OKC School Board backs teachers considering strike

The Oklahoma City School Board and the district’s acting superintendent are backing teachers considering a strike in protest of low pay and inadequate school funding.

Acting Superintendent Rebecca Kaye, speaking Tuesday at Pierce Elementary School, said the school board made a “very bold statement” the night before by unanimously approving a resolution supporting

teachers.

“We will support the voices of our teachers and we will support our teachers in what they need to do to advocate for themselves at the Capitol,” Kaye said. “Our teachers don’t make enough money to take care of their families and something has to change.

“At this point I really believe our teachers don’t know what else to do. I am hopeful that our community is going to come together to take care of our kids if it comes to the point that our teachers feel like they have to walk out in order to convince the Legislature to do the right thing and fund public education in our state.”

The resolution offers “full support of our teachers and stands ready to take any steps necessary to improve conditions for our teachers — including a districtwide suspension of classes.”

In the resolution, the board “urges the Oklahoma State Legislature to work urgently on behalf of the children and families in our state to take swift and meaningful action to develop a viable plan to pay teachers the professional salaries they deserve.”

Board member Gloria Torres, who read the resolution, said there is a need “for us as a community to join in and support our public schools and our public school teachers and all of our public school staff.”

Cleveland Elementary parent Amber Knapp, speaking to the board Monday night before the resolution was read, urged members to stand behind teachers contemplating a walkout.

“I implore you to do everything that you can to support your teachers,” Knapp said. “We know that it is not your fault that we are in this position. But we are here to support the teachers, not just for teacher pay — that’s a huge issue — but that’s not the only issue.

“We need to be able to have the funding to do the things that we’re talking about. To be able to have the teachers. So what are we doing as a board, as the administration, to support these teachers?”

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Education Association set an April 23 deadline for the Legislature to act on a teacher pay raise.

The board, after meeting privately Monday night, approved about $2 million in tentative pay increases for certified teachers for this fiscal year and next. The step increases, which need teacher union approval, would be retroactive from July 1, 2017, for FY 2018 and July 1, 2018, for FY 2019.

Other developments

Panel members also voted to give Kaye a

monthly pay increase of $5,000. Kaye was named interim superintendent after Aurora Lora’s resignation in January. The board appointed her acting superintendent Feb. 1.

Board Chairwoman Paula Lewis said Kaye “has demonstrated her commitment to our District with her ability to continue to move us forward seamlessly through this period of transition.”

With the increase, Kaye’s total salary through June will be $170,000, officials said.