Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

Parents and Frontier Charter School staff gathered for a question and answer session on Tuesday, Feb. 17, as two city council members provided information to clarify concerns regarding the proposed construction of a new Municipal Detention Center less than a mile away.

Within the Executive Park industrial area, Frontier Charter Schools operates three locations serving students from pre-K through high school. Frontier STEM High School (6455 E. Commerce) would be the closest school to the city’s Detention Center location (7750 E. Front St.), approximately 3000 ft. from the address. Additional schools are approximately 4000 ft. away, including Frontier’s School of Innovation Middle School (1575 Universal Ave.) Elementary School (6700 Corporate Drive), and Frontier’s central office at 6800 Corporate Drive.

Coordinated by Deanna Munoz, Director of Organizing, Latinx Education Collaborative, this meeting in the middle school cafeteria allowed parents to directly seek answers from City Council members Crispin Rea (4th District-at-Large) and Lindsay French (2nd District-at-Large)

Translating questions and responses in English/Spanish was provided by Revolution Educativa (RevED) representative Tricia McGhee.

Councilman Rea addressed this gathering of approximately two dozen attendees by explaining there was a confusion about a temporary Detention Center currently under construction on east Front St., a proposed permanent facility and a same-day-adoption of City Ordinance #260077 on January 15.

“Where it got convoluted- complicated- is when we (City Council) started looking at it, as temporary, to a permanent facility,” stated Rea, “and a lot of that is based off a cost-savings involved.”

Following the Council’s majority vote to approve the ordinance, Rea voiced concerns publicly about the change in site and lack of public engagement prior to the introduction of the ordinance.

The site chosen for a permanent detention facility, as passed by the April 2025 voter approval of a Public Safety Tax, was to be located adjacent to the Jackson County Detention Center under construction at 7000 E. US Highway 40. The projected cost savings is based on using the site of the City’s tow lot, 7740 E. Front St. as the site for the permanent facility.

Most of the questions posed by parents concerned the school’s distance from these facilities, how ordinances are created and why parents were only notified after the vote had taken place.

“There is an ordinance that says the detention center can’t be within a thousand feet of parks, schools, churches, boulevards and residential areas,” Rea explained. “All this area (Executive Park) is in my council district and I can tell you that I think a lot of folks don’t know you have schools and other things in this area.”

Councilwoman French further explained by stating,”I will say it wasn’t like it wasn’t unknown or forgotten completely, our city staff knows when they compile a report… but we are still following the rules, the city codes and ordinances about having a detention facility next to a school. So that’s still reviewed by staff, it just wasn’t relayed to City Council before making the decision.”

“It’s really important to us,” continued French, “the City Council, Councilman Rea and I, to make sure we’re in the community and we’re communicating these things clearly.”

Rea stated that the permanent Detention Center was being planned to house 247 offenders, based on a study of the City’s needs. The temporary facility, currently under construction, is planned to open in May with 120 beds.

“There needs to be conversations about how people are being released, and where they’re being released,” said Rea, “How it (the facility) is being designed to shield it from the street, staff coming to explain what the security levels are going to be, and probably a lot more than that. That’s why it’s important for all of you, and parents that are not here, to be at the community engagement sessions, so you can share your concerns and receive information back.”

City Manager Mario Vasquez is currently preparing a report that will provide for community engagement, French and Rea stated.

Munez offered that this forum, specifically for Frontier parents, was a next step so they “could voice their concerns, ask questions, and share perspectives in a setting centered on them.”

“Many families are still seeking clearer answers and stronger assurances, particularly around student safety, long-term impact, and how community input will influence the final decision,” stated Munoz.

“The meeting helped surface concerns and demonstrate the depth of community interest, but for many attendees, it did not fully resolve the underlying issues. Ongoing communication, transparency, and continued engagement will be necessary to truly address the concerns raised.  Rev’ED is currently working on what those next steps will be.”

TOP PHOTO: The City’s temporary Modular Detention Center is under construction at 7750 E. Front St. and is expected to open in May. Photo by Dorri Partain.