April brings more cuts to Oklahoma school funding
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) - Tulsa County educators are checking their budgets because they're facing another huge cut in state funding for the month of April.
Statewide the drop is just shy of $36 million and all the Tulsa County's districts it will total almost $3 million.
The bigger districts will face the largest losses with Tulsa losing more than $800,000 and Jenks losing more than $200,000.
At the same time, they have more resources and are better able to absorb the losses.
There are concerns that some of the state's smaller districts will face problems meeting their payrolls.
Jenks Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Cody Way said that not a problem for them but every cut hurts, especially in a growing district that's building a new school.
They lose money with each new student they accept because per-pupil funding doesn't keep up.
Way said, "It’s not enough to cover our real student growth and cover and hire the teachers we need to keep our classroom size under control."
In contrast, most districts would be happy to have the issues they face in Jenks.
As funding slides, other systems may be looking at school closings and district consolidation.
Everyone involved wants the legislature must find a permanent solution to the financial crisis.
Way said, "I think it’s the driving factor in our state for economic development. It's our future, for future citizens and future workers and that's where we should put our investment."
Tulsa Public Schools is prepared to meet its obligations after the latest round of cuts.
But the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association wants lawmakers to do their jobs. They say many of their members are worried about meeting their personal obligations in the future.
TCTA Vice President Shawna Mott-Wright said many are looking at new careers.
Mott-Wright said, " They're ready to be cashiers at Walmart, because even though Walmart treats their people awful, they know they'll get paid."
Mott-Wright said lawmakers must find a permanent fix for the problems before we lose more teachers to districts in other states.
