Congressman Brad Carson, staff to substitute at eastern Oklahoma schools

<br>MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ Good morning, class. I'm Mr. Carson, your substitute teacher. <br><br>Rep. Brad Carson and his Oklahoma staff are volunteering to substitute teach at cash-strapped Oklahoma

Thursday, January 16th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ Good morning, class. I'm Mr. Carson, your substitute teacher.

Rep. Brad Carson and his Oklahoma staff are volunteering to substitute teach at cash-strapped Oklahoma schools this semester, his office announced Thursday.

Carson and the 10 members of his Oklahoma office will each substitute, free of charge, one day each week for the rest of the semester, Carson spokesman Brad Luna said.

Also, Carson's staff members are volunteering to fill in for teachers who want to attend a Feb. 12 rally at the state Capitol in support of a temporary 1-cent sales tax increase, Luna said. The congressman will be in Washington then, he said.

Many Oklahoma schools have cut back on hiring substitutes to save money amid a $158 million shortfall in state education funding.

Tulsa Public Schools, the state's largest district, has asked professionals to volunteer to substitute after taking a three-hour training course. In nearby Jenks, administrative and clerical personnel are filling in for absent teachers.

Carson heard about other organizations volunteering and the staff supported the idea unanimously, Luna said.

Carson, D-Okla., hasn't picked which schools he or his staff would volunteer at, but schools in his 2nd Congressional District in eastern Oklahoma would get preference, Luna said. Schools can get the substitutes on a first-come, first-served basis, he said.

Carson, who's a Rhodes scholar, and his staff are open to any school or grade level that want them, Luna said.

``The congressman will teach anywhere, and the staff will teach any grade,'' Luna said. ``But I would think he would do well in a government class.''

As for whether a school or class will be disappointed in getting one of Carson's staffers and not the congressman himself, Luna said, ``I hope not.

``We're definitely never going to be able to match up with the congressman, but the most important thing is that the schools will be able to save a few dollars,'' Luna said.

School districts in the 2nd district are encouraged to call the Congressman's office to request a volunteer. The number to call is 918-687-2533.