| Updated: 2/24/2011 11:26 pm |
Published: 2/24/2011 9:58 pm
|
When Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard heard the Governor wanted to cut three percent from education, he said enough already.
Personnel would be the first to be let go if lawmakers decide to cut anymore from education he said.
Tulsa public schools is trying to save money back just in case..
Teachers are getting anxious waiting for lawmakers to balance the budget.
"You just notice a lot of things that were here the first year are sort of missing,” Teacher, Ms. Jennifer Boyer said.
Boyer barely made the cut last time.
She's been at Eugene Field for just two years, but she's felt a big impact from state budget cuts.
"The idea of cutting anymore is scary because I think we're at the minimum already,” she said.
The 1st grade teacher is starting to get anxious after the district had to let nearly 300 people go last year, hiring most back.
"I would rather keep what I have now and know that my job is secure,” Ms. Boyer said.
She isn't asking for a lot.
"I would rather not have a raise than teachers lose their jobs," Boyer said.
Dr. Ballard "we don't want to wreak havoc on our teachers."
Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard says a 3 percent cut proposed by the governor would mean more teacher cuts.
“Anything that we lose, will just further that crisis,” Dr. Ballard said.
He hopes lawmakers keep that in mind come crunch time. “We've already taken enough of a hit."
He's says schools shouldn't have to, but Tulsa has back-up just in case.
“We're doing the respectable thing in Tulsa and trying to save money to balance the budget for next year. We just hope the state legislators do the same."
After a $20 million loss last year, the Tulsa school district is still trying to recover...they are back up to 90 percent staff-wise.
Instead of spending the money they got from the feds to help is being saved back so they can keep the staff they have. Now schools are waiting and hoping for the best at the Statehouse.
