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Muldrow Superintendent Struggles With State Education Budget Cuts

MULDROW (KFSM) — Every state agency in Oklahoma will be facing new budget cuts for the rest of the year, including millions in cuts to an already financia...

MULDROW (KFSM) -- Every state agency in Oklahoma will be facing new budget cuts for the rest of the year, including millions in cuts to an already financially-strapped public education system.

For the 1500 students in the Muldrow School District, the future of education is uncertain.

“We don't know what's going to happen,” superintendent Ron Flanagan said.

Flanagan said the district already took a hit when it lost three percent of its budget after Oklahoma declared revenue failure in January. The cuts announced Thursday (March 3) would be an additional four percent, slashing a total of seven percent of state aid.

The Muldrow School District receives $5.8 million from state aid, and Flanagan said the cuts will mean $165,000 less will come into the district.

"I’ve been in education 31 years" he said. "We’re going into a time that nobody's ever seen before.”

Now, Flanagan and other superintendents are looking for solutions, and considering four-day school weeks, to save on utilities, bus fuel and school lunches.

Flanagan added that Oklahoma schools have the option to complete a 180 day school year, or a 1,080 hour school year, meaning the school days would be longer if the district decided to switch to a shorter school week.

“I personally don't feel like that's the best way to go for my district because that puts a hardship on my parents,” he said. “What are they going to do with those kiddos on that extra day?"

Right now, no programs are being cut at Muldrow schools, but Flanagan said if and when staff leave the district, they won't be able to hire new people.

“It makes you sick to your stomach,” he said.

The superintendent said he and the school board will be considering all options when it comes to saving.

“Everything is on the table right now, to adjust, to try to make up the difference in the money we've lost,” he said.

Flanagan said superintendents in Sequoyah County will meet Friday morning in Sallisaw for a regular meeting, and will discuss the budget cuts. Right now there are between 23 and 25 students in each classroom.

State Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger ordered the cuts, and released the following statement:

“These midyear cuts are already into the bone at some agencies, and next year’s cuts may go right through the bone unless serious actions are taken. The governor and legislative leaders recognize the severity of the situation and are working on solutions, but I’m convinced there are still rank and file legislators who have yet to grasp the seriousness of the challenge at hand. This deepened cut isn’t pleasant and should serve as a reality check and call to action for anyone who thinks this problem fixes itself with short term budget gimmicks. This is a long term problem that will require tough, long term solutions.”

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