Fighting for full funding

By BRENDA CALAHAN
Special to the News-Capital

September 26, 2009 07:43 pm

— The article that appeared in the Sept. 24 issue of this newspaper, titled “Education Spending Could Force Tax Hikes in Oklahoma” has some information that I think needs to be clarified.
The HOPE effort (Help Oklahoma Public Education), which will appear on the November 2010 General election ballot as State Question 744, is not just an Oklahoma Education Association initiative. The State Administrators Association , the State School Board Association and the State PTA, as well as the OEA, are all working together to support State Question 744.
The $850,000,000 figure came from the results of not only research by the above organizations, but also by the Oklahoma State Legislature, which found that Oklahoma’s public schools are underfunded by at least that much. The legislature has never released the results of their survey, so it becomes the responsibility of education organizations like the OEA, CCOSA, OSSBA, and PTA to take the responsibility to try and remedy a worsening situation.
The HOPE petition was initiated in the fall of 2008. There was a 90-day window to pass the petitions, but less time was needed because Oklahoma citizens responded in huge numbers and over 240,000 signatures were collected in the initiative process that Oklahoma state law provides its citizens when the legislature ignores their wishes.
Oklahoma’s citizenry has repeatedly told the legislature that they want public education fully funded, but the legislature continues to ignore those wishes, so now this measure seems to be the only one left. The same republican legislators cited in the Sept. 24 article thought the petition process was just fine when they were supporting the TABOR petition two years ago which would have severely limited the amount of money that goes to public education as well as all state services. Now they’ve introduced State Question 754 which would make efforts like the HOPE petition impossible.
As a long-time educator in McAlester, I know that schools all across Oklahoma are facing severe cutbacks in funding. It is only a matter of time before Pittsburg County schools are facing cutbacks if they’re not already doing so now.
Please dream with me and all Oklahoma public school employees: What would our public schools look like if they were ever fully funded?
It is said that money has been thrown at public schools and the results don’t warrant the amount of money spent. Money has never been thrown at public schools. Every dollar is squeezed by responsible school administrators, board members and employees to provide the best education that can be provided for the money spent.
It is a testament to everyone involved in public education that Oklahoma’s schools are as good as they are.
Don’t be misled by all the hype that will be promoted by the anti-HOPE lobby. Ask local educators their opinions. Both sides should be heard. This is a free country. Make sure you have all the facts before going to the polls in November 2010.
Brenda Calahan has been an educator and advocate for education for 23 years. She is the president of the McAlester Association of Classroom Teachers and is active in the Democratic Party, serving as the county chairman. Contact her at ms_picasso@yahoo.com.