School superintendent experience in Oklahoma

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- 40% of the state's school superintendents have fewer than five years of administrative experience in Oklahoma. <br><br>Department of Education data shows that about 217 of the

Sunday, August 17th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- 40% of the state's school superintendents have fewer than five years of administrative experience in Oklahoma.

Department of Education data shows that about 217 of the state's 541 superintendents have been on the job in Oklahoma five years or less at the end of the fiscal year on June 30th.

The Daily Oklahoman reported that about 33% of superintendents nationally had been on the job five years or less.

The state Education Department only tracks superintendents working in Oklahoma. Experience outside the state doesn't count.

While many of Oklahoma's superintendents are new to the job, they aren't staying long.

A decade ago school superintendents averaged about 15 years in the job. Now the average superintendent spends about nine years on the job.

State schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett says budget cuts and an increasingly mobile population play into the high rate of turnover in Oklahoma.