The fight over five days of school in Tulsa

The Tulsa school board barely approved a plan that would open 15 schools in north Tulsa a week before the rest of the schools in Tulsa. <br/><br/>The school district says the earlier start would help

Tuesday, June 7th 2005, 10:02 am

By: News On 6

The Tulsa school board barely approved a plan that would open 15 schools in north Tulsa a week before the rest of the schools in Tulsa.

The school district says the earlier start would help improve struggling test scores. Still, teachers, principals and board members who represent those schools weren't convinced and spoke out against the plan.

The board eventually passed the change in a 4-to-3 vote Monday night.

Madison Middle School principal and opponent of the plan, Dr RP Ashanti-Alexander: "I'm not ashamed of what I said. As an educator, I think in order to move us to do those right things for everyone; you must say what needs to be said."

Tulsa School superintendent Dr David Sawyer: "There are a lot of demands being made to do things differently, but a lot of concern whenever a proposal is made to in fact do things differently."

The north side schools will start on August 15.The rest of the district goes back to class August 22.