As most small school supporters know, the only school consolidation bill, House Bill 1046xx (which would have consolidated superintendents to a county model of schools) has gone up in smoke, as the double overtime special session ended last week. Of course, the bill could still be secreted into a regular session bill, which has not yet ended. Those advocating for school consolidation probably have realized by now that no money is saved or put back in the classroom when schools are consolidated. Several practical examples of administrative costs increasing when schools consolidate have been cited, such as in Arkansas, but we can examine Oklahoma school data, as the Office of Accountability did in 2010. This data and analysis study, The Capacity for Efficiency report to the senate, is now 8 years old and somewhat outdated, so we've taken on the challenge of providing a 2018 examination and analysis of school data. We utilized some of the same methodology used in the 2010 Report, but examined more critical data and compared administrative costs of school districts both before and after hypothetical county consolidation. We have changed the school names and county names to protect the innocent, but have used real school expenditure data, in order to provide valid and reliable results.
School name # students Admin. expend. Superintendent salary Total expend. %
PS #1 2325 $906,340 $296,900 * $19,778,169 4.6%
PS #2 331 $270,313 $99,999 $4,203,890 6.4%
PS #3 221 $127,552 $45,000 $1,945,987 2.8%
PS #4 269 $82,961 $35,941 $1,764,283 4.7%
PS #5 390 $105,556 $48,000 $2,518,341 4.2%
PS #6 577 $222,232 $86,163 $4,785,849 4.6%
PS #7 543 $165,265 $94,242 $4,656,198 3.5%
PS #8 546 $173,302 $88,910 $4,516,242 3.8%
PS #9 1554 $225,000 $100,336 $11,083,719 2.0%
PS #10 1901 $227,227 $110,000 $12,238,328 1.9%
PS #11 264 $82,863 $37,500 $2,339,509 3.5%
PS #12 483 $209,145 $73,500 $4,192,279 5.0%
* The superintendent salary for PS #1 includes two superintendents, as the school probably bought out one contract early, and provided a second contract during the same year.
The above data represent the expenditures belonging to twelve school districts in one rural county. The "county model" for school consolidation pushed by corporate lawmakers in bills such as HB 1046xx, would consolidate superintendents down to "one" per county. In 2010, the Office of Accountability allowed $100,000 per school for "administrative costs" in its Capacity for Efficiency study. In 2018, the companion bill to HB 1046xx - 1045xx provides that superintendents shall be limited to an annual salary of $147,000. We will use this data to hypothetically consolidate the twelve county schools down to one county superintendent, answering to only one twelve member school board, and also consolidate administrative expenditures to only one county school district. The legislature would probably require that the central headquarters be located in both the largest school as well as the county seat town, which may be PS #1. We can re-arrange the expenditures and consolidate superintendents very easily in order to satisfy corporate lawmakers, and provide an analysis of the schools in one rural county - to determine if county consolidation would indeed force efficiency... or not. The existing totals for the public schools in the above county are 9,404 students, $2,797,756 administrative costs, superintendent salaries totaling $1,116,491, and total school expenditures of $65,150,352.
Using Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS) data for Bold Code 2300, administrative expenditures, these costs would necessarily become the responsibility of one county school district - so the 2300 expenditures would increase to $2,797,756 (almost all administrative expenditures are lawfully required). Since all county school sites were allowed $100,000 for administrative expenditures, the salaries for the "assistant superintendent/principals" could increase for those employees to as much as $1,100,000 for the eleven county sites. The salary for the "county superintendent" PS #1 could be $147,000, raising the expenditures for potentially all central office staff (one at each site) to a total of $1,247,000, which compares to $1,116,491 spent before consolidation. One may argue that district administrative costs have been reduced from $2,797,756 before consolidation, to $1,100,000 after consolidation. The real reason for the reduction, however, is that $1,697,756 in district expenditures (2300) may now be coded to site administration (2400). There is no reduction at all... It's all "smoke and mirrors" by the corporate lawmakers pushing consolidation.
This is but one example of what actually happens when schools consolidate - more administrative expenditures, not less. This is the real reason that HB 1046xx went up in smoke. Corporate lawmakers are aware of these facts, but have managed to convince a few of their "toadies" that school consolidation is the financial answer for our public schools. Those are the ones who scream the loudest for "consolidation"...
Update: One corporate senator had one more trick up his sleeve, as the school consolidation bill was drawing its last breath - he amended a benign education bill, SB 1199, to sneak in the 60% rule of instructional expenditures, which would have eventually forced small and large school consolidation. The amendment also sought to wrest local control of schools away from local boards of education... and provide control of our schools to the federal government and out-of-state corporations. SB 1199 died just as quickly as HB 1046xx did, as our rural lawmakers saw through the corporate efforts...
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Monday, April 23, 2018
Capitol Field Trips
The teacher walk-out is officially over with teachers and students returning to the classroom as of last Monday. As a result of the walk-out, teachers received a much-needed pay increase, which averages around $6,000 (gross pay) in annual salary per teacher. After taxes and tax increases teachers will pay for their raise, most teachers will see about a $300 per month increase in take-home pay. While the pay increase was provided by lawmakers the week before the actual walk-out on April 2, in hopes that it would prevent the walk-out - teachers walked out anyway. Many lawmakers have resigned early, as 17 of the 100-member House of Representatives are not running for re-election. Numerous reasons have been cited for this record number of resignations, but the one common theme that many lawmakers have is that "the work was harder than expected".
All Blanchard teachers, many parents, and some students, traveled to the capitol each and every day of the walk-out in support of more operational funding, as Oklahoma legislators had cut appropriations to public schools by over 28% since 2008. No other state even cracked 20% in cuts to public schools.
Now comes the "after walk-out" in-school activities. Several teachers, having been to the capitol and witnessed the legislative process first-hand, requested that student field trips be scheduled to the capitol to be a part of students' educational experience. Several more teachers make the trip to the capitol each year as a regular part of their curriculum, in studying and celebrating Oklahoma Statehood, and viewing the artwork on the inside walls of the Capitol. In no way, shape, or form, will sponsoring teachers be allowed to lobby lawmakers for any reason - and no students will be allowed to lobby lawmakers for increased student funding or operational funding. Any contact to lawmakers will be simply to deliver "thank-you" notes to lawmakers who certainly worked overtime to provide the teacher pay raises, or to see lawmakers at work from the gallery. All elementary students who participate in these field trips will have their parents permission to attend - and hopefully learn from the experience. There have been concerns, however, that the field trips will be for trying to convince lawmakers to appropriately fund our public schools, but I can assure you - that is not the case. That ship has sailed, and all teachers and most parents know this. Any parent who assumes otherwise has the authority to keep his or her child from attending, as other learning opportunities will be provided at school.
All Blanchard teachers, many parents, and some students, traveled to the capitol each and every day of the walk-out in support of more operational funding, as Oklahoma legislators had cut appropriations to public schools by over 28% since 2008. No other state even cracked 20% in cuts to public schools.
Now comes the "after walk-out" in-school activities. Several teachers, having been to the capitol and witnessed the legislative process first-hand, requested that student field trips be scheduled to the capitol to be a part of students' educational experience. Several more teachers make the trip to the capitol each year as a regular part of their curriculum, in studying and celebrating Oklahoma Statehood, and viewing the artwork on the inside walls of the Capitol. In no way, shape, or form, will sponsoring teachers be allowed to lobby lawmakers for any reason - and no students will be allowed to lobby lawmakers for increased student funding or operational funding. Any contact to lawmakers will be simply to deliver "thank-you" notes to lawmakers who certainly worked overtime to provide the teacher pay raises, or to see lawmakers at work from the gallery. All elementary students who participate in these field trips will have their parents permission to attend - and hopefully learn from the experience. There have been concerns, however, that the field trips will be for trying to convince lawmakers to appropriately fund our public schools, but I can assure you - that is not the case. That ship has sailed, and all teachers and most parents know this. Any parent who assumes otherwise has the authority to keep his or her child from attending, as other learning opportunities will be provided at school.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
OSSAA Rules - Membership controlled?
Anyone who reads or hears my discourse and philosophy for living knows that I often quote Winston Churchill when deciding what route to take in making decisions. I don't believe its enough to just talk the talk, but to walk the walk, so to speak. I've often thought of the speech Churchill made to Harrow School graduates on October 29, 1941, just as Adolph Hitler and the Nazis were sweeping through Europe). It appeared as if all was lost for England as one country fell after another. Churchill offered a lesson he'd learned over the last 10 months, as inspiration to his alma mater: "never give in, never give in, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force..." This thought occurred to me as I pondered whether or not to submit another public/private classification plan to the OSSAA for consideration. Our first effort to re-classify private schools for competition in the OSSAA was voted down with 11 "no" and 1 "yes". We almost gave up our quest to "level the playing field" for public schools and private schools when competing in the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Association. I say "almost", because we submitted a second plan (Oklahoma Plan B) to the OSSAA Board on April 25, 2018.
The Oklahoma Plan B for reclassification of public and private schools in the OSSAA closely resembled the Tennessee Secondary School Activity Association (TSSAA) rule for classification, which classifies all private schools and all public schools separately for playoff competitions only. What is truly unique about the TSSAA classification rule is that a private school AD proposed it. In TSSAA Approves Public-Private Split for 2019 (Athletic Business, March 2018) - "The proposal, which was submitted by Harding Academy, a Memphis based private school that participates in Division II, goes into effect during the 2019-20 school year... 'I think it levels the playing field,' said Harding Academy athletic director Kevin Starks... 'I think independent (private) schools can do things that public schools can't do.' "
Update: OSSAA votes down second proposal on private vs. public school split... April 25, 2018...
Update: April 30, 2018 - Many high school sports fans have now heard of the legislative effort to separate the six largest schools in the OSSAA from other class-6A schools in competition. Senate Bill 1599 "would have placed Broken Arrow, Tulsa Union, Jenks, Owasso, Mustang, and Yukon in their own classification if passed". The bill was not well researched and OSSAA officials nor directors knew anything about it until it was sprung yesterday. It was a bad bill because it wasn't appropriately vetted, and inaccurate data was presented to justify it.
Many public school officials question an assertion, however, made by the OSSAA Executive Director that he is "disappointed that the state legislature is running any bill for a member-driven organization". He also stated "We have mechanisms in place where the membership can change our rules and policies that govern our organization." Many public school members of the OSSAA believe they have reason to doubt the executive director in making these two assertions, considering the facts of the "private/public split" when voted on by the directors.
For instance, 55 "member" signatures were obtained in order for the board of directors to consider a "membership vote" on two separate classification rule changes. The board only had to consider sending either plan out to a membership vote - not to consider actually implementing the rule change. The 55 schools believe strongly that if the entire membership would have been allowed to vote on either plan, it would have been approved. The 13 or 14 directors probably also believed the rule change would have passed a membership vote - but did not allow it. As a result of this "director vote" to disallow "membership control", many believe the OSSAA is not a member controlled organization,and does not have mechanisms in place where the membership can change rules and policies. I believe the OSSAA must have a good reason to deny a membership vote on any re-classification plan, although no director has said as much. Many public school supporters want to know 'the reason', so please let us know...
The Oklahoma Plan B for reclassification of public and private schools in the OSSAA closely resembled the Tennessee Secondary School Activity Association (TSSAA) rule for classification, which classifies all private schools and all public schools separately for playoff competitions only. What is truly unique about the TSSAA classification rule is that a private school AD proposed it. In TSSAA Approves Public-Private Split for 2019 (Athletic Business, March 2018) - "The proposal, which was submitted by Harding Academy, a Memphis based private school that participates in Division II, goes into effect during the 2019-20 school year... 'I think it levels the playing field,' said Harding Academy athletic director Kevin Starks... 'I think independent (private) schools can do things that public schools can't do.' "
Update: OSSAA votes down second proposal on private vs. public school split... April 25, 2018...
Update: April 30, 2018 - Many high school sports fans have now heard of the legislative effort to separate the six largest schools in the OSSAA from other class-6A schools in competition. Senate Bill 1599 "would have placed Broken Arrow, Tulsa Union, Jenks, Owasso, Mustang, and Yukon in their own classification if passed". The bill was not well researched and OSSAA officials nor directors knew anything about it until it was sprung yesterday. It was a bad bill because it wasn't appropriately vetted, and inaccurate data was presented to justify it.
Many public school officials question an assertion, however, made by the OSSAA Executive Director that he is "disappointed that the state legislature is running any bill for a member-driven organization". He also stated "We have mechanisms in place where the membership can change our rules and policies that govern our organization." Many public school members of the OSSAA believe they have reason to doubt the executive director in making these two assertions, considering the facts of the "private/public split" when voted on by the directors.
For instance, 55 "member" signatures were obtained in order for the board of directors to consider a "membership vote" on two separate classification rule changes. The board only had to consider sending either plan out to a membership vote - not to consider actually implementing the rule change. The 55 schools believe strongly that if the entire membership would have been allowed to vote on either plan, it would have been approved. The 13 or 14 directors probably also believed the rule change would have passed a membership vote - but did not allow it. As a result of this "director vote" to disallow "membership control", many believe the OSSAA is not a member controlled organization,and does not have mechanisms in place where the membership can change rules and policies. I believe the OSSAA must have a good reason to deny a membership vote on any re-classification plan, although no director has said as much. Many public school supporters want to know 'the reason', so please let us know...
Monday, April 16, 2018
Political Springboards for Making Money... House Seats
The teacher walk-out is officially over, but the issues which drove many to leave the classroom remained largely unsolved. The promise of a teacher walk-out did result in the most substantial approved pay increase ever. It was only the promise of the walk-out, not the actual walk-out on April 2 which forced lawmakers to provide the pay raise. Many lawmakers were "astonished" then, when teachers walked out anyway, in support of operational and student funding increases. Will Rogers once said "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." Many lawmakers were indeed astonished, as teachers were referred to as exortionists, were vilified with profanity laced rants, or simply avoided teachers by hiding in offices or not showing up for work. It was really pretty funny to watch. Some lawmakers just could not understand why teachers were not just walking out for higher pay, as the quest for more money is at the top of all corporate lawmaker lists of important issues. Teachers everywhere said "the game is not over" until lawmakers provide appropriate operational and student funding for our schools. This fact perplexed many lawmakers. Many teachers also believe the fight for appropriate public school funding is not over until every corporate lawmaker is swept from office on November 6, 2018 - the date of the state elections. It's a fact that 21 legislators, all republican, chose not to seek re-election in November. While the reasons were varied as to why so many republicans threw in the towel early - ranging from "spending more time with family" to "taking a more profitable job", several lawmakers quit after just a year and a half on the job. In my home House District 42 in Garvin and McCLain counties, Representative Tim Downing quit the job, after being first elected in 2016. While he hasn't elaborated on the reasons for his early departure, it must be assumed that he wants to spend more time with his family or that he used the office (his constituents) to land an easier and better-paying job - or both. Many constituents of Mr. Downing didn't know he was "throwing in the towel", until the first day of signing up for election - when his hand-picked successor was seen roaming the halls of the Capitol with Mary Fallin.
Several friends who knew I ran for the District 42 House seat in 2016 ask me to run again in 2018. Even though I knew Mr. Downing was not running again by the first day of sign up, I still chose not to enlist, for several good reasons. First and foremost, I chose not to run again because two of the most important people in my life asked me not to - my wife Sherrie, and my mother Mary Beckham.
I always heard "you find out who your real friends are when you run for office", so I found out... and I thought it would be a good thing, but it turned out to be a double-edged sword. Many friendships were re-affirmed, as over 1000 people voted for me in the 2016 republican primary. They are my friends, and I know each and every person. However, there are those who I thought were friends, that slammed me, for being "politically incorrect". I believe it is politically correct to lie, cheat, and steal when seeking public office for one's own benefit, as Martin Hauan espouses in his book How To Win Elections Without Hardly Cheatin' At All. Chapter titles such as Politricks University, Justice for Sale, Things I Could Go to Hell For, and Senator Reachout seem to be in the play-book for many corporate politicians. While several "friends" criticized me for simply stating "politically incorrect" facts, they "looked the other way" when the "mud-slinging" came from the other side. It is a fact that Mr. Downing moved into District 42 from Norman in order to acquire the House seat. I analogized it as "carpetbagging" from the post-civil war days. One present-day carpetbagger was Hillary Clinton, when she moved from Arkansas to New York State in order to acquire the New York Senate seat for a future presidential run. Many Oklahomans also believe "carpetbagger farmers" or "suitcase farmers", were easterners who caused the "Dust Bowl" during the 1930's - by acquiring generous federal tax breaks, now known as "corporate welfare". I simply pointed out that I believed Mr. Downing was a "carpetbagger", since he became a District 42 resident in order to acquire the seat. Stating the obvious angered a few of my "friends", and they told me so. On the flip side, they were not angry at Downing, for running negative ads concerning my candidacy. Many friends provided the mud-slinging negative mailers to me, that Mr. Downing sent to District 42 voters. I know for a fact that several so-called friends also received the negative mail from Mr. Downing, but failed to "call his hand" on it. I don't blame Tim Downing for these political shenanigans, as he did what he thought was the right thing to do for his family, and I still consider him a personal friend - although not a political friend. His way of campaigning and his political philosophy was just different than mine. As a matter of fact, when the first attack ads were released, he was the first one to apologize to me, and to tell me that "he didn't know anything about them". Anyway, Tim Downing is not a candidate for the District 42 House seat, and neither am I... which brings up my second reason for not running this year - Liz George, a public school advocate, is running...
I only know two of the official signees for district 42 - Liz George of Blanchard, an attorney and school board member for Blanchard Public Schools, and Allie Burgin (chair of the Garvin County republican party), and hand-picked successor for Mr. Downing. As many people know who regularly read this blog/column, my focus is advocating for public schools in Oklahoma. Since many public school advocates and district 42 constituents would like to know the position of each candidate concerning our schools, I'll invite all four candidates to the KBLP 105.1 FM (Lindsay) public school advocacy program at 8:30 AM, on Mondays. Each candidate will have the opportunity to visit about his or her position (platform) concerning education. If the 2018 state elections are as important as many teachers say they are, tune in for more information. I'll keep readers informed as to when each will be scheduled...
Several friends who knew I ran for the District 42 House seat in 2016 ask me to run again in 2018. Even though I knew Mr. Downing was not running again by the first day of sign up, I still chose not to enlist, for several good reasons. First and foremost, I chose not to run again because two of the most important people in my life asked me not to - my wife Sherrie, and my mother Mary Beckham.
I always heard "you find out who your real friends are when you run for office", so I found out... and I thought it would be a good thing, but it turned out to be a double-edged sword. Many friendships were re-affirmed, as over 1000 people voted for me in the 2016 republican primary. They are my friends, and I know each and every person. However, there are those who I thought were friends, that slammed me, for being "politically incorrect". I believe it is politically correct to lie, cheat, and steal when seeking public office for one's own benefit, as Martin Hauan espouses in his book How To Win Elections Without Hardly Cheatin' At All. Chapter titles such as Politricks University, Justice for Sale, Things I Could Go to Hell For, and Senator Reachout seem to be in the play-book for many corporate politicians. While several "friends" criticized me for simply stating "politically incorrect" facts, they "looked the other way" when the "mud-slinging" came from the other side. It is a fact that Mr. Downing moved into District 42 from Norman in order to acquire the House seat. I analogized it as "carpetbagging" from the post-civil war days. One present-day carpetbagger was Hillary Clinton, when she moved from Arkansas to New York State in order to acquire the New York Senate seat for a future presidential run. Many Oklahomans also believe "carpetbagger farmers" or "suitcase farmers", were easterners who caused the "Dust Bowl" during the 1930's - by acquiring generous federal tax breaks, now known as "corporate welfare". I simply pointed out that I believed Mr. Downing was a "carpetbagger", since he became a District 42 resident in order to acquire the seat. Stating the obvious angered a few of my "friends", and they told me so. On the flip side, they were not angry at Downing, for running negative ads concerning my candidacy. Many friends provided the mud-slinging negative mailers to me, that Mr. Downing sent to District 42 voters. I know for a fact that several so-called friends also received the negative mail from Mr. Downing, but failed to "call his hand" on it. I don't blame Tim Downing for these political shenanigans, as he did what he thought was the right thing to do for his family, and I still consider him a personal friend - although not a political friend. His way of campaigning and his political philosophy was just different than mine. As a matter of fact, when the first attack ads were released, he was the first one to apologize to me, and to tell me that "he didn't know anything about them". Anyway, Tim Downing is not a candidate for the District 42 House seat, and neither am I... which brings up my second reason for not running this year - Liz George, a public school advocate, is running...
I only know two of the official signees for district 42 - Liz George of Blanchard, an attorney and school board member for Blanchard Public Schools, and Allie Burgin (chair of the Garvin County republican party), and hand-picked successor for Mr. Downing. As many people know who regularly read this blog/column, my focus is advocating for public schools in Oklahoma. Since many public school advocates and district 42 constituents would like to know the position of each candidate concerning our schools, I'll invite all four candidates to the KBLP 105.1 FM (Lindsay) public school advocacy program at 8:30 AM, on Mondays. Each candidate will have the opportunity to visit about his or her position (platform) concerning education. If the 2018 state elections are as important as many teachers say they are, tune in for more information. I'll keep readers informed as to when each will be scheduled...
Monday, April 9, 2018
The real villains in the teacher walk-out
Corporate lawmakers are fond of quoting facts without context in order to vilify teachers and those who support teachers. One fact that spews from the mouth of some very sly corporate minions is that "superintendent salaries in Oklahoma schools total over $55 million each year", or "superintendent salaries in one rural county total over $1 million per year". The legislators who trumpet these "facts" know their supporters will undoubtedly believe that "superintendents earn too much money" and school consolidation is needed because we have too many superintendents. While most people know that to "tell a lie" is unethical, many corporate lawmakers believe that telling a half-lie is acceptable and ethical. Many corporate minions also believe that convincing their supporters to arrive at the conclusion - "We have too many school districts, so if we could just consolidate superintendents, teachers and schools would have plenty of money".
Many people believe that corporate lawmakers (minions) are less than ethical when convincing their followers to believe a lie, even though the minion never lied. An example of the minion effect is the above statement "superintendent salaries in Oklahoma schools total over $55 million each year". A supporter of the minion only hears the statement itself, and assumes that he knows what he's talking about (because he is very smart). What the minion supporter does not know is the following:
While Oklahoma superintendents total about $55 million in salary each year, it represents only .98% of total school expenditures, or less than 1%. . The total expenditures for Oklahoma public schools in 2015-2016 was over $5.6 billion. Do the math... The corporate minion wants his followers to believe that if we could only reduce the number of superintendents, we could pay teachers better - or the minions could fund education properly. Nothing could be further from the truth. They want their followers and others to believe that the real villains in this teacher walk-out is superintendents. As a matter of fact, total administrative expenditures in 2015-2016 made up only 2.8% of total expenditures.
Minions often assert that we have too many school districts in Oklahoma, and simply consolidating schools or superintendents will result in teachers receiving pay raises (Again implying that superintendents are the real villains.) The facts indicate something far different - Many states have fewer school districts and fewer superintendents than Oklahoma, but spend far more on administration. Oklahoma has 516 school districts with approximately 490 superintendents and spent about $686 per student for administrative services in one year. Alabama has 132 school districts and spent $813 per student, Arkansas (which only recently consolidated schools) has 315 schools and spent $732 for administration, Kansas has 308 schools and spent $825, Missouri has 527 schools (similar to Oklahoma) but spent $946 per student for administrative services. Then there is Tennessee, Mississippi, and many others.
Many corporate minions, such as the District 42 Rep. Tim Downing, say that consolidating Oklahoma public school administrations will solve the school funding issue, but a look at research and anecdotal examples of consolidation indicate that this presumption is just one more "big lie". In 2010, Governor Fallin commissioned the Office of Accountability to conduct a study which would surely indicate that school consolidation would save the state $ millions. The subsequent research indicated just the opposite - that school administrative consolidation often costs the state more money. As an example, according to study results, if administrations in all McLain County schools were consolidated under one superintendent with over 8,000 students - the administrative costs for McLain County Public Schools would still be less than several individual districts with 8,000 students.It's a fact.
Mr. Downing has also stated recently that the eleven superintendents in his district earn a combined total of over $1 million, so should be reduced. Many of his supporters take his claim at face value, but fail to acknowledge the facts. The fact is that several schools have already consolidated around the state, and administrative costs for those schools have actually increased. As an anecdotal example, one small school in Downing's district consolidated with another small school in 2016. For the '14-'15 school year, the two separate districts had cumulative administrative expenditures of $269,946 and $5,945,507 in total expenditures (4.5% in administrative costs). For '15-'16, after administrative consolidation, the now single school district spent $255,691 for administration as compared with overall expenditures of $5,070,599 (5% in admin. costs) Fuzzy math experts like Downing may interpret these expenditure results to say that admin. costs were reduced because of consolidation. It can be argued, however, that the only factor reduced was overall school expenditures because of the massive cuts in legislative appropriations. So, the question then becomes: If the motivation behind the mad rush to consolidate school districts or reduce superintendents is not saving money - then what is the minion motivation?
Update: On a personal note, I had a bull and six heifers "walk-out" of my pasture yesterday - because I was evidently not feeding them enough. Since many corporate lawmakers claim to be farmers and cattle ranchers, they must surely understand my situation. I haven't blamed the walk-out on the bull nor any of the heifers, because it's my own fault. It's my fault I cut the hay feedings back too soon after a hard winter. I'm not blaming any of my cattle for walking out - It's my fault and no one else. This fact is something that the Corporate House Leadership can't seem to understand, for they are now blaming the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA) for the teacher walk-out. There are currently several school consolidation bills, such as Senator Bice's small school consolidation bill and several voucher bills such as Tim Downing's HB 2782 which would invariably transfer school operational funding away from our public schools and toward corporate charter and private schools. The funding threat has been understood by superintendents to mean "Either call your teachers in, or we'll pass legislation which will be harmful to your teachers and students alike". Most superintendents don't respond very well to threats, so don't look for any to "call in teachers". But wait, there was even more threatened legislation on Monday - which corporate minions hope will persuade superintendents to "call in the troops": The corporate minions threatened to pass bills which will also reduce or cap superintendent salaries, which will not save money nor provide teacher pay raises. It is hoped that by attacking superintendents personally, they will persuade teacher to go back to the classroom. While I don't speak for all administrators, I'll say this to our corporate lawmakers: Go ahead and throw me in the brier-patch, and if you're feeling froggie - jump!
Our teachers walked-out because of their knowledge of school funding, not because any superintendents encouraged them to walk-out. Superintendents cannot order teachers back to class either, even if we wanted to. Corporate lawmakers should remember that this walk-out is not over until teachers say "It's over", and for many teachers - it ain't over until November 4, the state elections... Corporate minions should remember this fact...
Update: Got my bull and heifers back to my side of the fence.. All I had to do was offer them some range cubes, and they came running back. Just as it was my responsibility to get them to come back, it is the minions responsibility to end the teacher walk-out - by providing reliable revenue streams for our public schools. The corporate minions only answer is to raise taxes on the poor and middle income earners for our public schools. They have not been able to eliminate corporate welfare because their bosses are corporate. They have not been able to re-instate the massive tax cuts they provided to their bosses, such as the corporate income tax, the corporate intangible property tax, and the gross production tax. They cannot eliminate their wasteful spending on corporate charter schools and private schools. They cannot eliminate property taxes being used by municipalities, which would normally go to public schools (TIF). The corporate minions only recourse is to raise taxes on those of us who can least afford it. So, once again, I ask that our lawmakers send our teachers back to the classroom... but once again, as Don McLean said in his song "Vincent"- They're not listening still.
Update: Many teachers and other public school supporters believe the best way to remedy our busted state budget and the starvation of all state services is to "vote" the minions out, on November 6. That's easier said, than done... Consider the following: My home House District 42 voters elected Tim Downing in 2016, an avowed corporate interest supporter and "anti-public school/teacher" minion. Fifteen thousand one hundred thirty (15,130) voters showed up at the polls that day. There are approximately 850 teachers in District 42, but one report indicated that only 27% of all teachers voted that day, or 229 teachers. Many teachers voted for Tim Downing, with a few even donating to his campaign. While it's unknown how many actually voted for him, let's say 100 - it leaves only 129 who probably supported his opponent. In other words, Downing's opponent probably received more teacher support than he did, but the election results proved to be a land-slide. Also, the fact that our state superintendent of schools, Joy Hofmeister - endorsed Downing - probably contributed to the Downing teacher vote. Unfortunately for teachers and public schools, Downing has voted time and time again against teacher pay raises and school funding (although he has publicly stated that he has voted for all teacher pay raise bills).
Tim Downing claims to be conservative, but Vote Smart (a publication which reports candidate endorsements from both liberal and conservative groups) reports that Downing scored a 33% Lifetime Score from The Oklahoma Constitution (a conservative group). The Oklahoma Constitution also reported a 33% on "conservative positions" for Mr. Downing. In addition, the Sooner Tea Party (conservative) gave Downing a score of 33% (F) for being fiscally conservative and 33% for being socially conservative. These failing scores from conservative groups must mean that Downing is not conservative. So, now the question becomes - if Downing is not conservative, and not liberal, then what exactly is he?
Update: A couple days ago, we mentioned the threats directed toward local school boards and superintendents as a legislative tactic to send teachers back to the classroom. The first two "scud missiles" have been launched in retaliation for the teacher walk-out as of yesterday. House Bill 1045 xx and HB 1046 xx are designed to subvert the authority of our local school boards by forcing school consolidation and limiting administrative expenditures. House Bill 1045 xx caps superintendent salaries at $147,000 per year. Many people believe the state is overstepping its authority with this proposed legislation, as local school boards currently make decisions regarding the selection of school personnel. It's called local control. This bill is a scud attempt at seizing authority from our locally elected boards. HB 1046 xx consolidates superintendents (I can't help but visualize a superintendent as he goes through a trash compactor) across Oklahoma's more than 500 school districts. This would affect only counties with populations less than 400,000. Another scud missile launch.. and miss.
Both bills have no language attached as of yet, but it's clear the consolidation bill will be the "county consolidation" model, of which we spoke about earlier. Studies have indicated that no money can be saved by consolidating schools or superintendents. We'll come back to both bills when language is added...
Update: Evidently, some conservatives have read where Tim Downing failed the The Oklahoma Constitution and Sooner Tea Party (both conservative groups) by scoring only 33% on their tests of conservatism, as one has signed up to run against him in the primary. His actions in voting "no" on all teacher pay raise bills were not enough to persuade at least one conservative.
Update: Don Meredith in the beginning of Monday night football - "Turn out the lights, the party's over..." The teacher walk-out may be over for most schools, but the primary reason they walked out and stayed out has not been resolved by lawmakers - the inappropriate student funding for our public schools. The teachers in fact received a pay raise before walking out, so the reason for walking out stemmed from the fact that our legislature has cut school funding by 28% since 2008 - more than any other state. Teachers have accurately determined that the legislature will probably never replace lost school funding, unless they feel the heat to do so. It's a reason that continues to haunt our schools, so look for attention to be focused on the lack of funding, even through the November 6 state elections this fall.
Many people believe that corporate lawmakers (minions) are less than ethical when convincing their followers to believe a lie, even though the minion never lied. An example of the minion effect is the above statement "superintendent salaries in Oklahoma schools total over $55 million each year". A supporter of the minion only hears the statement itself, and assumes that he knows what he's talking about (because he is very smart). What the minion supporter does not know is the following:
While Oklahoma superintendents total about $55 million in salary each year, it represents only .98% of total school expenditures, or less than 1%. . The total expenditures for Oklahoma public schools in 2015-2016 was over $5.6 billion. Do the math... The corporate minion wants his followers to believe that if we could only reduce the number of superintendents, we could pay teachers better - or the minions could fund education properly. Nothing could be further from the truth. They want their followers and others to believe that the real villains in this teacher walk-out is superintendents. As a matter of fact, total administrative expenditures in 2015-2016 made up only 2.8% of total expenditures.
Minions often assert that we have too many school districts in Oklahoma, and simply consolidating schools or superintendents will result in teachers receiving pay raises (Again implying that superintendents are the real villains.) The facts indicate something far different - Many states have fewer school districts and fewer superintendents than Oklahoma, but spend far more on administration. Oklahoma has 516 school districts with approximately 490 superintendents and spent about $686 per student for administrative services in one year. Alabama has 132 school districts and spent $813 per student, Arkansas (which only recently consolidated schools) has 315 schools and spent $732 for administration, Kansas has 308 schools and spent $825, Missouri has 527 schools (similar to Oklahoma) but spent $946 per student for administrative services. Then there is Tennessee, Mississippi, and many others.
Many corporate minions, such as the District 42 Rep. Tim Downing, say that consolidating Oklahoma public school administrations will solve the school funding issue, but a look at research and anecdotal examples of consolidation indicate that this presumption is just one more "big lie". In 2010, Governor Fallin commissioned the Office of Accountability to conduct a study which would surely indicate that school consolidation would save the state $ millions. The subsequent research indicated just the opposite - that school administrative consolidation often costs the state more money. As an example, according to study results, if administrations in all McLain County schools were consolidated under one superintendent with over 8,000 students - the administrative costs for McLain County Public Schools would still be less than several individual districts with 8,000 students.It's a fact.
Mr. Downing has also stated recently that the eleven superintendents in his district earn a combined total of over $1 million, so should be reduced. Many of his supporters take his claim at face value, but fail to acknowledge the facts. The fact is that several schools have already consolidated around the state, and administrative costs for those schools have actually increased. As an anecdotal example, one small school in Downing's district consolidated with another small school in 2016. For the '14-'15 school year, the two separate districts had cumulative administrative expenditures of $269,946 and $5,945,507 in total expenditures (4.5% in administrative costs). For '15-'16, after administrative consolidation, the now single school district spent $255,691 for administration as compared with overall expenditures of $5,070,599 (5% in admin. costs) Fuzzy math experts like Downing may interpret these expenditure results to say that admin. costs were reduced because of consolidation. It can be argued, however, that the only factor reduced was overall school expenditures because of the massive cuts in legislative appropriations. So, the question then becomes: If the motivation behind the mad rush to consolidate school districts or reduce superintendents is not saving money - then what is the minion motivation?
Update: On a personal note, I had a bull and six heifers "walk-out" of my pasture yesterday - because I was evidently not feeding them enough. Since many corporate lawmakers claim to be farmers and cattle ranchers, they must surely understand my situation. I haven't blamed the walk-out on the bull nor any of the heifers, because it's my own fault. It's my fault I cut the hay feedings back too soon after a hard winter. I'm not blaming any of my cattle for walking out - It's my fault and no one else. This fact is something that the Corporate House Leadership can't seem to understand, for they are now blaming the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA) for the teacher walk-out. There are currently several school consolidation bills, such as Senator Bice's small school consolidation bill and several voucher bills such as Tim Downing's HB 2782 which would invariably transfer school operational funding away from our public schools and toward corporate charter and private schools. The funding threat has been understood by superintendents to mean "Either call your teachers in, or we'll pass legislation which will be harmful to your teachers and students alike". Most superintendents don't respond very well to threats, so don't look for any to "call in teachers". But wait, there was even more threatened legislation on Monday - which corporate minions hope will persuade superintendents to "call in the troops": The corporate minions threatened to pass bills which will also reduce or cap superintendent salaries, which will not save money nor provide teacher pay raises. It is hoped that by attacking superintendents personally, they will persuade teacher to go back to the classroom. While I don't speak for all administrators, I'll say this to our corporate lawmakers: Go ahead and throw me in the brier-patch, and if you're feeling froggie - jump!
Our teachers walked-out because of their knowledge of school funding, not because any superintendents encouraged them to walk-out. Superintendents cannot order teachers back to class either, even if we wanted to. Corporate lawmakers should remember that this walk-out is not over until teachers say "It's over", and for many teachers - it ain't over until November 4, the state elections... Corporate minions should remember this fact...
Update: Got my bull and heifers back to my side of the fence.. All I had to do was offer them some range cubes, and they came running back. Just as it was my responsibility to get them to come back, it is the minions responsibility to end the teacher walk-out - by providing reliable revenue streams for our public schools. The corporate minions only answer is to raise taxes on the poor and middle income earners for our public schools. They have not been able to eliminate corporate welfare because their bosses are corporate. They have not been able to re-instate the massive tax cuts they provided to their bosses, such as the corporate income tax, the corporate intangible property tax, and the gross production tax. They cannot eliminate their wasteful spending on corporate charter schools and private schools. They cannot eliminate property taxes being used by municipalities, which would normally go to public schools (TIF). The corporate minions only recourse is to raise taxes on those of us who can least afford it. So, once again, I ask that our lawmakers send our teachers back to the classroom... but once again, as Don McLean said in his song "Vincent"- They're not listening still.
Update: Many teachers and other public school supporters believe the best way to remedy our busted state budget and the starvation of all state services is to "vote" the minions out, on November 6. That's easier said, than done... Consider the following: My home House District 42 voters elected Tim Downing in 2016, an avowed corporate interest supporter and "anti-public school/teacher" minion. Fifteen thousand one hundred thirty (15,130) voters showed up at the polls that day. There are approximately 850 teachers in District 42, but one report indicated that only 27% of all teachers voted that day, or 229 teachers. Many teachers voted for Tim Downing, with a few even donating to his campaign. While it's unknown how many actually voted for him, let's say 100 - it leaves only 129 who probably supported his opponent. In other words, Downing's opponent probably received more teacher support than he did, but the election results proved to be a land-slide. Also, the fact that our state superintendent of schools, Joy Hofmeister - endorsed Downing - probably contributed to the Downing teacher vote. Unfortunately for teachers and public schools, Downing has voted time and time again against teacher pay raises and school funding (although he has publicly stated that he has voted for all teacher pay raise bills).
Tim Downing claims to be conservative, but Vote Smart (a publication which reports candidate endorsements from both liberal and conservative groups) reports that Downing scored a 33% Lifetime Score from The Oklahoma Constitution (a conservative group). The Oklahoma Constitution also reported a 33% on "conservative positions" for Mr. Downing. In addition, the Sooner Tea Party (conservative) gave Downing a score of 33% (F) for being fiscally conservative and 33% for being socially conservative. These failing scores from conservative groups must mean that Downing is not conservative. So, now the question becomes - if Downing is not conservative, and not liberal, then what exactly is he?
Update: A couple days ago, we mentioned the threats directed toward local school boards and superintendents as a legislative tactic to send teachers back to the classroom. The first two "scud missiles" have been launched in retaliation for the teacher walk-out as of yesterday. House Bill 1045 xx and HB 1046 xx are designed to subvert the authority of our local school boards by forcing school consolidation and limiting administrative expenditures. House Bill 1045 xx caps superintendent salaries at $147,000 per year. Many people believe the state is overstepping its authority with this proposed legislation, as local school boards currently make decisions regarding the selection of school personnel. It's called local control. This bill is a scud attempt at seizing authority from our locally elected boards. HB 1046 xx consolidates superintendents (I can't help but visualize a superintendent as he goes through a trash compactor) across Oklahoma's more than 500 school districts. This would affect only counties with populations less than 400,000. Another scud missile launch.. and miss.
Both bills have no language attached as of yet, but it's clear the consolidation bill will be the "county consolidation" model, of which we spoke about earlier. Studies have indicated that no money can be saved by consolidating schools or superintendents. We'll come back to both bills when language is added...
Update: Evidently, some conservatives have read where Tim Downing failed the The Oklahoma Constitution and Sooner Tea Party (both conservative groups) by scoring only 33% on their tests of conservatism, as one has signed up to run against him in the primary. His actions in voting "no" on all teacher pay raise bills were not enough to persuade at least one conservative.
Update: Don Meredith in the beginning of Monday night football - "Turn out the lights, the party's over..." The teacher walk-out may be over for most schools, but the primary reason they walked out and stayed out has not been resolved by lawmakers - the inappropriate student funding for our public schools. The teachers in fact received a pay raise before walking out, so the reason for walking out stemmed from the fact that our legislature has cut school funding by 28% since 2008 - more than any other state. Teachers have accurately determined that the legislature will probably never replace lost school funding, unless they feel the heat to do so. It's a reason that continues to haunt our schools, so look for attention to be focused on the lack of funding, even through the November 6 state elections this fall.
Day seven of the teacher walk-out...
An open letter (plea) to our corporate legislators:
Mr. lawmaker,
You are the only one who has the ability and authority to send our teachers back to the classroom. Our school boards have no such authority and neither do superintendents. You see, teachers know that state appropriated student funding in Oklahoma has been slashed by 28% since 2008, more than any other state in the nation. While you choose to wear that statistic as a badge of honor from your corporate bosses, our students are suffering. You say that Oklahoma has a poor economy, and you can't afford to appropriate more funding for our public schools. However, the poor Oklahoma economy has not affected your paycheck - as most of you earn in excess of $60,000 annual salary for your part-time job (4 months). Many of you also have other jobs which pay as much as $120,000 for the remaining 8 months, for a total $180,000 annual salary. The corporate lawmakers among you also have campaign slush funds which often total more than $100,000 and are provided by out-of-state and international corporate bosses, and for which several have been known to use personally (Kyle Loveless).
You have responded to the teacher walk-out by calling them "extortionists", by telling them to go ahead and "be pissed", by referring to teachers as "spoiled teenagers", or by voting "NO" on all teacher raise bills - and then "thanking" them for not walking out. Every time one of you degrades or insults teachers - one more day is added to the walk-out. So stop it! Please!
You say you will never vote to increase taxes as a way to fund teacher pay increases and provide more student funding, but you have never come up with another way. Of course, some of you have voted for regressive tax increases to fund schools, but you'll hold the line on tax increases for the wealthy and corporate tax restoration. You will never vote to restore the "intangible" property tax, corporate income tax, or gross production tax - because they are the entities which fund your campaigns. You don't give a damn when the gas tax is increased by 3 cents a gallon, but you complain loudly when the GPT increases to 5% (still the lowest rate in the nation).
You have blamed everyone but yourself for the teacher walk-out... school administrators, school boards, the economy, teacher greed, and finally - the teachers themselves. Many of your supporters are starting to parrot your excuses, as they too try to shift the blame.
So, I'll make the plea one last time - Please send our teachers back to classroom by appropriately funding our public schools...
Mr. lawmaker,
You are the only one who has the ability and authority to send our teachers back to the classroom. Our school boards have no such authority and neither do superintendents. You see, teachers know that state appropriated student funding in Oklahoma has been slashed by 28% since 2008, more than any other state in the nation. While you choose to wear that statistic as a badge of honor from your corporate bosses, our students are suffering. You say that Oklahoma has a poor economy, and you can't afford to appropriate more funding for our public schools. However, the poor Oklahoma economy has not affected your paycheck - as most of you earn in excess of $60,000 annual salary for your part-time job (4 months). Many of you also have other jobs which pay as much as $120,000 for the remaining 8 months, for a total $180,000 annual salary. The corporate lawmakers among you also have campaign slush funds which often total more than $100,000 and are provided by out-of-state and international corporate bosses, and for which several have been known to use personally (Kyle Loveless).
You have responded to the teacher walk-out by calling them "extortionists", by telling them to go ahead and "be pissed", by referring to teachers as "spoiled teenagers", or by voting "NO" on all teacher raise bills - and then "thanking" them for not walking out. Every time one of you degrades or insults teachers - one more day is added to the walk-out. So stop it! Please!
You say you will never vote to increase taxes as a way to fund teacher pay increases and provide more student funding, but you have never come up with another way. Of course, some of you have voted for regressive tax increases to fund schools, but you'll hold the line on tax increases for the wealthy and corporate tax restoration. You will never vote to restore the "intangible" property tax, corporate income tax, or gross production tax - because they are the entities which fund your campaigns. You don't give a damn when the gas tax is increased by 3 cents a gallon, but you complain loudly when the GPT increases to 5% (still the lowest rate in the nation).
You have blamed everyone but yourself for the teacher walk-out... school administrators, school boards, the economy, teacher greed, and finally - the teachers themselves. Many of your supporters are starting to parrot your excuses, as they too try to shift the blame.
So, I'll make the plea one last time - Please send our teachers back to classroom by appropriately funding our public schools...
Friday, April 6, 2018
Teacher Walk-out: Day 5
As most people probably know by now, Oklahoma teachers originally walked out of the classroom for higher pay (which comes from our Legislature). Our teachers are some of the lowest paid in the nation. Teacher salary comparisons between states invariably prove that Oklahoma teacher salaries rank 49th or 50th in the nation, even when the cost of living is considered.
In an effort to prevent the walk-out, corporate lawmakers passed a teacher pay increase beginning in 2018-2019 which they hoped would stem the tide, fool the teachers, and return them to the classroom. They also hoped it would prevent some of their dumber members from saying, indicating, and doing stupid things, such as "go ahead and be pissed", teachers are extortionists, slamming doors in teachers faces, and claiming teachers are just spoiled babies. Much to the corporate lawmakers' dismay, the announced teacher pay raise was not enough to keep teachers from walking out, as teachers are smarter than corporate minions think. First of all, the teacher pay increase was de-funded, as identified revenue streams were eliminated. Secondly, teachers know that state appropriated "student" funding has been cut by the Oklahoma Legislature by 28% since 2008. No other state legislature even comes close to the cuts our Oklahoma students have suffered. So, our Oklahoma teachers have shifted to "walking-out for the kids", much to the corporate lawmakers' surprise and disgust. As a result of the continued walk-out, most minions are now "in hiding" while the conservative and progressive lawmakers are offering teachers donuts and coffee when they arrive at the capitol.
I'm watching our teachers as they now leave for the capitol for their students. Many cars line the highway as the teachers depart, with parents and students cheering them. The bus pulls over, teachers disembark and begin high-fiving students and parents. I really hope revenue streams can be passed today which will benefit our students, parents, and teachers, as we all need to get back to the classroom. The ball is in our state legislators court... please allow them to return..
I'd like to give a shout-out to the Department of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for providing a safe environment for our teachers at the capitol. Our Troopers and others have worked tirelessly, and have come from all over the state to support our teachers. A personal thank-you to a long-time friend Barry McCown for keeping our teachers safe at the capitol. I don't know if he's there, but he's still keeping everyone safe on our roadways.
In an effort to prevent the walk-out, corporate lawmakers passed a teacher pay increase beginning in 2018-2019 which they hoped would stem the tide, fool the teachers, and return them to the classroom. They also hoped it would prevent some of their dumber members from saying, indicating, and doing stupid things, such as "go ahead and be pissed", teachers are extortionists, slamming doors in teachers faces, and claiming teachers are just spoiled babies. Much to the corporate lawmakers' dismay, the announced teacher pay raise was not enough to keep teachers from walking out, as teachers are smarter than corporate minions think. First of all, the teacher pay increase was de-funded, as identified revenue streams were eliminated. Secondly, teachers know that state appropriated "student" funding has been cut by the Oklahoma Legislature by 28% since 2008. No other state legislature even comes close to the cuts our Oklahoma students have suffered. So, our Oklahoma teachers have shifted to "walking-out for the kids", much to the corporate lawmakers' surprise and disgust. As a result of the continued walk-out, most minions are now "in hiding" while the conservative and progressive lawmakers are offering teachers donuts and coffee when they arrive at the capitol.
I'm watching our teachers as they now leave for the capitol for their students. Many cars line the highway as the teachers depart, with parents and students cheering them. The bus pulls over, teachers disembark and begin high-fiving students and parents. I really hope revenue streams can be passed today which will benefit our students, parents, and teachers, as we all need to get back to the classroom. The ball is in our state legislators court... please allow them to return..
I'd like to give a shout-out to the Department of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for providing a safe environment for our teachers at the capitol. Our Troopers and others have worked tirelessly, and have come from all over the state to support our teachers. A personal thank-you to a long-time friend Barry McCown for keeping our teachers safe at the capitol. I don't know if he's there, but he's still keeping everyone safe on our roadways.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Teacher Walk-out: Retired Teachers and HB 2985
One overlooked group during this "teacher walk-out" is the retired teachers of Oklahoma. Oklahoma retired teachers have been dismissed by the corporate minions (legislators) and their corporate oil overlords as an ineffective group for battling fascism (the partnership between corporations and government for ruling the state). As a matter of fact, corporate minions killed House Bill 2985 (the bill which would have provided a much needed "cost of living allowance" for our retired teachers) two weeks ago, without much fanfare. Many minions campaigned on the promise of providing a decent allowance for living to our retired teachers, but then helped kill any hope our retired teachers ever had of receiving anything from them. One example of the "bait and switch" campaign technique - utilized by many corporate lawmakers - was exhibited in my House District 42. The now elected representative traveled throughout the district campaigning on the promise of never raising taxes for the working poor and middle class. While he voted "no" on all three teacher pay raise bills, he never offered a legitimate alternative to regressive tax increases - for teacher pay. There were plenty of alternative avenues to teacher pay increases other than increasing taxes, but he never considered or thought of them. Examples of recurring revenue which would not have resulted in tax increases for us would have been the elimination of tax increment financing (for explanation, ask a true conservative) by municipalities and the elimination of the capital gains tax exemption. The simple elimination of both TIF and CG tax exemptions could have provided almost $1 billion for teacher pay raises and cost of living increases for our retired teachers.
After being seated in 2016, the District 42 Representative spoke to retired teacher groups, undoubtedly promising support during his tenure. He assumed that retired teachers do not vote, just as he assumed active teachers do not vote - and they certainly do not follow legislative bills, such as HB 2985, which he helped kill.
In addition to killing bills which would prevent tax increases, the District 42 Rep. is sponsoring bills such as House Bill 2782 (the school voucher bill which funnels Oklahoma tax dollars to out-of- state corporate school groups and private school groups) which will undoubtedly result in increased taxes for everyone. The active teachers and retired teachers visiting with the D. 42 Rep should remember the above facts and ask the hard questions. Conservatives should also consider the facts when voting this fall, and ask the question "Is my current legislator a real conservative, or simply a corporatist disguised as a conservative?", and bear in mind that conservatives do not support the destruction of our public schools.
After being seated in 2016, the District 42 Representative spoke to retired teacher groups, undoubtedly promising support during his tenure. He assumed that retired teachers do not vote, just as he assumed active teachers do not vote - and they certainly do not follow legislative bills, such as HB 2985, which he helped kill.
In addition to killing bills which would prevent tax increases, the District 42 Rep. is sponsoring bills such as House Bill 2782 (the school voucher bill which funnels Oklahoma tax dollars to out-of- state corporate school groups and private school groups) which will undoubtedly result in increased taxes for everyone. The active teachers and retired teachers visiting with the D. 42 Rep should remember the above facts and ask the hard questions. Conservatives should also consider the facts when voting this fall, and ask the question "Is my current legislator a real conservative, or simply a corporatist disguised as a conservative?", and bear in mind that conservatives do not support the destruction of our public schools.
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Teachers Vilified for Walking Out
I wrote a column a week ago about a personal reason I have for supporting teachers during this walk-out for higher pay and appropriate student funding from our lawmakers at the capitol. I knew a teacher when I attended elementary school back in the day, whose family survived on $290 per month in take home pay. She was the sole bread-winner for the family, as her husband was disabled and she had three hungry mouths to feed at home. Being a teacher was one of the few professions available to women back in the sixties, so she went back to college to earn her credentials, spent thousands for tuition and textbooks - and then went to work. Her family still survived on "commodity" foods, even after getting a job.
Teachers today are in no better shape than they were in the 1960's. Oklahoma teachers' pay still ranks 50th among all states and our state appropriated student funding has been cut 28% over the past ten years - which tops the nation. Many among us still ask why teachers are walking out of the classroom and wonder why administrators and school boards still support teachers. For me, personally... for all of the above reasons. This "support" is provided at a personal cost to administrators and board members, although we will continue to stand by teachers. An Administrator's Guide - LEADING WITH INTEGRITY (Reflections on Legal, Moral and Ethical Issues in School Administration) begins with a Mark Twain quote - "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." One "astonished" person recently messaged me:
" Well I think you are a liar... Some places are doing this (teacher walk-out) just for Monday. That I understand. I understand teachers frustrations and challenges. I agree with teachers needs. I do not agree with how you are doing it. You have all summer to make your demands and be heard before starting school next year. Im (sic) watching how this 'BS' (sic) works out... you and the teachers here are going to pay personally for it... Lets remember that, we have to interact on the streets or sidewalk. So there is that (sic).
The message was anonymous and sounds like a threat - but it also sounds like it could have come from several of our many local lawmakers. You probably know them as the legislators who say things like "I really do support teachers and believe they need a pay raise. Furthermore, I've voted for every teacher pay raise bill that's been introduced this year, so get out of my face." These type of statements have been blurted out by corporate lawmakers lately as "the curtain has been pulled back" on their vilifying behavior. Most lawmakers who abhor our public schools and find teachers distasteful, are term limited, so have no reason to hold back. They do not have to be re-elected again, and are probably going to work for corporate entities such as the oil barons. Most don't owe teachers one thin dime, because teachers didn't get them elected in the first place, and teachers certainly can't turn them out to pasture now. Others keep a low profile, because they do have to go through several more election cycles. They don't express their true feelings for teachers (which is no better than those who call teachers "slugs" like a former governor did), until they too are termed out. The only thing most corporate lawmakers (who are not terming out) do is to "thank" those schools and teachers who are not walking out (one school received a thank-you note from a local lawmaker for not walking out).
I'm quite sure that messages like those above only serve to inflame teachers and those who support them. I'm also sure that teachers and others are not intimidated by those who are astonished that teachers would actually walk-out over teacher pay, and stay out over student funding. Then again, there are just as many who are gratified that teachers are doing right.
Over the past several days teachers have been persecuted, vilified, petrified, hammered, disrespected, ignored, criticized, intimidated, figuratively slapped, cussed, had doors slammed in their faces, yelled at, etc..., for daring to point out the facts to our corporate lawmakers. I believe teachers have no fear of those who disparage them personally and have disparaged them professionally for several years now. They are now receiving national and international attention for "doing the right thing". More power to them! A reporter from a publication in France is in Blanchard this afternoon to interview one of our teachers. I'll post the interview in this blog (with permission of the teacher).
Teachers today are in no better shape than they were in the 1960's. Oklahoma teachers' pay still ranks 50th among all states and our state appropriated student funding has been cut 28% over the past ten years - which tops the nation. Many among us still ask why teachers are walking out of the classroom and wonder why administrators and school boards still support teachers. For me, personally... for all of the above reasons. This "support" is provided at a personal cost to administrators and board members, although we will continue to stand by teachers. An Administrator's Guide - LEADING WITH INTEGRITY (Reflections on Legal, Moral and Ethical Issues in School Administration) begins with a Mark Twain quote - "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." One "astonished" person recently messaged me:
" Well I think you are a liar... Some places are doing this (teacher walk-out) just for Monday. That I understand. I understand teachers frustrations and challenges. I agree with teachers needs. I do not agree with how you are doing it. You have all summer to make your demands and be heard before starting school next year. Im (sic) watching how this 'BS' (sic) works out... you and the teachers here are going to pay personally for it... Lets remember that, we have to interact on the streets or sidewalk. So there is that (sic).
The message was anonymous and sounds like a threat - but it also sounds like it could have come from several of our many local lawmakers. You probably know them as the legislators who say things like "I really do support teachers and believe they need a pay raise. Furthermore, I've voted for every teacher pay raise bill that's been introduced this year, so get out of my face." These type of statements have been blurted out by corporate lawmakers lately as "the curtain has been pulled back" on their vilifying behavior. Most lawmakers who abhor our public schools and find teachers distasteful, are term limited, so have no reason to hold back. They do not have to be re-elected again, and are probably going to work for corporate entities such as the oil barons. Most don't owe teachers one thin dime, because teachers didn't get them elected in the first place, and teachers certainly can't turn them out to pasture now. Others keep a low profile, because they do have to go through several more election cycles. They don't express their true feelings for teachers (which is no better than those who call teachers "slugs" like a former governor did), until they too are termed out. The only thing most corporate lawmakers (who are not terming out) do is to "thank" those schools and teachers who are not walking out (one school received a thank-you note from a local lawmaker for not walking out).
I'm quite sure that messages like those above only serve to inflame teachers and those who support them. I'm also sure that teachers and others are not intimidated by those who are astonished that teachers would actually walk-out over teacher pay, and stay out over student funding. Then again, there are just as many who are gratified that teachers are doing right.
Over the past several days teachers have been persecuted, vilified, petrified, hammered, disrespected, ignored, criticized, intimidated, figuratively slapped, cussed, had doors slammed in their faces, yelled at, etc..., for daring to point out the facts to our corporate lawmakers. I believe teachers have no fear of those who disparage them personally and have disparaged them professionally for several years now. They are now receiving national and international attention for "doing the right thing". More power to them! A reporter from a publication in France is in Blanchard this afternoon to interview one of our teachers. I'll post the interview in this blog (with permission of the teacher).
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