As part of OKC district cuts, many schools to lose assistant principals

As many as 26 schools in the Oklahoma City district — half of them elementary schools — will lose an administrator in the coming school year, The Oklahoman has learned.

The reductions, announced Thursday, will mean nine elementary schools will be without a single assistant principal to handle discipline issues, documents show.

Ed Allen, president of the teachers’ union that bargains with the district, said the reductions will saddle principals with more responsibility.

“Their job essentially revolves around student behavior,” Allen said. “It’s going to be more work for the principals ... and some of our principals don’t like dealing with discipline.”

The nine elementary schools are Edwards, Eugene Field, King, Monroe, North Highland, Putnam Heights, Rancho Village, Rockwood and Telstar, documents show.

The administrators are expected to be notified as early as Monday. A spokesman for the district said some will be laid off while others will be reassigned.

On Thursday, Superintendent Rob Neu said 92 administrative positions will be eliminated for the school year beginning July 1 to save $5.1 million. Those positions account for 18 percent of the district’s administrative staff; 59 positions are central office administrators, and 33 are school site administrators.

Five middle schools and seven high schools or mid-highs also will lose assistant principals.

One of those schools, U.S. Grant High School, is cutting three administrators —