School consolidation legislation won’t be heard by Senate Education Committee

The chairman of the Senate Education Committee said late Thursday he will not hear any school consolidation bills, including his own.

Earlier in the day, Senate Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, moved his school administrative consolidation bill from the Senate Education Committee to the Senate Rules Committee.

Bingman’s Senate Bill 1382 would consolidate the administration of dependent districts with independent districts.

Lawmakers are scrambling to find ways to save money after a current year revenue failure and a $1.3 billion hole for the fiscal year 2017 budget.

The state also is experiencing a significant teacher shortage.

Lawmakers have put out several consolidation measures, including those that affect schools and state agencies.

“At this point, it doesn’t appear the measure will make it out of the Education Committee,” Bingman said of his bill. “I am committed to moving this measure forward, and am moving it to the Rules Committee to be acted upon. It’s important for us to keep the conversation going about measures like this that free up dollars to support students and teachers, especially considering the severe budget crisis facing the state.”

Monday, a House panel overwhelmingly voted to kill a school district consolidation measure after hundreds of parents and students showed up at the Capitol.

Senate Education Chairman John Ford, R-Bartlesville, said the death of the bill in the House committee was one factor in his decision not to hear any consolidation measures.

“I think it is the right thing to do,” Ford said.

When lawmakers proposed significant changes like school consolidation, the issue needs to be discussed thoroughly, Ford said.

He said each issue has a time, adding that he didn’t think he presently could get a lot of buy-in on school consolidation proposals.

Of the 516 school districts, about 100 are dependent or elementary districts.