Only in Oklahoma, where per student spending is last in the country, would a governor propose a new law to somehow make it 51st!
Gov. Kevin Stitt is the only governor in our state. Thank goodness, because he has never supported public education; indeed, he home-schooled or sent to private schools his kids; he already pushed for $250 million to be earmarked to assist the 39,545 Oklahoma kids who are enrolled in our private schools while agreeing to spend only $25 million spread among 545 public schools trying to educate the remaining 640,000 school age children in our state.
As wrongheaded as I think that is, at least Clueless Kevin has always been pro-privates, con-publics, but why are legislators, especially those who represent rural parts of Oklahoma, supportive of shifting so much moola as described above when the reality is few, if any, private schools are going to locate in any county except Oklahoma, Tulsa and Cleveland.
Yes, there are exceptions, but many have failed or are failing simply because of the economy of scale.
So, in the upcoming session, one will hear there’s a shortfall of new money; true, due to the tax cuts of the last few years – have you spent yours yet? – and competition for scarce dollars from mostly health care, public safety and other needs.
Same sad song played annually on NE 23rd and Lincoln Blvd. by an increasingly conservative Legislature, uncaring governors and an inattentive public.
