The Skiatook and Sperry school boards have spoken out in support of our teachers. Both boards passed resolutions on Monday, March 12 allowing superintendents to suspend school as necessary in case of a walk-out.
A potential statewide teacher walkout is planned on April 2, should the state government not find funding for teachers raises and public education by April 1. The OEA (Oklahoma Educators Association has demanded more than $800 million in funding for public schools.
The OEA demands include a $10,000 pay raise for all Oklahoma teachers and a $5,000 pay raise for all school support staff. They are willing to let pay raises be funded over three years with at least $6,000 funded in the next fiscal year. In addition to the $213 million for state employee pay raises, they want lawmakers to increase public school funding by $200 million and provide $255.9 million in additional health care funding.
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During the Oklahoma City press conference in which the increase in funding was demanded, a funding solution was not proposed. “We are going to allow the Legislature the deference to create the revenue package that will be required to pay for the needs of our students and schools that we are demanding today,” Alicia Priest , president of the OEA said.
The Skiatook board room was standing room only with many having to listen from outside the room to attend this school board meeting. Parent Lindsey Schnoebelen spoke at the meeting and expressed her support for Skiatook’s teachers. “I am scared that teachers will leave the state or the profession completely. The teacher shortage is our biggest problem because Oklahoma is 50th in absolute pay in the country,” she said. “Legislators want our teachers and educators to keep sacrificing, but they won’t. It is worth it in my opinion to do what is right. Doing what’s right is sometimes the hardest thing. I support out teachers 100 percent.”
As she spoke and expressed her opinion many around the room, mostly teachers and parents, nodded in agreement with her statements. No one spoke out against the strike, the school board or the teachers.
Skiatook Public Schools conducted a survey of its teachers, and 95.2 perfect of those responding said they do support or would take part in the strike. 86.3 percent responded they would add on as many days as it takes to the end of school to shut down for the strike. 51.9 perfect said they would be willing to take personal days to participate in the strike.
The Skiatook School board unanimously approved a resolution supporting Skiatook public school teachers and the work they do educating the children of our school district. Voting for the resolution were Susan Ridenour, Mike Mullins and Jay Schnoebelen. Not in attendance were Tim Allen and Ka’Lu Underwood.
The resolution states:
Whereas, the Board of Education supports public school teachers and the work that they do educating the children of our school district;
Whereas, the Board of Education understands that Oklahoma’s public school teachers are frustrated with the lack of pay, and, as a result, the state is experiencing an extreme shortage of qualified teachers throughout Oklahoma;
Whereas, school districts have increasingly turned to the use of long-term substitute teachers and emergency certified teachers to educate students;
Whereas, the low pay provided by the State of Oklahoma for public school teachers has led to students not being able to receive an education from highly qualified and certified teachers;
Whereas, the Oklahoma Legislature is the governing body that dictates funding to public school districts;
Whereas, the Board of Education supports a salary increase for public school teachers;
Be it therefore resolved that the Board of Education hereby encourages the Oklahoma Legislature to find a dedicated source of revenue that can be utilized to fund a much needed, reoccurring salary increase that will be provided to public school teachers in Oklahoma.
The approval of the resolution was met with a round of applause.
The board then authorized the superintendent to suspend school and revise the 2017-2018 school calendar as may be required in the event if a statewide teacher walkout in protest of the legislature’s failure to adequately fund public education.
“It is the hope of the Sperry Board of Education and Administration that a statewide teacher walkout can be avoided, said Sperry Superintendent Brian Beagles, “but we are ready to support our teachers if the collectively determine a walkout is necessary. Furthermore, we urge the Legislature to find a dedicated source of revenue to fund these long overdue needs.”
Both Superintendents recognize that a walkout will cause temporary difficulties for families. However, as Beagles said, “Continuing with inaction in likely to facilitate the Legislature’s established pattern of underfunding education.”
Skiatook Superintendent Rick Thomas presented some hard facts regarding the underfunding of education in Oklahoma from the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration at this month’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Including benefits, Oklahoma ranks at either 48th or 50th in the nation in average teacher salary and dead last in our region.
Oklahoma teachers have not seen a state increase in the minimum salary schedule in 10 years.
Oklahoma is ranked 47th in the nation in per pupil funding and spends almost $1,700 per pupil less than our neighboring states.
This year alone, the state Board of Education has approved 1800 emergency teacher certifications. In the 2011-2012 school year there were only 32 emergency certifications granted.
Over 90 school districts have moved to four day school weeks.
Over the past decade state general funding is down nearly $180 million while K-12 enrollment has grown by more than 50,000 students. Since the 2013-2014 school year, Oklahoma has 700 fewer teachers.
Education currently receives 32% of the overall state’s appropriated budget.
The lottery brings in a little over $30 million a year to public schools, but that is less than 2% of the school funding formula.
In the past three years, schools have had to make mid-year budget cuts totaling over $79.5 million.
Oklahoma school distrcts spend less than 4% on administrative costs and are ranked 44th national on per student administration spending. Oklahoma law currently caps administrative costs.
Oklahoma teachers would need a raise of over $6,000 for their average salaries to reach the national average adjusted for the cost of living.
“The board and the administration are in full support of our teaches. I have encouraged all of our teachers and staff to contact their legislators and share their concerns about the lack of school funding. I would encourage all of our parents and community members to call, email or tweet their legislators to ask them to support public education with a bill that will provide more money to our schools,” Thomas said.
The Oklahoman has confirmed that school boards for half of the 30 largest districts in the state have approved a closure plan, representing one-third of the student enrollment in Oklahoma. Those districts include Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Broken Arrow, Union, Owasso, Moore, Edmond, Mid-Del, Bartlesville, Muskogee, Claremore, Deer Creek, Mustang, Spaulpa and Tahlequah Public Schools. More school boards are expected to meet in the coming days to discuss the issue.
The Skiatook Journal will continue to update as there are more developments.
