Superintendent: Okmulgee Schools May Have To Cut Jobs

Projected drops in education funding are also forcing tough decisions for Okmulgee Public Schools.

Facing an estimated drop in funding of about $1 million, Okmulgee's school superintendent says districts don't have many options left other than cutting jobs.

"We've looked at just about everything imaginable in terms of savings," said Tod Williams, Superintendent of Schools.

Superintendent Tod Williams will recommend a plan to the school board to eliminate positions for next year. Some retiring teachers and support staff workers won't be replaced.

Contracts for nine temporary teachers won't be renewed. Four career teachers, two administrators, and four clerical workers will be laid off.

"It's excruciating, because you're talking about peoples' lives," Williams said. "At home you can cut back and eat rice instead of steak, but here at school, it's always peoples' lives that you're changing."

"I think it's unfair. They have families to take care of, and the kids need the education," Maytubby said.

Closing the 9th grade academy is also expected to save $50,000 a year on utilities. A drop in enrollment which means less funding hasn't helped.

And Williams says local districts had to pay for two months of employee insurance when the state wouldn't cover the cost.

Many districts statewide are in the same bind.

"A school down the road, they're $900,000 short for the year," Okmulgee Superintendent Tod Williams said.

"A school up the road is $1.5 million short this year, and projects $2 million short next year. There's a small school to the east of us that is something like $200,000 short on their budget."

Williams says the cuts are a painful short-term solution. In the long term, he says it will take lawmakers coming up with a better and more predictable way of funding education.

"I hope they figure something out, yes," said Okmulgee resident Marvin Maytubby. "They'll pray about it. They'll figure something out, we'll have to keep praying."

Fuel costs are also rising, which is compounding the problem. The plan will go before the school board at a meeting tomorrow night.

Career teachers affected will then be able to request a hearing to lobby for their jobs.