Word around the Oklahoma capitol is education will be a major focus in 2019.
The Oklahoma PTA brought lawmakers together with parents, teachers and education officials for talks in Tulsa this week.
Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association Vice President Shawna Mott-Wright said while teacher and support staff raises are needed and likely to happen, teachers, parents and administrators are more concerned about classroom funding.
"Because the funding is what gets you an extra counselor, an extra social worker, an extra dean, an extra teacher so now you’re teaching 20 kids instead of 40. That makes a difference in every one of those students’ lives," Mott-Wright said.
Oklahoma PTA Vice President of Advocacy Steve Hahn said while they are pushing for another boost in classroom funding to add to a $50 million dollar increase lawmakers passed last year, there are other issues in schools lawmakers need to address.
"We’re also concerned about school safety, nutrition, mental health. The rates of suicide in Oklahoma among youth have gone up. The rates of mental health issues in Oklahoma have gone up. Violence has gone up," Hahn said.
Senate Education Committee Vice Chair Joe Newhouse said he’s heard from many teachers lower class sizes is very important.
"Having lower classroom sizes will help them manage the classroom much better, help them be more effective in the classroom, and also, I think that would help attract other teachers to come back in from the sidelines, maybe those who have found different jobs elsewhere or who are partially retired," Newhouse said.
Newhouse says lawmakers will also work to get more mental health professionals in schools to help kids dealing with trauma.
