A Closer Look at Education Spending On May 24, 2006, OCPA sent a letter requesting some basic information from the school superintendent in each Oklahoma public school district. The letter said, in relevant part: Under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, Title 51, Sections 24A.1– 24A.22, I am requesting that records related to education expenditures by your school district be made available to me for inspection. Specifically, I am requesting answers to the following questions: •
• •
• • •
How many employees in the school district make more than $75,000 a year in total compensation – inclusive of benefits including but not limited to health, dental, and participation in employee retirement plans? Please provide the job titles and compensation of those employees. How many vehicles (excluding buses used in the normal course of getting students to and from school) are owned or leased by the district, or loaned or reimbursed to employees in the district? What is the district’s total payment annually to national, state and local organizations including but not limited to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association and the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration? What does the district pay annually in fees for legal counsel, public relations consulting, and for local, state and national lobbying efforts generally? Which services, such as transportation, food service, or maintenance, has the district ever put to bid and/or outsourced? Has the district ever received an energy audit and if so, what were the final conclusions of the energy audit?
This document summarizes the results of that Open Records request. Districts highlighted in blue chose not to respond to OCPA’s request. Districts highlighted in pink did not provide the information, but rather invited OCPA to come to the school district office and obtain the information ourselves. Brandon Dutcher August 8, 2006