Statement from Shawn Hime, Executive Director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, on the state budget agreement: “We appreciate the challenge Gov. Mary Fallin and legislative leaders have before them in drafting the budget and are grateful they have agreed to shield public schools from additional cuts. The reality is even with this agreement, […]

More than 100 school districts are considering a four-day school week or fewer school days as they cope with state funding cuts that also may force districts to cut more than 1,000 jobs and increase already large class sizes, according to a new survey of Oklahoma school officials. The Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration […]

Statement from Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, on announcement HB2949 and SB609 will not be heard: “I appreciate members of the House and Senate for choosing not to move forward with such divisive bills. Budget cuts and the teacher shortage crisis demand that state, business and education leaders work […]

March 3, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Christy Watson Communications Director, OSSBA 405.528.3571 | 405.821.3209 (cell) christyw@ossba.org Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, issued the following statement about today’s budget cut announcement: “Today’s budget announcement means schools will lose another $93 per student – a total of $158 less per […]

Education Organizations Applaud Supreme Court Ruling The Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration, Oklahoma State School Boards Association and the Oklahoma Education Association appreciate the diligence and speed of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in reviewing the penny sales tax proposal to support public education. Oklahomans understand that the state’s deepening teacher shortage crisis is bad […]

Education Leaders React to Budget Cuts School leaders know the state board of education had no choice but to enact cuts today. We appreciate the efforts of Superintendent Hofmeister, board members and education department staff to arrive at a solution that cushions the blow as much as possible. This is a financially challenging time for […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 11, 2015 Education Organizations File Brief in Support of Sales Tax Proposal Today, the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration, Oklahoma State School Boards Association and the Oklahoma Education Association filed a legal brief with the Oklahoma Supreme Court regarding the penny sales tax proposal to support public education. The organizations […]

Increasing teacher salaries in combination with altering the teacher salary schedule across experience levels could significantly reduce teacher turnover rates, according to a new study of the teacher labor market released today by the Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition and the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. The research, conducted by University of Tulsa Assistant Professor […]

March 9, 2015 Oklahomans overwhelmingly oppose using public money to pay for private schooling, according to a new poll released Monday. The poll found: Oklahomans strongly oppose school vouchers by a two-to-one margin. Twenty-four percent said they strongly favor giving parents money for their children to attend a private or religious school compared to 48 percent […]