TTCU launched a campaign Thursday to lessen the impact of budget cuts on local schools.
The Credit Union’s Support Our Schools campaign is a $1 million challenge grant to help local schools. TTCU CEO Tim Lyons said Tulsa's students are being hurt by state funding troubles.
"We're losing teachers to our neighboring states, the classroom sizes are unmanageable and vital school programs are being eliminated," Lyons said.
Through July 1, TTCU will match community donations up to $1 million. The campaign’s total goal is $4 million to help 15 local districts. Broken Arrow Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall said nine area districts have cut 617 positions and $40 million dollars combined through two revenue failures.
"This has a negative effect not only on the services that we can provide our students, but also, don't forget what it does to our economy," Mendenhall said.
Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist said the campaign is not a way to solve ongoing state budget problems.
"Those are things that we're going to continue to need to work together as Oklahomans to address, but it is a way to not only help us to manage the immediate situation that we are dealing with, but also to send a real message to our teachers and students that they matter," Gist said.
School and credit union officials said solving the long-term budget problem is lawmakers’ responsibility.
Donations to Support Our Schools can be made online or at any TTCU location.
