Good to see Holt’s interest in district

DAVID Holt is following through on one of the pledges he made while running successfully for mayor of Oklahoma City — he’s intent in doing what he can as mayor to improve the school district.

During his campaign, Holt noted that previous mayors had not involved themselves with the school district because they likely didn’t see it as their job to do so. The district, after all, is led by a superintendent who answers to eight elected members of the school board.

Yet the success of the district should be of keen interest to the mayor and city council, because a stronger school district will make for a stronger Oklahoma City. Thus, Holt’s interest should be applauded.

There are about 46,000 students in the district, making it the state’s largest, but it’s expected there will be about 1,000 fewer students enrolled for the 2018-19 school year. Enrollment declines expected in the next two years could put an $11 million dent in state aid to the district.

Roughly 90 percent of Oklahoma City public school students qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The district has struggled academically for years, a problem exacerbated by discipline policies that some teachers have said are woefully inadequate.

As a Republican member of the state Senate, Holt, who has two children in Oklahoma City schools, filed a bill to allow cities to sponsor charter schools. The bill didn’t advance, but it underscored his general support

for charters, many of which have succeeded in Oklahoma City. It also showed his interest in looking for different ways to educate children.

Speaking recently to education leaders at a forum presented by Odyssey Leadership Academy, a private school, Holt said that while the superintendent and board run the district, the mayor is able to “champion a bold plan” for schools that draws broad support.

He said he expects to have a plan in place in the next year or two. It won’t be “a squishy plan that has a goal like ‘all kids will learn,” Holt said, but will include several ideas that increase its chances of gaining bipartisan backing.

The Oklahoman’s Ben Felder, who reported on the meeting at Odyssey, interviewed school board member Rebecca Budd about Holt’s interest in the district. Budd said there were “positives and negatives,” which we read as a lukewarm response at best.

Mary Melon, president of the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools, acknowledged to Felder that the topic of improving the city’s schools is hardly new. But she was receptive to Holt’s interest.

Melon said she doesn’t know what Holt’s plan will or should look like, “but I do know that it’s imperative that we figure it out.” She’s right. We look forward to seeing where this leads, and commend Holt for his willingness to place himself at the center of the conversation.