TAC Looking For A Turn-Around

By Ashli Sims, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The Tulsa Academic Center was shut down last year after reports of frequent violence and overcrowding. Now, TPS claims the center is turning around.

Last year, TAC was described as an overcrowded dumping ground. On Wednesday, the halls were quiet, the classes small, and there's a new principal in charge. But even with all of the changes, it seems like some of the old problems still persist.

Strict, disciplined, order. This is what Tulsa Academic Center was supposed to be. As opposed to the overcrowded, violent, free for all it was reported to be last year. TPS spent the summer trying to get TAC back in line.

"We're here to have school. We're not going to disrupt. We're not going to bother to where we can't have school," said TAC Principal Candas Bullock.

It does seem like a different place, the only folks wandering the halls are fatigue-sporting leadership instructors. Security is very visible. Classes are small and even the students admit it's quieter than last year, if not as much fun.

"Cause it's really like a boot camp. You have to walk in line, stand at attention and all that kind of stuff," said TAC Sophomore Tracie Hardimon. "It's easier to concentrate this year than last year."

Last March, there were about 200 kids at TAC, now it's about one-fourth that.

Last year, TAC flunked record keeping, there was a 200-student gap between who was supposed to be at TAC and who actually showed up.

This year, that gap persists, although much smaller.

TPS reports 81 students were referred to TAC, but only 54 are attending.

The district calls those 27 missing students "inactive" and it's unclear if they're taking a home suspension, are truant, or have dropped out altogether. But TAC's new principal, who wasn't with the program for last year's problem, says she's looking forward not back.

"And to be honest, I don't focus on last year. I focus on taking care of the kids that I'm serving now," said Bullock.

And there are some successes, Hardimon will be one of nine students to graduate from the program. And Kayla Collins, who's new to the program, says TAC is no joke.            

"All it is is playtime or whatever. Like it's a school where you can do whatever you want to and it's not," said Collins.

Collins is keeping up with her work and is on pace to leave TAC in two months.