State Board Of Education Discusses Budget For Next School Year

State Superintendent Ryan Walters released the department's budget for the next school year.

Part of it includes putting money toward increasing school security and putting Bibles in the classroom.

Walters says he plans to ask for more than four billion dollars to go toward education in the state. 

The budget has to be submitted by Oct. 1, to begin the approval process.

A portion of the proposed budget would increase school security.

$1 million to fund recruiting law enforcement and veterans to become teachers and give them a sign-on bonus.

The board is asking for $500,000 to go toward a program for additional school districts to allow a staff member to carry a concealed firearm if they choose and put up signs on campus saying that.

“Part of this is not having more individuals that have the ability to carry, it's also simply the fact that people would know there are people here who are trained and carry, and you don't know who they are,” Walters said.

Walters said an additional $3 million would buy Bibles for classrooms. The board discussed concerns about whether that program is constitutional.

“Are we opening the door to something like that, either from something like that actually happening, or from some kind of constitutional challenge,” asked board member Sarah Lepak. 

Walters reiterated the Bible will only be used as a historical document, and he plans to use the new King James Version. 

He says the $3 million he's asking for will be in addition to the $3 million already set aside.

“I also think we require things like there's no commentary attached to it, we're not looking for this religious group, or that one, or this church to say, this is how we interpret this, that's not the intent here, it's simply just the text of a historical document,” he said.

The board also let Tulsa Public Schools know this would be the last meeting they're required to come give monthly updates.