Cherokee Nation Donates Millions Of Dollars To Local School Districts

The Cherokee Nation is giving $7.8 million this year to public schools across eastern Oklahoma.

This is the most money the tribe has given out since they started donating to public schools in 2002. Ginger Knight, the Superintendent for Woodall Public Schools, says this money has been life-changing for her students. Now, they are able to upgrade their school security.

"We would not be able to afford to have a full-time resource officer,” said Knight. “We are a smaller school and a rural school, and this money helps us with that."

Many of the schools within the Cherokee Nation are rural. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. says it’s important to focus on funding these schools.

"We ought to be a state that no matter where you go to public school, you get the same chance to succeed,” said Hoskin. “We can't guarantee outcomes, but we ought to guarantee a baseline of success."

The nearly eight million dollars will be divided among 109 school districts in eastern Oklahoma including Tulsa Public Schools. The district says the money will go directly to help native students.

"We direct those funds to our Indian Education team, and they make choices each year about the way in which to invest those funds, it's typically about making sure we can provide leadership opportunities," said Dr. Deborah Gist, the Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools.

Knight says about 70% of her students in Woodall are Native American, so she appreciates the Cherokee Nation helping them by donating.

"Cherokee Nation is wonderful about investing in the schools and in the education programs, and we appreciate their partnership with us and their help they give the public schools," said Knight.”

The Cherokee Nation sets aside money each year for public schools based on the number of Cherokee students in the county.