Broken Arrow Superintendent Warns Teachers About Budget Problems

By Craig Day, The News On 6

BROKEN ARROW, OK -- The economy in crisis has Broken Arrow school leaders pinching pennies.

Superintendent Gary Gerber outlined the district's strategy to employees Friday.

Fourth grade teacher Katy Cook spends a lot of time on lessons, "The top part of the quiz, you are going to label the states."

However, it seems these days, she spends nearly as much time worrying about budget cuts.

"It's scary, it's scary when you think about it. We already do so much, with so little."

State funding for Broken Arrow schools is down $3 million this year. That amount was cut last year.

It could be double that next year.

"There are no resources here other than ourselves and our own ingenuity," said Gary Gerber, Broken Arrow Superintendent.

In a video message to employees, Superintendent Gary Gerber detailed the budget situation, the worst he's seen in his 37 years in education.

"In tough times in Oklahoma, we pull together as family and that's what we're trying to do," Gerber said.

Gerber outlined the district's cost cutting strategy. Broken Arrow Public Schools will ask volunteers to substitute teach, and 20 administrators will sub one day a week.

"You've got a little over half a million dollars spent in substitute costs," Gerber said.

Hiring for vacant positions and expenses not essential to teaching are frozen. Furloughs, early retirement incentives, freezing stipends and reducing extra duty pay are being considered for next year.

"Everything is on the table for us to look at," Gerber said.

Katy Cook, teacher and also the president of the Broken Arrow Education Association, believes most teachers will go along with the cost saving ideas, as she hopes for better days to come.

"We all need to work together; it's going to be a rough time," Cook said.

Broken Arrow's superintendent says right now, the district doesn't have any plans for layoffs.

Like many school superintendents across the state, Gary Gerber hopes state lawmakers dip into the state's rainy day fund to help offset the budget cuts to education.