Petition seeks additional $850M for Oklahoma's public schools
Petition seeks additional $850M for Oklahoma's public schools

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By John Greiner
Published: August 7, 2008

Chuck Pack, who said he spends about $500 a year for supplies to teach mathematics and geometry, filed a petition with the secretary of state on Wednesday designed to raise $850 million more a year for public schools.

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"I'm here today to ask the state to help me teach my kids,” said Pack, a Tahlequah teacher who was accompanied by other supporters of the petition.

The proposal calls for a statewide election to increase per-pupil funding from $6,900 to the regional average, which currently is $8,300 per student.

The educators have 90 days to obtain a minimum of 138,970 signatures of valid registered voters on the petition, but plan to get 200,000 signatures, educators said.

Pack said he also wants to help his own children, a kindergartener and a third grader.

He buys supplies including pencils, rubber bands, cylinders and pyramids to give his geometry students hands-on training, and it comes to about $500 a year, he said.

About the petition
The proposal is called Helping Oklahoma Public Education, or HOPE. If enough people sign the petition, an election will be held that could amend the Oklahoma Constitution to require the funding hike.

If approved, the regional average funding per student would be phased in over three years.

Martha Wissler, a math teacher at Edmond Memorial High School, was another educator who came to support the filing of the petition.

"I think we are on the right track to getting funding we need in public education,” Wissler said.

Funding problems precluded the purchase of new reading and literature textbooks this year for students in kindergarten, fifth grade and 12th grade in the Edmond school system, Wissler said.

The petition has come under attack from some legislators since reports first surfaced about the plan.

The State Chamber of Oklahoma criticized it Wednesday, saying it is a mandate that would strip the Legislature's oversight of the state budget and cause cuts to vital services.

"HOPE is a catchy title for a constitutional mandate that would hamstring state government,” said Matt Robison, the State Chamber's vice president for small business and workforce development.

When could vote come?
If the group can obtain the needed number of signatures and overcome any possible legal challenges, they would like the proposal to be on the 2010 general election ballot unless the governor sets a special election for it, said Lela Odom, executive director of the Oklahoma Education Association.

The petition must be submitted to the secretary of state's office by Nov. 5.

Although that is one day after the 2008 general election, the signature requirements based on the 2004 general election will apply to this petition, according to the secretary of state's office.


 

Related Topics: U.S. State Government, U.S. Government, Science and Technology, Political Policy, Politics, Education, Elementary and High School Education, Elementary Education, Diplomacy, Sciences, Elections and Voting, Mathematics, International Relations

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Somebody answer this question - How is spending more on education going to improve the QUALITY of education? Every year we seem to increase the state education budget but the teachers unions are never satisfied. I've taught for 31 years and have seen the overall state education budget nearly quadrupled during this tenure. Yet, our test scores have not improved. District of Columbia schools spend over $12,000 per student and that school district is in shambles. I just don't see where pouring more tax money into our schools will improve them. Not when you have a lot of your students too lazy to study for tests or even turn in homework on a consistent basis. How does more money change these students attitudes? By paying them to do their homework or study for tests? lol
Gary, Oklahoma City - Aug 8, 2008 at 12:04 am
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Gosh, it seems our chicken little is within the Department of Education. One question though... who wouldn't want more money? Oh my, the sky is falling.
Lawrence, Guthrie - Aug 7, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Let the citizens circular a petition to add school vouchers as an amendment to the Ok. Construction. The current $6,900 per year would buy a better education in the private sector.
citizen, Edmond - Aug 7, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Did you know that the state is paying for 60000 more students per day than what actually attends public schools. It is in the career tech funding. Each student who goes to career tech, the state pays the sponsoring high school for the student and then also pays the career tech for the student; essentially, for a career tech student to attend school the state pays for two days of attendance for every one day they attend. Of course the career tech rate is about half of what the high school rate for the student is; but with 120K high school students in career tech, it essentially equates to an additional 60K students your tax dollars are paying for even though those students don't actually exist.
Jonathon, Oklahoma City - Aug 7, 2008 at 12:31 pm
How about raising every worker and taxpayer in this state to the "regional average" and then we discuss this? There are several places to get free supplies for students in need.
M, oklahoma city - Aug 7, 2008 at 11:03 am
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I agree that common ed needs more money, as do most other state agencies. However, the only way I support this is if they find a way to pay for it. You cannot pass a $850 million increase for ed without raising revenues. If you do, then you will have to gut other state agencies to do it, like DOC, DPS, etc. So, come up with a funding vehicle, or go away.
J, Anonymous - Aug 7, 2008 at 8:56 am
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oea; we'll sign your petition only after the three non-negotiable concessions are met; (1st) removal of all non-citizen students, staff, and teachers from the schools (this alone will make up most of the money you are asking for), (2nd) an evaluation process based only on performance and not years (also approved by parents not any sleezeball politicians)for your continued employment, and (3rd) the union must stop it's support of the demoliar party (as teachers you instruct our chilren in truth and this is not a standard of the demoliar party). so i'll rest easy knowing i'll never will be able to sign your paper.
richard, oklahoma city - Aug 7, 2008 at 7:14 am
Now there are 3 articles about this subject to choose from. Maybe the Daily thinks the public doesn't understand the first 2.
Sallie, Del City - Aug 7, 2008 at 6:47 am

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