Hiring Freeze, Furloughs for Tulsa Public Schools


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Updated: 11/13/2009 10:23 pm Published: 11/13/2009 10:44 am


Tulsa, OK- The Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, Dr. Keith Ballard, calls the budget situation for the district "possibly catastrophic."

In a press conference at the Education Service Center Friday morning, Dr. Ballard, along with the district's Chief Financial Officer, Trish Williams, outlined the 5 steps TPS will take to try to stay afloat amid less than expected revenue reports from the state this week.

Those include: a hiring freeze effective immediately, furloughs for 12-month employees such as support staff and administrators (not teachers), elimination of substitute teachers and travel outside the district and halting non-essential purchases.

Layoffs could be considered for the next school year, although we're told none are planned right now.

Dr. Ballard says he's going to do all he can to avoid cutting into the classroom, but if state revenues continue to drop, it may come to that.

"I think the long-term impact is that we will have larger class sizes," said Dr. Ballard.

As the President of the Tulsa Council of PTA's, that idea of larger class sizes doesn't exactly sit well with Karen Gilbert.

"The budget cuts should not affect the students," said Gilbert.

But, she also says, when times are tough parents should be the ones to step up to the plate.

"In order to have a successful student, or a success with a child, you have to have parent involvement," she said. 

Dr. Ballard says while quality education is the top priority, the sad reality is that it takes money- more money than the state is providing.

He says TPS lost $1 million in October, and $2.5 million's been lost this year.

At the low end, TPS could be set back $8-10 million in total- at the high end, $13 million.

According to the Associated Press, Oklahoma's revenues came in below expectations for the 10th straight month in October.

"We will have to make dramatic reductions in personnel by next school year," said Dr. Ballard. "If we lose $10 million, then we have to take $10 million or more out of our budget for next year."

The first step, however, will be the 5 steps above the district hopes will provide some help.  

Dr. Ballard has assembled a group of cabinet-level officials to look at possible cuts to personnel at the district's Education Service Center by next school year.

The district is also asking the state legislature to tap the state savings account, also known as the Rainy Day Fund.

According to AP reports, Governor Brad Henry has said in order to avoid more painful cuts to essential state services like education and public health, he may have to tap that fund. 


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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of KOKI FOX23 - Tulsa

hbradshaw - 11/18/2009 11:35 AM
Our schools have suffered enough. Classroom sizes are to big, the food that they serve is full of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Teachers are under paid and over worked. I am about to pull my children out and home school them.... Oklahoma has never made education a priority why would they start now? SAVE OUR SCHOOLS!!!!

caribbean girl - 11/15/2009 9:56 PM
I think Dr. Ballard needs to add some support level personnel to the group looking into budget cuts. Support personnel can add a different outlook and maybe some insight on cuts that are right under the noses of the high paid cabinet members. Support personnel are accustomed to living within a small budget. One of the places that needs to be cut is the use of district vehicles being driven home outside of the district and outside of the county with TPS picking up the fuel bill.

kindagreywolf - 11/14/2009 8:12 AM
Micel, You typed like that to show that our education system is already failing, correct?

micel025 - 11/13/2009 8:50 PM
how about furloghing our teachers the support team is needed if it wasnot for support the teachers would not be in the classrooms and teaching plus the schools wouldnot be clean dr ballard think about the action taken
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