| Updated: 1/31 9:17 am |
Published: 1/30 6:12 pm
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With construction continuing on the Kialegee tribe’s Red Clay Casino, there is growing concern about a school being built just down the road.
The Broken Arrow school district has plans for a new elementary and a Pre-K center on 111th between 129th and 145th.
So could the casino change their plans?
Robyn Gertner is the mother of three children. She says her family moved to Broken Arrow because they felt like it was a safe community to raise their kids. But word on an elementary school being built near a casino has her very concerned.
"I think a casino is fine and I think they're fun, but I think it's better outside of a community instead of right in the middle of your school,” says Gertner.
Her biggest fear is the safety of her three small children.
"There's drinking going on and there is gambling going on and it's just an unknown, and it's not as safe as it could be,” she says.
We spoke with the district about when they knew a casino would be built and when plans were made for a school.
"I believe I received an email from our city manager on September the 9th and of course it was right before our bond issue in October. And at that time, we didn't know if it was going to really happen or not,” says Dr. Jarod Mendenhall, district superintendent.
The land for the school was purchased in December of 2010, well before any casino plans were made public.
Some people want the school to proceed, while others say the district should look at other properties in the area.
For Robyn, the answer is clear.
"If it's inevitable then yeah, I don't think they should build the school right there. They should find another location for it,” says Gertner.
