OKCPS To Discuss School Calendar, Staff Compensation and Distance Learning

The Oklahoma City Public school board will  have a special meeting Friday at noon.
 
This special meeting has two specific items on its agenda. The first is to change the last day of school from May 20 to May 8th. The second is to discuss compensation for the district's employees
 
Because they are voting on a shortened school year, district officials have to keep in account the financial burden that could be caused for the staff.
 
According to the agenda, Friday's vote would impact teachers, support staff, administrators and technical support staff.
 
If it's approved, all of them would be granted paid emergency administrative leave through the rest of their 2019-2020 contracts.
 
The State Board of education says districts across the state are expected to start providing distance learning starting on April 6th through the rest of the school year. All school building will be closed for the rest of the year.
 
State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister says there will be several options for students to finish this year's school work from home.
 
“Our message to parents is, first of all, recognize that this is really not something that anyone signed up for, they were not prepared, and we want to ease the burden and shoulder some of that need,” Hofmeister said.
 
It was that resolution that prompted OKCPS to move the last day of school up to May 8th.