District Consolidation Spurs Third Survey From Tulsa Public Schools

Ashli Sims, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa Public Schools wants to know what you think about its historical overhaul.

The district announced another round of surveys directed at Tulsa taxpayers, as well as parents. But the district still hasn't tallied all of the results for the first survey on its consolidation plans.

The district has now issued three sets of surveys: one for parents, teachers, and now taxpayers. The latest version asks specifically about details of the district's consolidation plans.

They've turned out in droves, packing auditorium after auditorium to give school leaders a piece of their minds.

"But our students should not be at risk based off the moves that need to be made," one parent said.

Tulsa Public Schools is in the middle of a massive reorganization to streamline the district and save millions of dollars.

The district released three proposals for consolidation a week and a half ago, but leaders say the final recommendation will be a combination of the three.

Read all three Project Schoolhouse Proposals

Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard has attended several meetings to answer questions about the plans and hear parent concerns.

"It's not about pleasing everyone," he said. "It's about doing ultimately what we think is right. But we can insure that everyone has a voice in the process. And that's what this is about."

To get more voices in the process, the district released its third survey Friday.  Previous surveys were more generic and were due just as the three proposals were released.

The latest survey asks respondents to rate each plan and weigh in on specifics, like how many grade levels should be under one roof.

The deadline for completing this latest survey is Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 5 p.m. Volunteers will then be working around the clock to tally the results in time to inform the district's decisions.

The school board is still scheduled to vote on May 2, 2011.

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