---- VOLUME TWENTY-TWO ---- NUMBER SIX ----
In 1981, as a result from an action in Tulsa County, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that monies raised for a school are the school's monies from the moment they are collected. Immediately, at various advisory meetings, Administrators were told to invest surplus funds for the benefit of the children. Prior to that time, county officials would invest the monies collected and add the interest earned in the county budget. All of a sudden, the game changed with the Supreme Court ruling. Some old time superintendents when asked for an opinion even expressed the belief that the unapportioned funds belonged to the county until turned over to the respective school districts. That was probably the expected response because “it had always been that way.” To gain better control of their district funds, many school districts soon switched away from county treasurers to their own independent treasurers. However, some schools fought battles for several years and faced “political” consequences because it was unpopular to challenge county government. Even after the Supreme Court ruling, it was still an uphill battle in some counties. As school districts began to manage their own funds, financial entities began to eye the potential for easy money and easy profit. Everyone wants to be your best friend and wants you to invest with him or her or wants to tell you how to invest the district's funds. Bless the poor superintendent who has had school board members who also serve on the board of directors of banks. Funds might have been invested in one bank for years without competitive bids. A significant portion of the funds might have also been deposited in demand accounts, thereby drawing no interest, which would result in less interest being earned for the district. It might be interesting for every school district to do a five, ten, or twenty-year audit to see how well they have been doing with their investments. In the beginning schools were extremely limited regarding what sources of investments could be purchased. This was in all likelihood, a prudent restriction to prevent risky investments. Technically speaking, government funds could not be placed in any kind of risky investment that might result in irreplaceable loss of district funds. As could be expected, the “big time” money managers noticed the “pot of gold” and began to work the Oklahoma Legislature. As a result, the restrictions protecting the district funds were loosened. This or a similar scenario happens every time there is a new source of revenue. Someone sees that “pot of gold” and wants to direct a significant portion of the profits in their direction; – in other words they want to get their hands on it. It does not matter whether it is at the federal, state, or local level. It has recently been reported that the Teacher's Retirement Funds have been targeted as a source of funds during the current statewide revenue shortfall. Individuals have coveted the “high” paying education jobs without the necessary training and experience as an administrator. Now others want to restrict the pay of the superintendents. Stories have circulated that some insurance businesses share premiums in their communities after they are the successful bidders. Schools currently get approximately seventy-five percent of their monies from the state --- and we hear so much about wanting local control. I cannot imagine that any of these practices can still be found in Oklahoma, but you never know. It has always been that way!! Local politics?
This is the second of a three part series by Dr. Herron. Subsequent articles will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead. Dr. Jack Herron is currently on the staff of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in Oklahoma City. Dr. Herron has served Oklahoma education for over 34 years including 18 years as a superintendent for the public school districts of Macomb, Mangum, Guthrie, and Duncan. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Herron is a 32nd Degree Mason and a veteran having served in the United States Air Force.
EDUCATORS TAKE SLAM AT SCHOOLS: Stinging Indictment Is Brought Against State Teaching System. World Capital Bureau. Oklahoma City, June 5. A stinging indictment of the state public school system by deans and officials of the University of Oklahoma was brought to light here today by Maj. Eugene Kerr, Muskogee, member of the university's board of regents, who said a survey made by the board revealed that 25 per cent of the high school graduates were not equipped for university work. The board of regents received this startling information during a recent meeting at the university when deans of the various schools were called in to make suggestions to the board as to how standards at the university might be improved, Maj. Kerr revealed. “It was interesting to note,” Maj. Kerr said in discussing the situation, “that the school leaders had but two suggestions to make for improvement of the university. One suggestion was that more money be spent and the other was that students received as freshmen be better equipped.” In face of the legislative action in voting $12,600,000 for school aid, the principal part of which will be spent each of the next two years for salaries for teachers, the revelation that 25 per cent of the students entering the university can't carry on, means that the common schools of the state will have to greatly improve teaching standards and methods. “We were told,” Major Kerr said, “that 25 per cent of the students couldn't read a common paragraph intelligently. They have no basic foundation in knowledge of fractions. Now what good, for instance, is calculus going to do those people? If they don't know fractions and can't understand what they read, why should the state spend money giving them a higher education?” Major Kerr is a consistent supporter of a plan whereby the university would become a university by raising standards and at the same time restricting enrollment only to those qualified to successfully pursue a higher education. He thinks the large number of scholastic failures at the university reflects on the common school system of the state and believes that no student should be forced to attend classes. It is Major Kerr's opinion that those seeking a higher education should be willing to get it. The fact that the estimate of “zero class” students at the university came from the deans and President W.B. Bizzell, leaves little room for argument that the appropriations for the school could be cut by 25 per cent, due to a decrease in facilities, if this group could be eliminated. This newspaper article appeared in THE TULSA WORLD, Sunday, June 6, 1937. |