TULSA -- Tulsa Public Schools is planning its 2018-19 budget under the assumption that 100 percent of the teacher and support personnel pay raises outlined in House Bill 1023XX and House Bill 1026XX will be funded by the state.
“Time and time again, Oklahomans have demonstrated their support for public education, and we remain hopeful that [should a referendum occur] our community will again stand up for our teachers, students, and schools," Superintendent Deborah Gist said.
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“We want our teachers and support team members to know that they will take home any additional state funding for increased salaries,” said Gist. “We also remain committed to doing all that we can to advocate for long-term solutions that create permanent revenue to fully fund not only this salary increase, but also a full restoration of – and meaningful investment in – state funding for public education.”
The budget will include an estimated $23 million in projected funding for teacher and support personnel raises.
“Regardless of the amount of funding we receive, we will pass every cent of that new revenue directly on to our educators and support staff. At this point, we are still working to understand the logistics of how we would distribute the funding,” said Chief Financial Officer Nolberto Delgadillo. “Moving forward, however, we will continue to be relentless in advocating for the professional, nationally-competitive salaries that they deserve,” said Delgadillo.
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