We Support Our Teachers!

March 16, 2018

The horrible state of education in Oklahoma has been widely discussed for years. You have now probably heard about the statewide Teacher Walkout. I want to let you know what that means for Hilldale.

First, we are very proud of our teachers, day in, day out. The Board of Education has approved a Resolution, supporting our teachers and the need for increased funding in education, including a teacher pay raise. The teachers have now provided a proposal to the district to participate in the Teacher Walkout, beginning April 2. The Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) states that this walkout and subsequent school closings are a “call to action” to the Oklahoma State Legislature to provide the funding desperately needed in public schools.

 

We are continuing to work on details for this time. But here is some information we want to share with our families:

• A little history – In the past six months, Oklahoma legislators have failed two different education funding bills. The most recent, the Step Up Plan, failed last month. [click here to see legislative votes on this failed measure] As a result, there is no current plan to provide the needed funding for education.
• We need the legislators to develop and implement legislation that provides recurring revenue to pay for public education. Doing this NOW can avoid the entire walkout!
• If the legislature does not do its job, we anticipate having teachers out starting April 2. As a result, we will not have school beginning April 2.
• We are reviewing a variety of ways to determine how to make up missed days. This will likely include adding days to the end of the school year, beyond the scheduled end of school, May 23.
• We have many extracurricular activities scheduled after April 2. We are working with OSSAA and other schools to determine how these will be handled. One activity that I can assure you WILL occur is graduation, May 19 at 3:00 pm.
• The state testing window is most of April. We are working with the State Department of Education to determine how to best complete testing.

Again – it is urgent that we get our legislators to act quickly to fund education and avoid the walkout!

 

Please contact legislators with a short email or phone call, daily. Make sure your support for education and our teachers is heard! To find your legislator, click here.

 

This is an ever-changing situation. Please stay tuned for updated information.