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Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: March 2, 2010
Sen. Gary Stanislawski
Bill to Provide Schools with Spending Flexibility Heads
to House
The Senate approved a bill
Tuesday which would help give local school districts more flexibility
in their spending. Senate Bill 1784, by Sen. Gary
Stanislawski, would allow them to use state textbook allocations
for instructional expenses in years of revenue decline.
“My bill would allow local school boards to decide how best
to spend these funds during tight budget years like the current
fiscal year. They shouldn’t be forced to buy books when they
can’t afford to pay their teachers or pay for other pressing
needs like utility bills,” said Stanislawski, R-Tulsa. “This
is a commonsense bill that will untie the hands of our local school
districts during difficult financial times. In times like these,
we must do all we can to help our local schools, not make things
harder for them.”
Textbook allocations are determined by a formula based on the daily
average attendance of schools multiplied by $55. An initial allocation
is calculated in July and then adjusted in December. School districts
must receive their allocation no later than January 15.
Officials with Tulsa Public Schools told Stanislawski that the district
receives over $2 million a year in textbook allocations - an amount
equal to around 50 teaching positions in that district. The Oklahoma
City School district is allocated just over $1.85 million for textbooks,
which also amounts to a significant number of teaching positions.
Under SB 1784, school districts would be authorized to expend textbook
allocations for other expenses during the upcoming fiscal year which
begins on July 1, 2010 or during any fiscal year thereafter when
actual state revenues are at least five percent less than the total
appropriated amount for the same fiscal year.
SB 1784 now goes to the House for consideration in committee.
For
more information contact:
Sen. Stanislawski: 405-521-5624
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