Teacher walkout in 1990 ended with $560 million for education in just four days

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — As the teacher walkout enters its second week, teachers remind lawmakers and supporters that they have been stuck with the budget agreement from the 1990 walkout for the last 28 years.

"I don't have a phone in my office because my school can't afford a phone, and I don't have a printer in my building," said support staffer, Jessie Lankford.

The 2018 teacher walkout isn't losing steam going into the second week. In fact, it’s much bigger.

"There's strength in numbers, and I think it's going to energize us," said Oklahoma City teacher, Sherry Dew.

The 1990 walkout lasted for only four days.

"It's a little more complicated this time around," said Gene Perry with the Oklahoma Policy Institute.

Perry says the 1990 walkout ended sooner because a bill was already in the works, House Bill 1017.

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"This year, the walkout began with teachers not having a bill on the table," said Perry. "There was no simple and clear need from the teachers. They just said the problems are huge and need all sorts off solutions to fix it."

Last time, the legislature approved more than $560 million for education. This is money that went toward a wide range of policies including reduced class sizes, minimum teacher salaries, alternative teacher certification, funding equity, early childhood programs, school consolidation, new statewide curriculum standards and statewide testing.

This time, the Oklahoma Education Association is asking for over $800 million. Money that they hope will pay for teacher raises, support staff, health care, state employees and daily school operation.

"It's a little hard to compare the two demands because inflation is different, population size, and enrollment size is not the same situation as 1990," said Perry.

In the end, teachers were victorious in 1990. Now, it's just a matter of time to see if they win again.

"We're here until they can come up with a better plan," said OEA President Alicia Priest. " We're going to be behind lawmakers as they pass funding for our kids, for our future."