Lawmakers Criticize Tulsa School Board

State lawmakers today are praising regents at the University of Oklahoma for taking steps to potentially sponsor new charter schools, but say a new lawsuit being considered by the Tulsa public school board against a new charter school law is a thinly veiled attempt to prevent new charter schools from opening.

Last week, the University of Oklahoma’s Board of Regents approved a motion allowing the school to receive applications to sponsor new charter schools in the state. The move is the next step in a process started by House Bill 1589, a new state law passed earlier this year that allows universities to sponsor charter schools in Oklahoma and Tulsa counties.

“We were able to open a door for charter schools this year in the Legislature. And we’re thrilled that the OU regents have stepped up to the plate and said they’re willing to help provide new learning opportunities for students in areas where traditional school models have hurt our kids. It’s a sign of hope in Oklahoma’s education system,” said House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah.

Yet despite OU’s efforts to sponsor charter schools, the Tulsa school board is considering a proposal by board member Matt Livingood to file a lawsuit against House Bill 1589 on the grounds that it limits new charter schools to only two counties.

“I’m extremely disappointed in the Tulsa school board for challenging this bill, especially since it helps address the constitutional concerns that they raised last year,” said Rep. Tad Jones, R-Claremore, who chairs the House Education Committee.

Jones said HB 1589 was written in response to constitutional questions that were raised by the Tulsa school board about the state’s original charter school law. The bill reduced the number of counties where new charter schools could open to just Oklahoma and Tulsa counties, but added universities to the list of entities that could sponsor charter schools.

Rep. Jabar Shumate, who represents portions of north Tulsa, echoed Jones’ sentiments, saying, “A lawsuit on an issue like this would be a colossal waste of money. Instead of money going toward helping our failing north Tulsa schools, they want to put the money in the pockets of attorneys. Once again, it’s our students who lose out.”

Shumate believes that the new charter schools law seems to be constitutional. “There are many laws on the books with population restrictions, and that’s all were talking about with this charter schools law,” he said. “And those laws have been upheld by the state Supreme Court.”

In 2006, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of a law that had population restrictions, as long as all governmental entities that qualify are treated equally under the law. The particular lawsuit the court ruled on, City of Enid v. Public Employees Relations Board, was challenging a state law that would allow city employees to unionize, but the law only applied to cities of a certain population size. The City of Enid filed a suit against the law, saying it was unconstitutional because it only applied to certain cities, but the court eventually ruled in favor of the law.

“This lawsuit would be a waste of time and money, and those are two things that can’t be wasted when it comes to the kids of north Tulsa,” said Sen. Judy Eason, McIntyre, D-Tulsa. “This lawsuit would be nothing but a smokescreen. We need charter opportunities for these kids, but the members of the school board are trying to protect against exposure of their failures in north Tulsa.”

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