Tulsa-Area Parents Urge Lawmakers To Make Changes To Education Funding

Parents from our area lobbied at the state capital Tuesday to convince lawmakers to consider changes to public education funding.

Mothers took time out of their day to talk with our elected leaders say everyone should be just as concerned as them; it may be their school that closed this year, but anyone’s could be next.

As school districts struggle with a major drop in state aid, parents felt they needed to be involved.

5/9/2017 Related Story: Tulsa Teachers To Rally For Education At State Capitol

"When your daughter is coming home crying, saying she doesn't want her school to close, I can't just sit there and do nothing," Sandee Crook said.

Parents and the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association traveled to Oklahoma City, speaking with as many lawmakers as they could.

Parent Nicole Nixon said, “I wanted to go today to take responsibility because that's where the power lies."

"We care about real revenue raising measures that will help funding for our schools," said Shawna Mott-Wright with TCTA.

The group encouraged lawmakers to consider everything, including raising the Gross Production Tax on oil and gas to help fund schools.

Mott-Wright said, "Desperate times calls for desperate measures. Shouldn't you be hearing any revenue raising idea?"

"Everything. I'm willing to pay more taxes; I'm willing to do whatever it takes,” Nixon said.

With less than three weeks left this session, parents hope lawmakers are paying attention.

Crook said, "The momentum was different today, so I do think that things are changing a little bit."

Mott-Wright said, "And people that have never paid attention before are paying attention, if they don't remember that now they will come election day."

Tulsa Public Schools will present final recommended cuts to the school board Thursday and the school board is expected to vote next Monday.

TCTA has more trips to the capital planned for the coming weeks; if you’d like to be involved you can email shawna@tulsacoxmail.com.