Since the start of the pandemic, Oklahoma school districts have offered different types of learning models for students from virtual to in-person or a combination of both.But all of those models come at a cost.“By having part of your students go full-time virtual and part of your students in class, then you have smaller classes and you’re able to space with social distancing. But the economy of scale is not there for that, so that increases your cost per teacher,” said Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.Hime told KOCO 5 that they’ve spent the last several months speaking with the congressional delegation about the importance of funding schools. That way, they can handle the needs for districts during the pandemic, like substitute teachers and, most importantly, technology.“That’s a lot of iPads, Chromebooks, technology to put in the hands of students,” Hime said. “One thing that we’ve asked for as we’re looking at those stimulus dollars is to ensure states and schools receive that per student. So, it will be flexible for local schools to use where it’s needed.”He said another reason they need more funding is to help students experiencing learning loss from the classrooms for so long.“That costs money to employ teachers and other staff to get that small class size and that help over the coming summer. Hopefully, that will help us bridge the gap,” Hime said.But Hime said the biggest concern for Oklahoma education leaders is the projected $1 billion shortfall in next year’s state budget.“Knowing that public schools get about 35% of that money, that’d be a $350 million reduction for schools, and they can’t take that on the heels of the cut they received this year,” Hime said.
Since the start of the pandemic, Oklahoma school districts have offered different types of learning models for students from virtual to in-person or a combination of both.
But all of those models come at a cost.
“By having part of your students go full-time virtual and part of your students in class, then you have smaller classes and you’re able to space with social distancing. But the economy of scale is not there for that, so that increases your cost per teacher,” said Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.
Hime told KOCO 5 that they’ve spent the last several months speaking with the congressional delegation about the importance of funding schools. That way, they can handle the needs for districts during the pandemic, like substitute teachers and, most importantly, technology.
“That’s a lot of iPads, Chromebooks, technology to put in the hands of students,” Hime said. “One thing that we’ve asked for as we’re looking at those stimulus dollars is to ensure states and schools receive that per student. So, it will be flexible for local schools to use where it’s needed.”
He said another reason they need more funding is to help students experiencing learning loss from the classrooms for so long.
“That costs money to employ teachers and other staff to get that small class size and that help over the coming summer. Hopefully, that will help us bridge the gap,” Hime said.
But Hime said the biggest concern for Oklahoma education leaders is the projected $1 billion shortfall in next year’s state budget.
“Knowing that public schools get about 35% of that money, that’d be a $350 million reduction for schools, and they can’t take that on the heels of the cut they received this year,” Hime said.
Source: www.koco.com
