FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 , 2021
‘MIDYEAR ALLOCATION’ GRADE: F
Arrow was cut slightly above $5 million. Owasso Schools was cut slightly above $2.6 million. Bixby was cut roughly $1.8 million and Tulsa Public Schools’ was cut around $8.8 million.
Schools was cut $5.6 million. Norman Schools’ was cut $4 million.
That is State of Oklahoma aid money to these aforementioned school districts that was projected back in the summer.
As troubling as those numbers are, we haven’t even gotten to the part that will turn your stomach.
NO MORE EXCUSES … OKLAHOMA’S SCHOOL FUNDING PROBLEM NEEDS FIXED NOW
It’s not just a Tulsa-area problem either.
By Kyle Salomon
Oklahoma City Public Schools “Midyear Allocation” funding was cut around $8.9 million. Edmond Public Schools’ was cut $7.8 million. Moore Public
We all like to talk about the importance of schools. We like to say we value our children and the education they receive. Sure, saying those things makes us feel good when we are standing by the water cooler visiting with our co-workers or when we go out to the mailbox and talk to our neighbors across the street.
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Mustang was cut just under $3 million and Yukon Public Schools’ was cut $1.9 million.
Did you know that the virtual charter schools are not receiving any cuts to their “Midyear Allocation” funding? Not only are they not being cut, like most school districts across the state, they are benefiting in a massive way. CONT on pg 4...
However, for most of us, the train stops there. All talk, no action. For myself, that stops right now. As I sat and listened Monday at the January Board of Education Meeting, Jenks Public Schools Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Cody Way gave an update on the “Midyear Allocation” from the State of Oklahoma. What he said was not only stunning it was borderline disturbing. Allow me to show you some numbers from the State of Oklahoma’s “Midyear Allocation” to its 549 school districts. Jenks Public Schools’ “Midyear Allocation” was cut nearly $2.7 million. Union Public Schools’ was cut nearly $3 million. Broken
Jenks Public Schools Board of Education Meeting - January 2021
on student achievement. School board members voluntarily tackle the enormous job of governing school districts while preserving the core of our democratic values.”
IT ’S ALL ABOU T CONNEC TIONS
THANK YOU, JENKS SCHOOL BOARD By Eric Fox, Jenks High School Associate Principal Did you know Children’s Dental Health Month is coming up in February? Not many shopping days left! It makes sense that Children’s Dental Health Month is February to keep it separated from National Candy Month, which we all remember being in June. Did you know that June 6, 2021 is Yo-Yo Day? If not, just look how much you’ve already learned since you started reading this column. One month that is definitely important in recognition of selfless community service is January which serves as National School Board Recognition Month. According to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, School Board Recognition Month “...honors the efforts of thousands of men and women who help to shape the direction of Oklahoma public education and their collective focus
In a 2018 survey of school board members across the nation, the National School Board Association found the average length of service of a board member is eight years and close to 2/3 of them received no compensation for their efforts. Most school boards meet twice a month and 53% of respondents said they spent from 7-24 hours per week on board matters. More than 50% said their motivation for participating as a board member was “To ensure that our children’s schools are the best they can be.” Twenty-two percent said their top reason for serving was, “To give back to my community.” Those are studentcentered and community focused motives for sure. Our school board met on Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and the minutes reported, “After a thorough discussion…” the board voted to buy a radio for the school. It was a “16 tube #R.P. 16 Phonograph from the MidWest Radio Corporation” in Cincinnati, Ohio. That was in 1932. I guess the discussion was so thorough they didn’t get all the business taken care of so on the 24th, they met to approve the salaries for the month which totaled $3441.71 and ranged from $8 to $200 for the superintendent, Chancey C. Moore. Our school board members deal with much larger budgets obviously and more complex issues than the purchase of a phonograph. (Yes, some of you will need to google an image for that). Our board members, Melissa Abdo, Ron Barber, Chuck Forbes, Terry Keeling and Tracy
Kennedy, have helped lead the district through the addition of a new school site, redistricting, the review of data on school start times, statewide teacher demonstrations, historic flooding and now a pandemic that is approaching a year in its direct impact on students, staff and our community. Our board is comprised entirely of volunteers who not only serve the district in this capacity but also work in a variety of clubs, school sites and organizations like PTA, booster clubs and even legislative advocacy. I can’t estimate the number of hours that our board members devote to our students, staff and community. Like the 1932 board they have to engage in thorough discussions, and like other public servants, there are times when people agree with their decisions and times when they disagree. In the quarter of a century I’ve worked in Jenks, I’ve never met a board member in our community who was demanding of their own agenda or not thinking through the lens of what’s best for our kids. In the quarter of a century I’ve worked in public education in this state, I know that is not something to be taken for granted or that happens everywhere. So, hold off on planning for National Children’s Dentistry Month for a few more weeks and please consider recognizing community members who are serving our students through their efforts on the Jenks School Board and school boards across our state and nation. It seems obvious your work not only serves to preserve the core of our democratic values but also to model them. Thank you Ms. Abdo, Mr. Barber, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Keeling and Ms. Kennedy. What you do is important and seen.
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