Tighter school budgets means larger class sizes

Tulsa area school officials are taking drastic measures to deal with the state budget crunch. <br><br>Money is so tight; the state school superintendent is suspending the state law on class sizes. The

Wednesday, October 16th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa area school officials are taking drastic measures to deal with the state budget crunch.

Money is so tight; the state school superintendent is suspending the state law on class sizes. The move might save money, but it could cost students in the long run. News on Six reporter Ashli Sims says state budget cuts are squeezing schools, but now the relief effort might inflate classrooms.

To give schools a break, State Superintendent Sandy Garrett is suspending the state law on class sizes. "We're looking at not penalizing for class size taking monetary penalize but we're also looking at it on a case by case basis because we donâ€™t want to lose our class size initiative in Oklahoma.â€

Right now, the state law limits most classes to 20 students, and about 120 kids for teachers with more than one class. Garrett's new policy would remove the fine that school's would normally pay for going above that and possibly make room for more kids in Oklahoma classrooms. Steve Stockley with the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association: "I have secondary teachers that donâ€™t have 120 students they have 140 students per day what can you accomplish with those numbers."

Stockley says he already has frustrated teachers complaining of too many kids and too few resources. Garret says she doesn't want to erase the progress made on class sizes just give schools a budget break. But he says this will hurt the classroom and teachers. "Once again we see when the budget ax falls it falls on the classroom teacher and the teachers ability to provide a high quality learning environment for the student."

Sandy Garrett, "Local school boards have cut just to the bone and so we're now getting into a critical area. We donâ€™t want to go back with the progress they've made we want to continue to go forward." Garrett says she's also asking school administrators to trim their staff.

This is the first time the fine for class sizes has been waived. Garrett says itâ€™s the most expensive mandate facing Oklahoma schools.