OKCPS board tables vote on allowing those with felonies to volunteer

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Monday, the school board for Oklahoma City Public Schools decided to delay a vote on a new volunteering policy.

The item will be taken up at the next meeting in August.

The policy proposal would allow some people with felony convictions to be eligible to volunteer at OKCPS schools. Volunteers would be accepted as long as they their crime was non-violent and did not happen within the past three years.

"Our board delayed the vote to give time to incorporate additional feedback, including adding an appeal process. To ensure full transparency, the delay will provide the opportunity for the public to review the final policy including these suggested revisions prior to approval," the district said in a statement.

Still, at Monday night's meeting some gave their input on the policy. Three people spoke to the board, all advocating for the rules to be loosened even more to allow violent offenders.

"Who better to speak to someone going down the wrong path than somebody who's been there," said John Parker, who served 18 years in prison for a violent crime.

Parker works with Teaching and Saving Kids outreach program, or TASK, based out ofDivine Wisdom Worship Center in Midwest City. Theodis Manning, Sr., the pastor of that church also spoke to the board.

"We realize that people cringe when you say 'violent offenders' but what we've found is some of our violent offenders are some of our nicest people," Manning told the board.