Bartlesville School Board Reverses Decision: School Will Be Open

Wednesday, February 9th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Bartlesville School Board has decided against closing school for a day next week so teachers can lobby the legislature. The board reversed itself after parents complained about the extra day off for students.

While thousands of teachers rally in Oklahoma City next week, most of the Bartlesville teachers will be in their classrooms. They will be at their jobs that day as usual, because some parents didn't want their children to have the day off. "Days off not only interrupt the routine and discipline of learning, days off disrupt the rhythm of learning," said parent Julie Daniels.

The parents asked the school board to reconsider cancelling classes for the rally. However, many board members felt that the event was important enough that every teacher should be able to go. "Over 200 schools are participating," said school board member Emory Pitzer. "Teachers from Tulsa Public Schools will be there. They're estimating 6000 people will go from Tulsa alone. There will also be teachers from Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Sand Springs and Broken Arrow."

The concerned parents even offered to substitute to keep school open. "Our volunteers are prepared to work with the teachers lesson plans to provide a worthwhile day of instruction and learning," said parent Mark Roberts.

The board discussed the issue for about an hour before they voted. "I had to make the choice," said school board president Bill Dausses. "I have to vote yes. Iâ€™ve got to vote, aye.

The vote to keep school open was a disappointment for the teachersâ€™ association. "It's going to create a difficult situation where I have teachers who feel it's important to lobby and who have to balance that against their professional obligation in the classroom," said Bartlesville Education Associationâ€™s Cheryl Fentress. "It's going to be difficult."

The school boardâ€™s decision puts Bartlesville in line with the majority of districts which did not change their calendars, even though many of the larger districts did. Ultimately, the Bartlesville school board decided it was more important for their teachers to be in the classroom.

Tulsa Public schools are closed for the rally, but Jenks and Union will remain open. About 200 of 550 Oklahoma school districts have canceled classes for that day.