OKC school principals to get incentive to retire early

The Oklahoma City School Board on Monday night approved an incentive program for principals and assistant principals to retire early in anticipation of school closures and consolidations.

Superintendent Sean McDaniel said once that happens “there would be fewer schools than prinicpalships.”

“As OKCPS moves forward with our Pathway to Greatness project, we know change is certain,” McDaniel said in a statement. “I am pleased to bring forward this opportunity to honor and appreciate the service of our building administrators while

also working to avoid a Reduction In Force if at all possible.”

Eligible building administrators have 21 days beginning Tuesday to consider the incentive program. The district is offering $8,000 to principals and $5,000 to assistant principals to participate.

McDaniel announced in November that an unknown number of schools would either be closed or used for other purposes and boundary lines reconfigured to better serve students by aligning facilities and resources with instructional needs.

He is expected to present the three best options for school closures or consolidations to the board Jan. 22.

Student transfer policy approved

The school board unanimously approved a new policy that shifts much of the decision making for approving student transfers from building principals to McDaniel and his staff and makes it easier to project building enrollment and staffing.

“I like that there will be consistency across the board for the district as it relates to transfers,” board member Jace Kirk said. “I think we’ve had a lot of uncertainty. It’s basically been a lot of site-level decisions and I don’t think that lends to equity.

New attendance zones and fewer schools because of projected building closures and consolidations likely will mean fewer transfers in the coming year.

Students who live in those new attendance zones will be guaranteed access to their neighborhood school, McDaniel said, adding that once a student transfers to a new school that student will not be required to reapply annually.

“Forever in this district you have to apply for a transfer every year,” he said. “So there’s always this thing hanging over you as a family or a student: Do I get to come back next year?

“With the new policy you apply one time, and if your transfer is granted, you don’t have to apply ever again (to that school).”