Tulsa Public School's Cluster Plan

Monday, November 20th 2006, 6:39 pm

By: News On 6

Thereâ€™s a new strategy for Tulsa Public Schools. The district's new superintendent, Dr. Michael Zolkoski, unveiled a plan to help improve Tulsa Public Schools. He wants to organize the districts 80 schools into five clusters.

Zolkoski made his presentation to the school board Monday night.

News on 6 reporter Ashli Sims says Dr. Zolkoski basically wants to give the large district a small school feeling.

Zolkoski's plan is to build a K-16 program at TPS. Under his plan, all 80 schools would be divided into five clusters. Several elementary schools would funnel students into one or two middle schools, which would feed into one or two high schools.

Clusters of elementary, middle and high school teachers would work together as a team.

"Teachers will get the advantage of knowing a lot of students, instead of trying to figure out and guess where their students are. They will know exactly where they are, where to start and where to stop," said Dr. Zolkoski.

Dr. Zolkoski says TPS will remain the district of choice, and students can transfer to other schools regardless of the cluster. Students will also be allowed to opt out of low performing schools, following No Child Left Behind rules.