Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent: Legislature Should Increase School Funding

Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard says state lawmakers need to appropriate an extra $60 million in funding for Oklahoma public schools.

One day after speaking at a huge education rally at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Dr. Ballard appeared on 6 in the Morning to discuss the purpose and timing of the rally.

3/31/2014: Related Story: Thousands Of Teachers Join At Capitol To Rally For Education

Dr. Ballard said organizers decided to hold it on March 31st instead of during spring break, because by law the legislature is required to pass a budget on April 1st.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin announced on Friday that she supports giving public schools an additional $50 million dollars. Dr. Ballard says that amount would cover mandated expenditures the schools will be paying.

He says he'd like to see the legislature appropriate $60 million above and beyond the schools' mandated expenditures. Dr. Ballard says the districts would use a lot of that money for teacher pay raises.