OKC Teachers Union Concerned About Charter School Proposal

An item on the Oklahoma City Public School District Board Meeting agenda for Monday sparked some strong reaction from the teacher's union. But the district said nothing is set in stone.

“At this point, it’s just a presentation,” said OKCPS spokesperson Mark Myers.

Myers said the board will hear from the charter schools already under the district umbrella about their interests in expanding.

Administrators from John Rex Elementary, KIPP Reach Academy, Santa Fe South Schools and Stanley Hupfeld will be part of the presentation.

“We just want to listen to what they have to say. If it goes anything further than that, obviously we’re going to involve the community to tell us if they want, if they don’t want charter schools as their neighborhood schools,” Myers explained.

But Ed Allen with the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers believes the train has already left the station.

“We had learned that the district has been in conversations about converting some of our existing schools into charters. And so the district hasn’t shared any of that information with us. But from different sources, they’ve been talking about converting anywhere from four to nine schools, we believe elementary,” Allen told News 9.

Allen said he is concerned they'll lose union members, but more concerned for parents.

“Are they going to serve the same kids or do you have to apply? Is it going to be a John Rex model?” Allen asked. “Or is it going to be an out of state entity that’s going to come in and manage the schools? What are they going to do with discipline problems?”

The district maintained there is no list of schools and are no plans of any kind.

Anyone with questions can attend the board meeting Monday night at 5:30 at 900 N Klein.