OKC School Job Cuts to Begin Next Month

By Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY – About 180 Oklahoma City public schools employees will begin getting their pink slips next month, Superintendent Karl Springer announced Tuesday afternoon.

In order to make up for an about $17 million budget shortfall, the school board has approved eliminating 131 teachers and school administrators and counselors. About 50 jobs from the district's central administrative offices also will be cut.

"It would represent about 25 percent cut in the building, when you take the furloughs, and the position reductions we'll be doing, we'll be moving from about 250 people to less than 200," the superintendent said.

Springer said the reductions are the result of less funding from the state legislature. Employees will be notified that their job has been eliminated sometime in July, Springer said.

Springer said the district's budget crisis is an "economic tsunami" and could last for two or three years. Springer recommended the cutbacks now because he is concerned about the 2012-2013 budget.

"I believe we're all in this together and I'm a teacher and I feel attached to the people in this organization,' Springer said.

Springer said he's done his best to keep the cuts from affecting the district's 42,000 students. Yet, they will be affected. Some will now walk two miles to school, instead of a mile and a half and, class room sizes will be increased, except for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.

"We're probably talking two or three more in a classroom. That doesn't sound like very many having been a teacher, but two or three more, that does make your task more difficult," Springer said.

The plans called for closing three elementary schools as well, although two of the schools were already scheduled to close because of MAPS projects.

Springer also talked to the board about personally taking a $25,000 pay cut. The superintendent said the budget will be voted on June 28.

Learn More About Oklahoma City Schools' Budget