Tulsa Schools To Increase Class Size, Cut Teachers

The Tulsa Public Schools district will start next year with 75 fewer teachers than this year. The district can absorb the losses without a layoff because of retirements - but still it's going to be a big shift of first year teachers to different schools where students will go into larger classes.

Teacher Jeff Thomas is first on the list to lose his teaching job at Webster High School.

"With less teachers you're going to have larger classrooms and that's going to impact the students, so I could be selfish and worry about my job, but it's really about the kids and what's best for them," said Jeff Thomas.

What's happening at Webster is common to almost every school. Tulsa is cutting 75 teaching positions in the district.

Most elementary schools will lose one teacher each - and a few elementary schools will lose two.

The following are TPS projections:

• 1st & 2nd Grade - 6 teachers
• 3rd Grade - 7 teachers
• 4th Grade - 3 teachers
• 5th Grade - 4 teachers
• 6th Grade - 3 teachers

"We want to preserve what we have," said Cathy Wilkie, Carnegie PTA President. "We hate to see any teachers go, and what's it's going to do to our school?"

"But it's particularly frustrating at this time because it could be avoided," said Tulsa Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard.

Superintendent Keith Ballard blames the legislature for putting tax cuts before education - leaving the budget the same as it was last year, and the same as 2008.

Letter to parents

"So we are in the position now when it's in the hands of the legislature, and we don't have any choice," Ballard said.

Tulsa filled the gaps for the last two years with stimulus money and savings from Project Schoolhouse.

Now they'll cut teachers and increase class sizes.

The following are TPS Projections for increase class sizes:

• Pre-K and Kindergarten classes will stay the same
• 1st - 6th increase by 1 student per class
• 7th - 12th increase by 2 students per class
• Alternative Education classes will grow from 12 to 15 students per class

"The main thing is that it's going to be a larger class for each teacher. The projection went from 26 to 1 up to 29 to 1," said Mike Crase, Webster Assistant Principal.

For Thomas, a first year English teacher, the math is simple.

"By just adding a few students, it really takes away from what the teacher is able to impact upon the students," he said.

And there's going to be an impact on high school sports. As of now - most Tulsa high schools will move practice from the last period of the day to after school only so coaches can teach regular classes instead.