Structural Integrity Of An OKC Public School In Question

The Oklahoma City School district will spend $100,000 on a study to see if Centennial Mid-High School is structurally safe. Centennial High School was designed by the same firm who worked on Plaza Towers and Briarwood Elementary Schools.

A recent report in the Journal Record indicated serious construction problems at the Moore schools. The massive F-5 Tornado on May 20 reduced Plaza Towers and Briarwood Elementary to mere rubble. But the Journal Record report revealed more than just the tornado may be to blame.

A soon-to-be-released report by the American Society of Civil Engineers found serious construction flaws and code violations. Now, The OKC district has discovered Oklahoma Centennial Mid-High School was designed by the same firm.

"It's concerning," said Brian Baxter, who's child attends Centennial.

"It just blows my mind," agreed Diana Collins who's 14-year-old son also goes to Centennial.

Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Dave Lopez also says the news is troubling. So much so that the board has authorized $100,000 for one or more structural integrity inspections of the school.

"It's our tax dollars that are paying for it," said Collins.

"Our goal is to be proactive and address possible safety concerns immediately and respond accordingly so that we continue to provide a safe learning environment for our students and staff," said Lopez.

And parents we spoke to agree, they need to know if the school is safe, before it's too late.

"If it's not safe, you don't want your kids there," said Collins.

"Hate for it to happen again," added Baxter.

The district is reviewing documentation to determine whether the firm designed any other district-owned buildings.

According to a district spokesperson, the inspections will begin soon and there is no estimated time as to how long they will take.