Oklahoma
State Senate
Senator Micheal Bergstrom
Senator Micheal Bergstrom
Senate
District 1
May 11, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Senator Micheal Bergstrom
State Capitol: (405) 521-5561
State Capitol: (405) 521-5561
Capitol
Considerations by Senator Micheal Bergstrom
Senate Republicans Want
$200 Million More In Oklahoma Classrooms
Oklahoma’s Senate Republicans have
supported improving education in our state and investing in our children’s
futures. Throughout this session we have consistently stated that our top goal
in this session regarding education funding is to get more money in the
classroom. Last year we pursued and passed the largest teacher pay raise in
state history. This year we decided it was time to target the
classroom.
On Thursday afternoon, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat announced a
Republican Senate plan to invest an additional $200 million into classroom
funding.
While all the details
of the proposal have not been expanded upon, it is my hope that some
educational reforms will be part of the final package and that some limitations
will be placed on how the funds may be used. After all, the purpose is to
improve student outcomes.
Here’s what is possible with this additional money.
Schools will be able to hire more teachers and reduce class sizes, part of the
money may be used to give teacher pay raises at the local level, and it could
be used to to hire teacher aides, improve technology and much more.
The choice, according to this plan, is up
to the local schools.
During the teacher walkout last year
legislators were repeatedly told that the teacher pay raise was not the
important thing, that there needs to be more money in the classroom. We agree.
The overall Senate budget plan is fiscally
responsible.
For this budget year, because of improved
revenues, we will be able save, when you include our anticipated deposits to
the Rainy Day Fund and an additional $200 million we will be setting aside,
almost $1 billion to help us weather future economic downturns. This is half of
the governor’s goal to save $2 billion over the next four years.
Through our plan, Senate Republicans will help the Governor and House achieves
their goal of giving a $1,200 teacher pay raise since $70 million of our
package would cover that. It leaves $130 million in new funding to lower class
sizes, hire counselors and other support staff, or purchase textbooks and other
classroom supplies.
We have been listening to our constituents and our schools and by a large
margin they have told us they want more money for the classroom and the
flexibility to use that money to lower class sizes, hire more support staff
like counselors, or purchase things like textbook and supplies.
This $200 million plan does just that.
It is also evidence of Senate Republicans’
continuing commitment to education in our state and our desire to work with the
House and Governor Stitt to make Oklahoma a Top Ten State in education.
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