Metro Teachers Protest School-Reform Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A group of Oklahoma teachers are spending part of their spring break fighting a bill they say could change the face of public education in Oklahoma.

They also worry how the legislation could impact teacher pay.

The bill has been dubbed the "School District Empowerment Program", and if passed, it would give more power to local school boards and do away with some state mandates.

Instead of going on vacation, these teachers are using their spring break to make their voices heard at the Capitol. They oppose a bill they say would do away with a law that protects teacher pay and classroom size.

"We could lose the quality that we have now that was provided under House Bill 1017 which we worked so hard to get," teacher Laura Collins said.

Senate Bill 834 could turn some public school districts into charter school districts by as soon as this next school year. One former charter school teacher thinks this poses a big problem.

"We didn't have planning," Matt Trosper said. "Those teachers that did have a planning period were frequently called on to cover other classes because the school did not hire substitutes regularly."

Besides that, those against the bill say it could do away with school counselors, librarians, and impact class size and teacher pay.

"It could make teachers who earn more than the state salary minimum to actually lose pay and have salary cutbacks," Collins said.

"We want to keep our classroom sizes as small as possible," Representative Seneca Scott (D-Tulsa) said. "We also want to keep the pay intact as much as we can. We already struggle in the region to be competitive with our teacher pay."

One of the authors of the bill doesn't see it that way. State Representative Tad Jones (R-District 9) says the bill is more about giving districts power over legislation.

"I think the fear stories you hear won't happen," Rep. Jones said. "Charter schools in Oklahoma City and Tulsa have been successful and I think one you allow those local schools to be free from mandates, they will be creative, they will care about their schools and I think the teachers will like it more."

Supporters of the bill say the legislation could result in savings for districts which could be passed onto school employees.