Survey Finds Tulsa Teachers Willing To Change For 'Trade Ups'

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma – Most teachers at Tulsa Public Schools are willing to change schools if it means greater student access to various "trade ups," the district said Tuesday.

Tulsa Public Schools released the results of its survey of nearly 1,400 teachers, principals and certified staff regarding the district's Project Schoolhouse proposals. The three proposals are aimed at making the district leaner and more efficient.

Read the three Project Schoolhouse Proposals

According to the district, most teachers and principals were willing to change to a different school if it meant greater student access to the following "trade ups":

• Community Schools – 59.6 percent
• Greater Access To Tutoring – 58.2 percent
• Availability to Art, Band, Orchestra, and Physical Education -57.8 percent
• More Elective Options - 53.4 percent
• More After School Activities – 52 percent
• College Preparatory Programs – 47.9 percent
• More Foreign Language Options – 46.6 percent
• Chance to earn Associate's Degree at High School Level – 43.1 percent
• More Career-Tech Options – 41.5 percent
• International Focused Magnet School – 40.4 percent

"Clearly, with the appropriate trade ups, teachers and principals are willing to make a change if it will benefit students," Dr. Keith Ballard, Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, said.

Read the complete results from the survey

According to the district, the survey also found that 52.8 percent of the educators questioned rated the accessibility and equity of current programs to all children in the district as "not equitable."

Other results include:

• Nearly 73 percent of educators said they are in favor of making Rogers High School a lottery magnet school. That would give students in grades 9-12 the ability to earn a High School diploma and an Associate's Degree.
• 34.4 percent said the district's transfer policy has a negative impact on the effectiveness of their school to provide a quality learning experience for students.
• 33 percent said they would be willing to close their current school and move with their students to combine with another school if students had greater access to better educational opportunities.
• 38 percent supported the move toward high schools becoming 7th-12th grade.
• Only 26 percent supported a 1st-8th grade configuration in a single school.
• About 55.6 percent would support a Continuous Learning Calendar, or Year-Round School. [Note: there would be the same number of school days during the year, 175 days, with more frequent, shorter, breaks.]

"We are committed to taking all thoughts and opinions into account, including the many ideas we are receiving at community forums," Ballard said. "We are already making adjustments to what will become our final plan based on the input we are receiving from parents, educators and the Tulsa community."

The district will host four forums before making a final decision expected on May 2, 2011.  All four forums [listed below] will begin at 6 p.m. in the individual school's auditorium:

• Gilcrease Middle School, 5550 N. Cincinnati Ave. – Tuesday, April 12, 2011
• Foster Middle School, 12121 E. 21 St. – Thursday, April 14, 2011
• Thoreau Demonstration Academy, 7370 E. 71 St. – Tuesday, April 19, 2011
• Clinton Middle School, 2224 W. 41 St. – Monday, April 25, 2011

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