PreK Program Causing Problems For Parents

Hundreds of Owasso parents are upset after receiving an urgent letter from the public school system.  Owasso recently took over the Pre-K program from a private firm, but some major details are still up-in-the-air.  The News On 6's Jeffrey Smith reports some parents don't know when or where classes will be held and they're just two weeks from when classes are set to begin.

Owasso Public Schools on Wednesday sent out a letter to hundreds of parents.  It indicated that, even though four-year-olds had been good-to-go for their first day of school that was not the case anymore.

"We don't know where the kids are going to be going to school, when the start date will be, what time, whether morning or afternoon classes, no details whatsoever," said Owasso mother Keri Gross.

The Pre-K program had been run for years by a private company.  That company has a history of not paying its teachers.

"We didn't become aware that the teachers had not been paid and were not going to be until June, so we had to move quickly on our decision," said Owasso Superintendent Clark Ogilvie.

Owasso Public Schools took over the program last week.   And, parents still don't know where the classes will be held.

"One of the reasons we moved to Owasso in the first place was because we had heard the schools were so good, and this is our first taste of it.  And, I'm not impressed," said Owasso mother Keri Gross.

Neither is Shelley Hayes.

"If Owasso knew they needed to make a change, well, it's two and a half weeks till school," said Owasso mother Shelley Hayes. 

She says her son was all set for a full-day program.  And now, she has to change her work schedule to pick up her son.

"I want to apologize to the parents for the inconvenience this is causing, and has caused," said Owasso Superintendent Clark Ogilvie.

As school officials scramble to put together a new program, parents say they're stuck waiting for answers.  Ogilvie says, at this point, he's considering having the Pre-K classes at either the 6th Grade Center or the 7th Grade Center.

He says that the four-year-olds will arrive and leave at different times, so there won't be a conflict with the older kids.