After pulling through four months of state funding cuts, area schools are bracing for even deeper cuts as they begin the second semester.

A tally sheet released earlier this month by the Department of Education showed that Oklahoma schools got their state aid cut by more than $43 million for the first five months of the 2010 school year. The sheet listed all Oklahoma schools, none escaping the budget ax. Cuts as deep as 10 percent could continue into next semester, even after districts receive their mid-term adjustments.

“There are so many uncertainties,” said Jim Wilson, assistant Muskogee superintendent for support and personnel. He said he expects Superintendent Mike Garde to call MPS officials together before second semester to discuss finances.

Officials at some other districts, including Braggs and Webbers Falls, reported enough carry-over to weather the cuts — for now.

For the first five months of the school year, Muskogee Public Schools received just more than $8.6 million from the state, down $452,452 from what the state would have given the district.

District officials compiled lists including 65 budget-cutting ideas they had considered in the past, plus at least 63 suggestions from the public and held a public meeting to discuss the proposals. Another meeting is planned for next month.

Muskogee offered early retirement, or voluntary separation plans, for support workers and certified workers. Wilson said 12 support workers will leave at mid-term, and four more are expected to retire at the end of the school year.

Parents could expect to see office assistants less often at elementary schools.

Wilson said five office assistants will be “floaters,” serving two schools each.”

Also, 26 certified workers, including teachers, have agreed to participate in the voluntary separation plan, Wilson said.

“This has just been a very tough semester. We don’t know what will happen.”

Fort Gibson received about $1.6 million from the state since August, down $84,593.

Superintendent Derald Glover said the district still had some carry-over to help it survive the cuts. However, the district will not replace staff members who retire or resign, he said.

Webbers Falls Superintendent Dudley Hume said the district was fortunate to have built enough carry-over to weather its cut of $26,034.

He said officials started planning for the cuts about two years ago “when the state started those tax cuts for wealthy people.”

Hume said that when he started seeing the state cuts in August, he planned for 10 percent cuts “right off the bat.”

Hilldale has received about $2.7 in state aid since July, down $146.671.

Oktaha Superintendent Jerry Needham said two administrators were laid off this school year. One custodian position was not filled after the custodian died, and two recently-hired support workers were let go, he said.

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



State aid

Area schools with the amount of state aid each received so far this year and the amount of the reduction in state aid so far this year.

• MUSKOGEE, $8,627,259, -$452,452.

• HILLDALE, $2,796,696, -$146,671

• FORT GIBSON, $1,612,989, -$84,593.

• BRAGGS, $452,561, -$23,734

• WARNER, $1,235,220, -$64,780

• NORWOOD, $383,476, -$20,112.

• WOODALL, $1,074,811, -$56,367.

• TENKILLER, $759,762, -$39,845.

• KEYS, $1,422,396, -$74,597.

• HULBERT, $1,136,904, -$59,624.

• TAHLEQUAH, $6,045,701, -$317,063.

• EUFAULA, $1,910,897, -$100,215

• CHECOTAH, $2,121,026, -$111,237.

• WAINWRIGHT, $261,132, -$13,694.

• HASKELL, $1,502,834, -$78,816,

• BOYNTON-MOTON, $183,650, -$9,632

• WEBBERS FALLS, $496,398, -$26,034

• OKTAHA, $1,223,163, -$64,148.

• PORUM, $1,050,777, -$55,107

• GORE, $906,453, -$47,539

• VIAN, $1,851,811, - $97,117

• OKAY, $827,557, -$43,400

• WAGONER, $4,164,327, -$218,396

• PORTER CONSOLIDATED, $807,566, -$42,352.