Oklahoma City Public Schools predicts it will lose millions of dollars after the State Board of Education abruptly adopted a resolution last week to equally fund traditional public and charter schools.
The resolution was sparked by a lawsuit settlement between the state and Oklahoma's Public Charter School Association. The move means charters will get access to local tax revenues unlike in the past.
The resolution was endorsed Monday by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.
OKCPS superintendent Sean McDaniel said that's problematic for public school districts.
"This puts our district in a very challenging position," McDaniel said. "And never, ever would I have agreed to this settlement."
OKCPS was a party to the original lawsuit, and McDaniel says his district wouldn't accept the terms of the settlement if given the option he believes he's owed.
"I can't sit around... and just let this happen," McDaniel said. "We've got to be more proactive."
Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist joined McDaniel in condemning the board action Monday. In a written statement, she demanded the resolution be rescinded or her district and others would pursue "any and all available actions."
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