Analysis: In Hans Christian Andersen’s famous tale, an emperor parades through town wearing magnificent clothes that do not exist. Everyone can see the truth, but nobody wants to say it. Finally, a child announces the obvious: the emperor has no clothes.
I thought about that story while listening to Tulsa Public Schools explain why it must close 17 schools, displace nearly 5,000 students, and reorganize much of the district.
Analysis: With millions of missing money still under investigation, the Tulsa Public School District (TPS) Board of Education Monday voted to approve a staff proposal to close or consolidate 14 elementary schools, two middle schools and one alternative program beginning with the 2027-28 school year.
The decision came after a short series of public meetings in which parents, grandparents, teachers, state legislators, education specialists (including a candidate for State School Superintendent), and citizens spoke against the plan. Public comment at the final meeting was respectful, reasoned, and at times tearful as they begged District officials to delay or reject what they considered a deeply faulted school disaster.
Is it an Oklahoma thing to give more money to criminals, shelter them from responsibility, then re-elect them?
Opinion: Questions came to mind yesterday with the arrival of notice that the Oklahoma Senate approved a bill by Tulsa’s Sen. Regina Goodwin to update the stipend school districts may provide to board members for attending board meetings.
Only the largest school districts pay stipends as most school board members in Oklahoma serve for the benefit of their community’s children. The state’s two largest districts, Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) and Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) do pay and such payment don’t much improve local education. Together both districts draw our national education rankings down the drain and both have failed audits by the Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector office. They fail to teach or account.
Former City Councilor Jayme Fowler, from a multi-generational family of life-long educators, argues against the upcoming April 7th Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) bond package, which seeks $609 million in Tulsa Taxes. Fowler’s passionate plea is for voters to take this opportunity to get education right in Tulsa.
He asserts that the propositions fail to address deep-seated systemic issues, including poor academic outcomes, administrative bloat, underutilized facilities, and a destructive busing policy. This bond package perpetuates a failing status quo.
