47 million dollar cut to Oklahoma education takes big hit on students, teachers
by Sara Ritsch
Staff Writer
A $47 million cut to Oklahoma's education system has been deducted this week. This will take a giant chunk out of the accessible curricular and extracurricular programs that were initially offered, and yet already suffering from a lack of funds.
As a student in Oklahoma, you are receiving the 46th lowest rated education in the country. As a teacher in Oklahoma, you are receiving the 49th lowest average teacher salary in the country.
If these numbers aren't enough, subtract $47 million from the budget.
Nicole Morgan, 5th grade Social Studies teacher, told the The Gayly how it feels to be directly affected by these cuts. "I've currently spent around $400 of my own money on classroom supplies this semester that my students' families cannot afford. Our school, a title one school, informed us this week that we will no longer be receiving half of our funding for copy paper and printer ink, among other things.
"This limits us to 2,500 copies for the rest of the year. We have 800 students. So once we run out, that will be yet another expense coming from our personal finances. My tests use 6 pages, front and back. Now multiply that by my own 100 students. And that's only one test. This isn't even counting homework or in-class assignments.
"These budget cuts are going to deplete many educators' personal and already scarce finances throughout my state. Not to mention the fact that about three quarters of our students receive free lunches...what will happen to them?"
The Oklahoma Democratic Party released the following press release regarding the substantial cuts:
"Deplorable is the only word that comes to mind after yesterday's announcement from the State Superintendent that a $47 million cut will eliminate programs in our public school systems," said Sarah Baker, Communications Director of the ODP.
"While we are having debates over earthquakes, executions, and more tax breaks for billionaires, we are starving our children of a quality education. Oklahoma ranks at or near the bottom of every marker for public education.
"And just when you think the only way to go is up, the legislature and their irresponsible and reckless decisions have forced the elimination of funding for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and other 'education initiatives,' and slashed as much as 50-percent of teacher training programs and staff development.
"And although the Oklahoma Republican Party, just earlier this year, criticized SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) recipients, they have quite literally just taken food out of the mouths of children through a reduction of school lunch matching funds which address the hunger of thousands of children across Oklahoma who depend on school meals for most or all of their nutritional needs."
In addition to the numerous cuts that students and teachers will be hit with in the middle of a school year, the prospect of closing or consolidation of entire school districts is a likely future step, sooner rather than later. Rural school districts will face hard decisions in the coming months unless the legislature and Governor decide to act. The Republican legislature fails to make public education a priority at every turn, and we expect them to act no differently this time.
In some cases, larger urban school districts have minimal reserve funds to access, but those funds have been dwindling for years and with no relief in sight, could be dried up by the start of the 2016-2017 school year, only eight short months away.
Republicans have controlled the entire system in Oklahoma - from both houses of the State Legislature, to all statewide offices, all the way to the Governor's office - for six years, and the contemptible conditions of our public schools rests squarely on their shoulders. Oklahoma Republicans have continued to show their lack of concern for Oklahoma's children, middle class, seniors, and veterans through their quixotic legislative actions to give tax cuts in the middle of one of the worst budget failures Oklahoma has seen.
No doubt the same Republican leaders, who pushed though damaging pieces of legislation over the past six years, which have led us to where we are today, will remain unrelenting for the next five months, unwilling to take responsibility for their actions.
Baker went on to say, "In an election year like 2016, candidates will be talking about how they 'value' public education, but we have a solid track record for a majority of the legislature that tells parents otherwise.
“The argument for 'school choice' becomes a lot easier for Republicans when they starve public schools of funds and resources, forcing parents to consider long commutes and expensive options because their State Senator or State Representative has refused to take action and properly fund schools in their own districts.
"This is manipulation at its finest, and Oklahoma is losing."
The Gayly - 1/08/2016 @ 1:29 p.m. CST