Federal programs like Every Student Succeeds Act have contributed to actions such as Tulsa Public schools being able to “rank and file” the vast majority of students into three qualifying categories a.) free and reduced lunch b.) English as a second language (ESL) and c.) Special Education. Federal legislation acts like this to enable Tulsa Public School to present with bias a qualifying literacy rate of 86% therefore, cementing a Tulsa Public school student in an illiterate, ingrained poverty cycle for generations. TPS's alarmingly increasing illiteracy rates from 2015-2021 are hard evidence.
Join us in sending a clear message of your disapproval of Superintendent Gist and her administration by joining parents, educators, and many other community members in voting NO on all four issues on the upcoming Tulsa School bond election on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.
Since 2015, TPS admits to losing 6,500 enrolled students, which has continued to dramatically decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic; a continued decline in the numbers of families in the district.
TPS continues to enter into contractual agreements with foundations posturing as community organizations based upon the guise of implementing dynamic social and economic transformation, yet these programs invariably have a vested interest in the economic dollar amount associated with each student. These foundations dictate the outcomes of the students enrolled in the program and create an individual deprived of an equal chance at prosperity, choice, and freedom. In essence, this is eliminating the desire to search out excellence and obstructing a students' ability to develop.
The current 2021 bond committees (Development and Oversight) has individuals that were on the 2015 bond Development and Oversight committees. The district only recently published their names on the TPS website with 2021 bond information this spring. Several key foundations (including George Kaiser Foundation, Tulsa Community Foundation, the Opportunity Fund, and Greenwood Rising) have placed their people on this committee that have key financial ties to the district.
TPS leadership has refused to offer in-person bond community meetings, has deactivated social media comments inquiring about the bond, and has not clarified Proposition 4 and crossovers of Proposition 2.
Despite community attempts to petition for Gilcrease Elementary to remain open, the district still closed the school. Gilcrease was also one of the recipient schools of 2015 bond money.
In 2015, the citizens of Tulsa approved the largest to date bond the district had requested. Goals 1 through 4 of the 2015 Bond mirror Proposition 1-4 2021 Bond. Jones Elementary requested and received $2 million in bond revenue from the 2015 bond decision. The amount needed for Jones was further bolstered by a site capacity study that suggested the community was to outgrow the school, and therefore a full wing addition would be needed to accommodate the community’s explosive growth. Yet, soon after the 2015 bond was voted and approved a study declared the land unsuitable for the construction of the wing and the addition was never constructed. Eventually, Jones Elementary closed.
If passed, TPS can use the bond money outside of the original scope towards other undisclosed projects, such as paying outside consultants and contractors.
TPS still pays for the upkeep and maintenance of several former school buildings that were closed to students and neighborhoods and were recipients of 2015 bond money. Some sites include Grimes Elementary, Remington Elementary, Gilcrease Elementary, Penn Elementary, Sandburg Elementary, and ECDC Porter. Keeping sites empty keeps communities from using these schools as they were intended, bloats classrooms at other sites, and increases the total property valuation.
Tulsa Public schools has shown a financial history of misappropriating funds and misallocation of federal and taxpayer monies resulting in fiscal irresponsibility, along with leadership operating from a biased agenda. TPS requires a forensic investigative audit.
WHAT'S BEING VOTED ON?
HOW WILL THE 2021 BOND HELP MY CHILD'S SCHOOL?
Tulsa Public Schools promises
"Every student and school in our city will benefit from the investments in the 2021 Bond for Tulsa Public Schools. Click the link below to learn and investigate how the 2021 Bond will impact your school and its surrounding community.
GUIDE TO THE PROPOSITONS.
ON JUNE 8, 2021, TULSANS APPROVED THE 2021 BOND FOR TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
a $414 million investment in Tulsa children, teachers, and families that will make an impact in every school:
BREAKING DOWN THE FACTS
Our team of community organizers and volunteers have assemble this quick guide to sift through the information detailed in the 2021 bond proposition.
Copyright © 2021 SOS-TPS - All Rights Reserved.
Research, engagement and strategic civic planning developed by Leah R. Hull, M.Ed
Paid for by the Tulsa Republican Party
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