Tulsa Area Schools Budget Checks Come Up Short In December

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA COUNTY -- Oklahoma's cash-strapped schools receive checks docked by millions only to find out the cuts will soon go even deeper.

State officials report more than two dozen schools are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

Oklahoma public schools' December checks are short by about 9%; come January, budgets will be squeezed even more.

The tension over how to best divide an ever-shrinking pie of education dollars boiled over a Tulsa Public Schools' board meeting.

"The people who do the hardest work in our schools day in and day out deserve respect and fair treatment," said Kelly Simon, AFT Local 6049.

"Nobody, nobody reveres support personnel more than this superintendent. I have a father who was a janitor," said Dr. Keith Ballard, TPS Superintendent.

Some workers were outraged that TPS would boost some administrators' salaries at a time when the district is cutting jobs and furloughing workers.

Superintendent Doctor Keith Ballard insists he's streamlining his administration paying some a little more to save a lot in the future.

"We're on a journey. We're on a journey to be as efficient as we possibly can. when we start the school district next year. We'll have eliminated over five million dollars," Ballard said.

Tulsa Public Schools will need every cent.

In December alone, TPS was cut by more than $800,000, Broken Arrow Schools by about $340,000, Union almost $300,000 and Jenks about $150,000.

So far this year that translates into $2.5 million lost for TPS, almost a million dollars for B.A., more than $850,000 for Union and nearly $500,000 for Jenks.

Those numbers only tell part of the story. Just like other workers across the state, health costs are going up for teachers.

The state is supposed to cover all of teachers' premiums but there is not enough money; so, schools have to pick up the tab.

For Tulsa Public Schools that means scrambling to find another million dollars.

Governor Brad Henry and top lawmakers have promised to shore up education to stop the bleeding.

Lawmakers have not decided whether help will come from the rainy day fund or stimulus money or some other source.