Claremore Daily Progress

Education

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  • Dr. Keith Ballard, Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools speaks to local business leaders at Claremore Rotary on the state of education, funding issues, and State Question 744.

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August 5, 2010

Tulsa Superintendent: I never left Claremore

Joy Hampton Staff Reporter

TULSA — Without stimulus dollars to bolster educational funding next year, Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools Keith Ballard fears there will be a funding hole that will result in the loss of more teachers within the Oklahoma Educational System.

Last year Ballard saw 286 layoffs in his district.

“It was a very, very difficult year,” he said.

Ballard and his wife Christie are Claremore residents and all three of their children graduated from Claremore High School.

With 37 years in of service in public education, Ballard said he supports State Question 744, a proposed amendment to the state constitution that will tie Oklahoma’s educational funding to surrounding states in the region by requiring the per student spending be equal to the regional average – unless that average goes down.

“I support 744,” said Ballard. “It’s not a political statement on my part.”

Ballard said unions such as the Oklahoma Education Association have been dogmatically protective of teacher employment in the past but are learning to put children first and the movement is toward holding teachers accountable. He does not support basing employment solely on seniority.

“I believe I should be held accountable,” said Ballard. “We need to have the best teachers in the classroom.”

The state question does not determine where funding will come from to support the amendment. Critics say it will mean other state agencies and services will receive even deeper cuts to their budgets if 744 passes or that taxes will be raised.

Ballard offered no solutions on where the funding would or should come from, saying that is the job of the legislators. His concern is that current funding per child is not adequate. Oklahoma currently ranks 46 out of 50 states, falling in the lowest categories of education.

“It (SQ 744) does remove some of the responsibilities the legislature could have,” said Ballard.

The former Claremore Superintendent is worried about what will happen next year. He fears more teacher layoff are in the cards.

“We are propped up with stimulus dollars,” he said. “We are far from out of the woods.”

Ballard said he is glad he lives in Claremore.

“This is where I want to be,” he said.

Despite the tough times in the economy and the need to make cuts in staffing, he remains optimistic about life in general.

“I’m just thankful to be alive at 61,” said Ballard.

Christie is a retired school librarian. After retirement she held the part-time position as Executive Director of the Rogers County Literacy Council for a time but now enjoys full retirement and spending time with the grandkids.

Of the couple’s three children, two are teachers and one is an attorney. 

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