State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters is continuing to put pressure on the Tulsa Public School District ahead of a vote on the district’s accreditation. Walters released a video on Thursday which creates a timeline with media reports highlighting financial and academic achievement issues with Tulsa Public Schools over the years.
“I will do whatever it takes to make sure that every student in Oklahoma has the opportunity to be successful. Unfortunately, many kids in Tulsa don’t get this opportunity in a district plagued with financial mismanagement and failing schools. The students of Tulsa and the City of Tulsa deserve one of the best school districts in the nation, and I fully believe TPS is capable of becoming that district, but we need immediate accountability and immediate improvement,” said Walters in a statement when the video was released.
Walters has called for a change in leadership.
Current Tulsa Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist has denied financial mismanagement and says the State Superintendent has not defined a clear plan to help Tulsa schools improve academic achievement.
The State Board of Education is expected to take up Tulsa Public Schools’ accreditation at its next meeting on August 24.
You can view Walter’s video below.
So refreshing to have a Superintendent who is bent on serving our students and teachers in the classroom rather than serving the Union or administration. The deteriorating metrics publicized thus far are results of the last decade+ of poor bureaucratic rule. The coming two years of results for our kids will reflect the better approach now advanced by Superintendent Walters with bold support from our Governor. Very exciting for Oklahoma’s kids!