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.
