Schools see funding cuts
Education: More than 200 sites expect smaller checks
Schools see funding cuts

Comments Comment on this article9

By Wendy K. Kleinman
Published: July 25, 2008

More than 200 school districts and charter schools will start classes next month with less money from the state than last year, according to funding totals released Thursday.

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Initial allocations for schools are higher than last year, but Assistant State Superintendent James White cautioned that the increase is misleading because the Legislature moved teacher retirement funding into the state funding formula.

"Basically, this year we had level funding for schools,” state schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett said.

Fuel becomes costly
But that level funding coupled with rising operational costs could force the state Education Department to request supplemental funding from the Legislature in the future, she said.

White told the state Board of Education on Thursday that fuel costs for buses — not counting fuel for school vans or related costs like maintenance — are estimated at $58 million.

That's more than double the amount of state funding White expects to receive for all transportation needs.

"Bus transportation is not mandated in the state of Oklahoma, but it's certainly expected by families,” Garrett said.

"Maybe T. Boone Pickens will figure out how to run these buses by wind,” she said, referring to the wind energy plan Pickens presented in Washington this week.

The Tulsa School District used to have as much as 85 percent of its bus fleet powered by natural gas, but had to cut back because of the costs involved in converting engines and compressing the gas, state transportation director Randy McLerran said.


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Betty, it is not that I disagree with you about the state lawmakers giving money to the NBA, but I was simply pointing out that MAPS for KIDS money was not going to the NBA. The tax for the NBA is replacing the tax that is already in place but expires this year. By the way, only OKC citizens pay this tax so it shouldn't really bother you all the way in Chickasha. However, I do agree that our lawmakers spend lots of money on things that they shouldn't. Let's start with giving themselves pay raises for only 3 months of work, private planes, vacations, etc... While they call for accountability of teachers and school administrators, I think it is time that we start holding them accountable.
Angie, Edmond - Jul 25, 2008 10:52 PM
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Isn't it just great that we have ex-mayor and vested Gaylord mafia member Kirk Humphreys down at the Okaysee school board keeping track of MAPS for Kids money? I know I sleep better at night knowing this!
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Jul 25, 2008 3:35 PM
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Please don't get me wrong, I am glad we have an NBA team in OKC. I would like to think the OKC NBA owners for bringing the NBA to OKC. I just don't like that our elected officials brought the NBA here at the expense of schools and tax payers.
Betty, chickasha - Jul 25, 2008 9:27 AM
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Thank you for your in put Angie, now can you explain the 60 mil. that the State Legislatures gave the OKC NBA team? That money could have went to schools state wide.
Betty, chickasha - Jul 25, 2008 9:11 AM
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MAPS money is only used for OKC schools and those districts that have students who live in OKC, so the NBA doesn't really affect the other districts in this state. It is really just a matter of the Federal and State governments putting mandates on schools and then not fully funding them. The districts have to spend their money on meeting the mandates, but now are forced to deal with higher energy costs as well with no additional money.
Angie, Edmond - Jul 25, 2008 8:31 AM
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We are not worried about the schools, I mean come on we voted for the NBA team to get the maps for kids money and then our state lawmakers gave the OKC NBA team more money and less to schools. To bad we are lead by the papers and City leaders. Get ready it's close to the time to bring up MAPS for kids tax since they got MAPS for OKC NBA. Great saying you are un informed if you don't read the news paper and misinformed if you read the news paper.
Betty, chickasha - Jul 25, 2008 8:07 AM
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...guess the State can't have it both way--increased revenue due to higher energy costs, but higher fuel costs due to higher energy costs...
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Jul 25, 2008 8:00 AM
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Everyone is debating over what agencies should get bigger shares of tax revenue while blindly assuming someone is protecting against misuse. -- A dangerous assumption in a state wrought with corruption. -- At this very moment Oklahoma tax payers are --- losing $100s millions to a tax credit abuse loophole that state officials promised to close in 2006. Yet -- nearly $1 billion has disappeared -- since that failed promise. No one notices because the program is --- totally hidden from both the public and lawmakers --. This allows state officials to participate unnoticed in a so called business venture incentive program that -- pays investors $2 in tax credits for every $1 they invest. --- The Governor and lawmakers created the perfect situation making it legal for them to reap huge unearned profits while giving themselves the authority to hide their involvement and prevent the public from knowing what is happening. The details and a copy of the law can be found at -- http://prowlingowl.com

Nite, Oklahoma City - Jul 25, 2008 3:59 AM
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This is easy to get around. Cout out sport, the joke of the FFA, band, and anything that has to do with taking buses away from the school except to transport the kids to/from school.
Carl, Norman - Jul 25, 2008 12:42 AM
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