Officials debate if 65 Percent solution to education funding
By Tippi Rasp Staff Writer

A local businessman is joining an initiative drive promising to put more money into Oklahoma classrooms.

David Ritchie, owner of Chisholm Creek Development, has joined First Class Edu-cation as co-chairman in the state's 3rd Congressional District.

The group has a little more than a month to gather enough signatures to put the 65 Percent Solution on the November ballot. The initiative aims to increase funding for in-classroom expenses, such as teachers' salaries, textbooks and computers without a tax increase.

Ritchie's wife was a teacher for many years, and he said she often used her own money to buy educational materials.

“She was always buying extra stuff for the classroom,” Ritchie said. “I think they all spend a substantial amount of their own money.”

Oklahoma schools spend about 58 percent of their budgets on classroom expenses, but those opposed to the initiative believe there is a discrepancy between what First Class Education says constitutes classroom expenditures and how Oklahoma schools make the distinction.

Ritchie said Bob Sullivan, Republi-can gubernatorial candidate and Ritchie's high school classmate, introduced him to the 65 Percent Solution concept. Sullivan is the honorary chairman for First Class Education in Oklahoma.

Ritchie said opposition comes from two sources — administrators and teacher's unions.

“A lot of it stems from lack of control of money,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie said the concept is simple: Cut down on administrative costs and reallocate money to the classroom.

But those against the initiative say the proposal is “a deadly virus,” and voter approval could mean unleashing a “very dangerous plague on public schools,” according to Oklahoma Education Association's Web site.

According to 65 Percent Solution, OEA notes on its Web site, in-classroom expenses don't count the cost of counselors, nurses, transportation, custodial and maintenance staff or teacher training and curriculum.

“The 65 percent idea is no solution, it's a delusion,” OEA President Roy Bishop said. “It would do so much harm to our schools, and the average person may not ever realize what this proposal would do until it's too late.”

Enid Public Schools Superin-tendent Kem Keith-ly said the idea sounds simple, but it could be harmful to public schools. He said although EPS met the 65 percent benchmark for 2004-05, building site improvements being paid for this year out of the district's general fund will put the district's numbers below that 65 percent mark.

“It's a simplistic solution that doesn't provide the flexibility districts need,” Keithly said. “We place a lot of pride in the fact that we try to put a lot of money into the classroom.”

Keithly said many people jump to conclusions about “what we do in public education,” and those people have a “limited knowledge of how we operate.”

“I just think we have so much government control now ... more is not necessarily better,” Keithly said.

Keithly said he sees a simple solution to reaching the 65 percent goal: “All they have to do is make sure the teachers salaries are in the regional average. That puts (districts) in there.”

"EDUACTION, PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER"
By Ted King, President of the RCPOA

In Februrary thousands of school teachers took the day off to descend on the state capitol to protest the buget shortfall and its thread to education funding.

Waving signs sayin " Save Our Schools" or S.O.S. the Oklahoma Education Association teachers union was out in force to demand MORE MONEY from the state's taxpayers.
We made a request from the State Superintendent Sandy Garrett's Office and got the number on our school superintendents.

The Rogers County Property Owners Association does not wish to involve itself in the debate over our schools except that IT IS the Property Owners' of Rogers County and Oklahoma who foot the bill for a large part of the funding for public education. We should have a say on HOW OUR MONEY IS SPENT!

Oklahoma has 552 Public School Superintendents. Many Superintendents also have Assistant Superintendents and other well-paid peresonnel on their staff. Superintendents alone draw almost 40 million dollars.
States like California and Florida with many times our state population have less than 100 school Superintendentst each. WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY!?!

Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties have 15 Supers each. Our own Rogers County has 9 Superintendents.
Seven counties in Oklahoma area statistically frontiers according the 2000 US Census. That is they have fewer than 6 persons per square mile. And yet each of these sparsely populated counties has two or more Superintdents. Beaver County in the panhandle has four Superintendents costing $246,297 a year. $25,547 in fringe benefits for the Superintendentsbrings the total up to $271,844 - just for Beaver County Superintendents! The other Frontier County in the panhandle is Cimarron County with four Superintendents.

They make a cumulative $211,181! $5,988 extra for expenses! Dewey County has three Superintendents who make a total of $200,200 with expenses of $10,458! Ellis County has four Supers that make a total of $238,565 - $9,897 more for their expenses. Grant County has four Supers who make a total of $245,842 plus an additional $16,986 for expenses.

Harper County has only two Supers. They make a total of $137,525 and have $12,305 for expenses.
Roger Mills County has 5 Supers who make a total of $302,383 and have expenses totaling 21,439!
Now these are just the Frontier counties -- 6 or fewer people per square mile. That does not include the other 70 counties with hundreds of Superintendents who take up space and draw significant salaries in the name of "educating our children." To see a full list of Oklahoma counties and total salaries being paid to Superintendents. click here

And just to drive our point home, Rogers County has NINE (9) Superintendents.
Let's not mince words here -- this is a SCANDAL! We are talking about MILLIONS HERE; and they don't have enough MONEY to pay SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS? They don't have enough money for SCHOOL SUPPLIES? The teachers march on the state capitol holding up signs proclaiming - Save Our Schools?
They are WASTING OUR MONEY outrageously?

NO MORE MONEY FOR EDUCATION UNTIL EDUCATION GETS ITS OWN HOUSE IN ORDER!

"DO IT FOR OUR CHILDREN"

I love teachers.

Both my wife and one of my daughters have been teachers. I love teachers not just for the impact they’ve had on my life, but because I understand the impact teachers have on the lives of Oklahoma’s children and Oklahoma’s future.

Will our Oklahoma future be known for successful, highly educated, innovative citizens that competes with the top economies of the world? Or will Oklahoma be where underperforming schools have produced an underperforming workforce that compete with the world for the economic scraps from companies only seeking the lowest wages possible, forcing Oklahoma’s best and brightest to seek their future elsewhere? What happens in our classrooms today will determine which course Oklahoma follows tomorrow.

That’s why Oklahoma’s classrooms, teachers and students must be the first priorities of our K-12 education funding. Unfortunately far too often, they’re not.

While Oklahoma taxpayers continue to fund K-12 public education at higher levels each year, Oklahoma ranks an embarrassing 46th nationally in the percentage of education dollars that reach our classrooms – only 57.9% according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Think of it, 45 other states do a better job of getting their education dollars to their classrooms, teachers and students. If we don’t do better at getting our education dollars to our classrooms, those other states are going to have better jobs for their graduating students!

For our teachers and taxpayer, students and parents, Oklahoma is about to make meaningful change though the First Class Education for Oklahoma citizens initiative. The initiative will set as a goal for Oklahoma that 65 cents of every education taxpayer dollar gets to our classrooms. That seven cent increase may seem small, but small change can create a big change. Raising Oklahoma from 58 cents to 65 cents equals $270 million more a year for our classrooms, teachers and students. That’s about $423 per student or $8,460 for each class of 20 students – without a tax increase! $270 million is enough to buy a new computer for every student in Oklahoma or hire 6,000 more Oklahoma teachers at a starting salary of $40,000. Ask any Oklahoma teacher if $8,000 more for their classroom would make a difference.

No wonder conservative columnist George Will called this plan “The 65 Cent Solution.” And little wonder that the 65% classroom goal is winning support around the country, especially in Oklahoma’s surrounding states. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was the first to call for 65% in the classroom. Governor Kathleen Blanco signed legislation making 65% a public policy goal for Kansas. Texas Governor Rick Perry established the 65% goal by executive order. Louisiana and Georgia have both passed 65% legislation. And Governor Tim Pawlenty is pushing for 70% for Minnesota classrooms, teachers and students.

Colorado citizens have gathered the signatures to place the 65% Solution on their fall ballot, and that’s what we’ll do here too. I’m proud to have been asked to be the Honorary Chair of the First Class Education for Oklahoma initiative. I’ve signed the petition and have contributed to it financially. I hope you’ll do the same.

Our Oklahoma initiative defines classroom instruction as, “expenditures directly related to the classroom: instructional staff and materials, activities involving interaction between students and teachers or other classroom personnel, special education instruction, tutors, books, classroom computers, general instruction supplies, instructional aides, libraries and librarians, class activities such as field trips, athletics, arts, music and multidisciplinary learning, and extra-curricular activities including drama, sports and band.” It leaves 35% for other items that are important, but which need to be delivered more efficiently.

Our Oklahoma initiative specifically allows for districts to ask our State Superintendent Sandy Garrett for a waiver if there’s a legitimate reason that it can not reach 65% in the classroom while other states and thousands of districts around the country can. The initiative specifically cites rural transportation costs as a potential reason why a waiver should be allowed. The petition also specifically says, “Nothing in the measure would force or require the closing or consolidation of any schools or school districts.”

Every Oklahoma teacher I’ve met tells me they pay for basic classroom supplies out of their own pocket. And every teacher knows of wasteful spending. The 65% Solution is a way to move money from the wasteful spending to the teachers and students. My elementary teacher taught me that Ben Franklin said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” With the First Class Education for Oklahoma initiative, seven pennies saved would equal $270 million earned for our classrooms, teachers and students.

Bob Sullivan is the Honorary Chairman of First Class Education for Oklahoma. His wife and daughter have been teachers and Sullivan has served on and chaired board of three Oklahoma schools.

Initiative launched to keep more money in state classrooms

By Michael McNutt
The Oklahoman

An initiative petition drive was launched Tuesday that aims to keep at least 65 percent of public school money in the classroom for teachers and students.

The drive is part of a national effort by the group First Class Education.

Bob Sullivan, honorary chairman of First Class Education for Oklahoma, was the first to sign the petition.

Sullivan, a Tulsa oilman who is a Republican candidate for governor, said the group has 90 days to collect about 108,000 signatures of registered voters.

Organizers hope to be able to get the issue to voters for November's election. Television commercials promoting the drive were to air beginning Tuesday.

About 58 percent of Oklahoma's education tax money reaches the classroom, Sullivan said. That ranks the state 46th nationally.

Only eight of the state's 539 school districts are spending at least 65 percent of their budgets on classroom expenses, he said.

Increasing the amount of money to 65 percent would mean an additional $270 million for Oklahoma's classrooms, teachers and students without a tax increase, Sullivan said.

The petition states teacher salaries, supplies, special education programs, computers, libraries and librarians, field trips, athletics and art as well as extracurricular activities would be considered classroom expenses.

Classroom expenses would not include transportation, cafeteria, utility, maintenance and administrative costs. Nursing and counseling services also are not included.

Keith Ballard, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, said the proposal is deceptive in that it implies the savings would be achieved by cutting administrative costs. State law already puts a 10 percent limit on administrative costs, he said.

Roy Bishop, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, called the petition bad public policy.

"It gives the impression that 65 percent is all that's needed, and there are so many different services for children on a day-to-day basis that aren't included," he said. "This 65 percent delusion -- not just in Oklahoma but in other states -- has typically been an effort by those who don't support funding education to make it look like they're actually doing so. All they're trying to do is fool the public."

Sullivan denied he was heading the effort to get publicity for his gubernatorial bid.

About the same time he was announcing the petition drive, his campaign sent out news releases stating his support for the concept.

"I'm not ashamed to say that this has fit nicely into my gubernatorial run," Sullivan said.