TULSA - In an effort to cope with upcoming state budget cuts, Tulsa Public Schools is considering changing up bell times and reducing spending used for athletics.
According to TPS, bell times would be revised to reduce the number of buses for the district and save funds on things like labor, fuel and service. District officials estimated this would save around $1.2 to $1.4 million.
Here are the bell time adjustment ideas:
* Elementary schools: 7:30 a.m. – 2:35 p.m. (starts 15 minutes earlier)
* Combined middle school, junior high and high school campuses and magnet schools: 8:30 a.m. – 3:35 p.m. (15 minutes earlier or later, depending on the school)
* Middle schools/junior high schools not connected to a high school and alternative schools: 9:15 a.m. – 4:20 p.m. (30 minutes to one hour later)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BELL TIME ADJUSTMENT PROPOSAL HERE
Next on TPS’s idea list for saving money is taking from athletics. The district threw out the idea of reducing swimming stipends for all the schools, with the exception of Booker T. Washington and Memorial.
They also suggested eliminating assistant coach stipends in golf, tennis and cross-country. Then TPS suggested changing 7th and 8th athletics programs from grade-specific to combined teams at each junior high/middle school.
Cutting funding from travel expenses for athletic teams is another idea. TPS suggests that no trips greater than 75 miles away would be approved unless mandated by OSSAA.
The last on the list of suggestions is defunding all 6th grade athletics coaching stipends and not rescheduling non-district contests if postponed by weather.
If you are interested in attending meetings scheduled to discuss these suggestions, there will be one held Wednesday, April 27, 6 p.m. at the Charles C. Mason Education Service Center, 3027 S. New Haven Avenue, Tulsa, in the Cheryl Selman Room.
Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education says they are expecting to consider and vote on both proposals during a special meeting on April 27.
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