Business and school leaders discuss dealing with Tulsa area schools' budget shortfalls

Tulsa schools are battling the state budget crunch. Tulsa area schools are still trying to find ways to manage a $38-million shortfall in state money. <br><br>Business leaders met Wednesday at the OSU-Tulsa

Wednesday, December 11th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa schools are battling the state budget crunch. Tulsa area schools are still trying to find ways to manage a $38-million shortfall in state money.

Business leaders met Wednesday at the OSU-Tulsa campus to talk about how they can lend a hand.

Budget cuts and belt tightening has schools doing without a lot of services. Wednesday, business leaders came here to see what they could do to pick up the slack. Superintendents from Jenks, Union and Tulsa Public Schools met with more than 50 people from Tulsa's business community.

School leaders outlined the financial pictures at their schools, listing what they've cut and things they need. Then educators and business people put their heads together to brainstorm ideas on how local businesses can try to fill in the gaps.

The Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce sponsored Wednesday's event because they want to do their part to support education. And they hope local businesses might help ease the impact of state budget cuts.

Susan Harris with the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce, "schools will go back knowing that some of the things that they thought they weren't going to be able to fund is going to get done by in-kind professional expertise that's right here in Tulsa."