‘Fund education first’ deadline touted, questioned
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“My students have literally asked me why our state’s lawmakers don’t care about them.”
Nina Coerver’s words rang through a crowded press conference this morning. The Oklahoma Education Association and Stand For Children Oklahoma had called for lawmakers to meet a consequence-free deadline to “fund education first.” Passed into law circa 2003, the April 1 deadline has not been met during the past decade.
A history teacher at Westmoore High School, Coerver said she has learned a great deal this school year while facing tight classroom budgets.
“I’ve learned that file folders, tape, staplers and copy paper are expensive,” she said. “I’ve learned that I’m incredibly lucky that my biggest class is only 34 students.”
Coerver said uncertain education funding directly affects course offerings, class resources and teacher employment.
“I think what people don’t understand is that it’s impacting our kids,” she said following Monday’s press conference. “I teach in Moore, and while we’re still struggling, I think we’re better off than more rural districts and urban districts.”
‘No ramifications for lawmakers’ on deadline
Amber England, executive director of the state’s Stand For Children chapter, told media members that the fund education first deadline was proposed initially by Republicans when they were in the minority. She said its intent was to “give school districts financial certainty” as they planned for subsequent years.
“If they don’t have that critical information, they don’t know what’s going to happen,” England said. “Are they going to have to lay off more teachers? Are they going to have to 'Fund education first' deadline touted, questioned - NonDoc:
