OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma Metropolis Public Colleges Board of Schooling unanimously accepted a decision supporting authorized motion in opposition to the Oklahoma State Board of Schooling.
The OKCPS Board voted 7-0 in approval of a decision supporting litigation in opposition to the State Board of Schooling.
OKCPS is asking on the State Board of Schooling to satisfy and rescind its March 25 vote to equally distribute property tax {dollars} amongst public and constitution faculties, together with digital faculties like Epic Constitution Colleges.
The State Board of Schooling voted to alter how property tax {dollars} are distributed amongst faculties following a shock movement by Trent Smith – Gov. Kevin Stitt’s latest appointee to the State Board of Schooling.
Constitution faculties don’t obtain cash for services, and constitution college officers say they have been chronically under-funded. Constitution faculties, nevertheless, can function with considerably much less oversight than public faculties and do not have to supply the identical providers.
Officers from constitution faculties can select to not transport college students and comply with their very own curriculum and hiring insurance policies.
Oklahoma Metropolis Public Colleges management are taking authorized motion in pursuit of a brief restraining order and injunction to cease the state board from implementing the brand new funding plan for constitution faculties to guard college students from funding cuts.
OKCPS officers launched the next assertion Thursday on submitting a petition in courtroom:
“On March 31, 2023, OKCPS, as an intervening defendant, filed in Oklahoma County District Court docket, a Petition for Cross Claims in opposition to the Oklahoma State Board of Schooling (“State Board”). After no exercise within the case for a yr, the State Board took surprising, sudden and illegal motion on March 25 to hunt to equalize funding amongst constitution faculties, together with digital constitution faculties. A decision was handed which gave the impression to be an try and settle the lawsuit, though the 2 intervening events, OKCPS and TPS have been unaware of the proposed decision.
Though our District management had requested that the State Board rethink and rescind its latest motion as a way to keep away from this extra authorized step, there was no motion. So, as a way to additional shield the pursuits of our college students, the District now seeks a brief restraining order and short-term injunction to restrain the State Board from implementing the tried settlement. Moreover, the District requests that the Court docket subject a writ of prohibition in opposition to the State Board for exceeding its authority and make a willpower as to the suitable interpretation and software of the legal guidelines relating to the funding of public college districts and constitution faculties.
It’s unlucky that due to the State Board’s overreaching motion we’re pressured to proceed directing our restricted time and assets to handle a difficulty that’s clearly illegal and never in the very best curiosity of the greater than 700,000 college students who attend conventional public faculties in Oklahoma. OKCPS stays dedicated to defending the monetary assets essential to serve our college students.”
OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATEMENT
State Superintendent Pleasure Hofmeister beforehand stated the funding change is unconstitutional as a result of taxpayers lose management over how their schooling {dollars} are spent.
Oklahoma Public Constitution Faculty Affiliation by KFOR on Scribd
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