Mid-Del Schools Forced To Repay Misspent Federal Funds

Mid-Del Public Schools will be forced to repay more than half a million dollars in misspent federal relief funds. The Oklahoma Department of Education claims the schools used COVID-relief funds for athletic field maintenance. 

State Superintendent Ryan Walters said:

“Mid-Del Schools and its Superintendent, Rick Cobb, have been dishonest at every turn about how it used federal funds destined for the classroom on athletic fields, [...] This was a clear misuse of taxpayer dollars from the beginning. Instead of coming clean immediately, Cobb chose to continue sidestepping the law and both federal and agency policy. The district failed taxpayers by not employing adequate financial controls while making decisions that appear to be tainted by nepotism. I am proud that my administration is rooting out financial impropriety like this, and we will continue to work every day to make sure every dollar of taxpayer money goes toward benefitting Oklahoma students.”

In a statement released Friday, Dr. Rick Cobb, Mid-Del Schools Superintendent said:

"It is outrageous for the State Superintendent to use this occasion for more political grandstanding. Since Walters has been in office, the Department has asked districts to return Covid Relief Funds dozens of times. None of those other requests have been accompanied by a press release. In every other one of these situations, the school district has had the opportunity to reallocate the funds.

We are exploring our options to continue to do what is right for the students, families, and staff of Mid-Del Public Schools. We also renew our call for OSDE to fulfill our Open Records Request dating back to January in order to provide additional context in this matter."