Safe Rooms In Schools Now Part Of OKC Building Code

A plan requiring all new schools to have storm shelters or safe rooms has been voted through.

It's now part of the building code in Oklahoma City.

From now on, every new school within OKC city limits must be built to these new standards.

The move will affect 24 districts that have schools inside Oklahoma City limits.

"Every school kid should have a standard level of safety when they go to school," said OKC Mayor Mick Cornett, who proposed the idea earlier this year. "We don't have that today, but I hope over time we can move toward that."

1/28/2014 Related Story: OKC Mayor Introduces Ordinance Requiring Shelters In New Schools

Several new schools in Edmond are being built with safe rooms.

Heritage Elementary in North Edmond will have six safe rooms at a cost of $30,000 to $35,000 per room, according to Edmond Public Schools.

The total cost of the school is $14.5 million.

Only one council member voted against the plan today.

Councilman James Griener said he doesn't think the city should be mandating what he thinks each school district should decide.