TPS Superintendent Asks Tulsans To Call Their Lawmakers

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- With hundreds of teachers receiving pink slips, a Green Country superintendent asks parents to call their lawmakers.

Tulsa Public Schools notified more than 280 first-year teachers they won't be hired back. 

Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard says he hated to do it, but with the district facing a ten percent budget cut for next year, he says TPS had no choice.

"I want all teachers, I want all parents, I want all concerned citizens to contact their legislators and say: keep this percentage as low as possible," said Ballard.

Ballard says if lawmakers could minimize the budget cuts for education, TPS could hire back more teachers. 

Lawmakers are still wrestling with the state budget and all state agencies are expected to feel the cuts.

5/13/2010  Related Story: Tulsa Public Schools Hands Out 'Non-Renewal Notices' To 286 Teachers