Tulsa Public Schools Cuts Spending By $2.1 Million

Wednesday, January 13th 2016, 11:55 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Public Schools said Wednesday it is reducing district spending for the current school year by $2.1 million.

In a news release the district said the cut is in response to the state’s revenue failure and the Oklahoma Board of Education enacting $47 million in cuts to public education last week.

1/7/2016 Related Story: OK State Board Of Education Cuts Millions From Budget

The reduction in spending is just the first round, as a second round of statewide cuts is expected.

“This $2.1 million reduction in the district’s budget is significant for Tulsa Public Schools, but we have been able to manage it so far by being strategic in choosing where we make cuts,” said TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist.

“We will make adjustments to spending as needed, though it gets increasingly difficult, as the budget we built for the 2015-16 school year was lean from the start. Further cuts are expected for this year, but we will maintain a balanced budget. In addition, we are considering the difficult steps we will need to take given the significant reductions we expect for the next school year. Our plan is to protect classrooms and school sites to the fullest extent possible and make reductions that directly affect classrooms only as a last resort.”