Muskogee School Board Announces Unanimous Support For Teachers And Support Staff

Another Green Country school district is preparing to shut down as the planned statewide teacher walkout inches closer.

Muskogee Public Schools Board of Education unanimously voted to support the teachers and shut down if the list of demands presented by the OEA isn’t met by April 2nd.

Many teachers and support staff said they don’t want to walk out, but they are tired of being walked on.

English teacher Lisa Dotson says “this will throw a huge wrench into plans for the rest of the year, but sometimes you have to stand up to be heard.”

Dotson says, while she doesn’t want to walk out, she will do whatever needs to be done.

“I went into teaching 20 years ago,” said Dotson.  “I didn’t think I was going to be paid the same as I was 20 years ago.”

As the cost of living continues to rise, teachers and support staff say their paychecks have stayed the same.

Beverly Dorn, secretary at Sadler Arts Academy, says, “I’ve worked for about 23 years and we have never had a raise as long as I’ve been working.”

Dorn says the Muskogee superintendent met with support staff within the district and told them they will make sure their insurance and paychecks will not be affected throughout the walkout because they play a big role in kids’ lives too.

“If there wasn’t a support staff, who would bring kids to school?  Bus drivers wouldn’t be there,” said Dorn.  “They couldn’t run a school without support staff.”

Now, with the entire school board behind them, they are ready for the Capitol.

At the board meeting, there was also a question about seniors graduating on time.  The superintendent reassured everyone that if students have enough credits to graduate, they will be walking on May 25th.  If the teachers are still out, they will ask the community to come together to help make events like graduation and prom still happen for the students.