The superintendents of Oklahoma’s two largest school districts told lawmakers Tuesday they are concerned about future budget cuts to education. And, they challenged legislators to prevent further damage.
Rob Neu, the superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools, told a crowd of lawmakers that next year his district won’t hire new teachers because they won’t have the money. Class sizes will just get bigger.
Neu also said the district lost $30 million dollars due to the state revenue failure, and he’s worried this loss will undercut the progress his schools have made over the past two years.
Dr. Deborah Gist, the Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, echoed Neu’s concerns, and asked lawmakers to not make things worse by passing school voucher, or Education Savings Account legislation.
"The bill that is being considered is incredibly destructive. This is not what we need right now."
Gist thinks the teacher shortage is worse in Oklahoma than it is anywhere else.
"We have such a shortage in Oklahoma that we literally cannot find a third grade teacher, a second grade teacher, a kindergarten teacher."
Gist called the current situation unsustainable and told legislators that teacher pay raises have to come soon, or things are only going to get worse.
