained the superintendent.

Dr. Cobb said so significantly, no conclusions have been manufactured to near educational institutions.

The superintendent mentioned the district is also operating on placing together an Elementary Realignment Committee, produced up of mother and father, staff and the group, to see how they can work with their old buildings and use the space the best way they can.