— The state is giving $9.3 million more to Oklahoma public schools than was originally allocated for 2013.

However, most area schools will see a decrease from final 2012 state allocations anyway. Schools received notice of their adjusted allocations last week. Tricia Pemberton, a communications specialist with the Oklahoma Department of Education, said the state adjusted the allocations because of a growth in weighted average daily attendance as well as a decrease in applications for public charter schools.

Of 24 area schools, only Warner and Okay will receive more state aid for 2013 than in 2012. Warner’s original 2013 allocation of $2,569,750 was adjusted to $2,580,370 this week. Warner received $2,572,679 from the state for 2012.

Warner Superintendent David Vinson said the adjustment means the district will receive about $7,600 more from the state this year.

“This will help us meet the needs of our teachers and classrooms,” he said. “We have high expectations of our teachers, but, to be fair, we need to meet their needs. We’re purchasing books right now, as well as odds and ends for teachers.”

Okay, which already faced a state aid increase for 2013, will get an adjusted allocation of $1,688,223, an increase of $10,896 above its 2012 allocation.

For other schools, the adjustment means less of a cut in allocations.

Muskogee Public Schools Chief Financial Officer John Little said Muskogee’s adjustment means $91,000 more in state aid than was originally allocated for 2013. However, the adjusted allocation of $16.9 million still means a $437,117 cut from what MPS received for 2012.

Fort Gibson will receive $3,295,368, up about 8 percent from the original allocation, but still less than the $3,382,790 allocated for 2012.

“We’d like to have all the money that’s due us,” Fort Gibson Superintendent Derald Glover said.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com.

2012-13 allocations



School                 Final 2012 allocation    Initial 2013 allocation       Adjusted 2013 allocation

MUSKOGEE COUNTY

Muskogee          $17,395,483         $16,867,343                   $16,958,366

Hilldale    $5,714,721        $5,642,435                   $5,667,315

Fort Gibson    $3,382,790        $3,269,420                   $3,295,368

Wainwright    $643,757                        $630,204                   $632,547

Haskell     $3,196,485        $2,952,943                   $2,966,095

Webbers Falls     $1,025,756        $1,016,411                   $1,020,966

Oktaha      $2,823,862        $2,792,361                   $2,802,879

Braggs                   $863,626         $765,894                   $769,181

Warner    $2,572,679        $2,569,750                   $2,580,370

Porum     $2,144,594        $2,073,800                   $2,081,627

CHEROKEE COUNTY

Keys                    $2,869,633        $2,783,166                   $2,795,812

Hulbert    $2,111,023        $2,098,660                   $2,107,392

Tahlequah    $13,036,550        $12,882,074                   $12,935,314

Norwood    $782,158            $773,848                   $776,910.

Woodall    $2,869,633        $2,189,648                   $2,197,066

MCINTOSH COUNTY

Stidham    $659,858         $459,614                   $461,408

Eufaula    $4,258,956        $4,199,302                   $4,218,736

Checotah    $5,403,583        $5,242,947                   $5,267,074

SEQUOYAH COUNTY

Vian                   $3,784,962        $3,645,306                   $3,659,784

Gore                   $1,829,003        $1,710,371                   $1,718,355

WAGONER COUNTY

Okay                    $1,657,327        $1,661,124                   $1,668,223

Wagoner     $8,432,960        $8,309,194                   $8,344,861

Porter                   $1,761,914        $1,713,334                   $1,721,209



Total State Aid   $1,815,185        $1,762,526,221               $1,771,889,985

Source: Oklahoma Department of Education.