My point really was that they were hiring a known quantity. As opposed to going outside the district. Bartlesville runs a pretty tight budget, and is at least generally more diverse than most of the bedroom communities (no-where near what OKC/Tulsa are obviously).

I think generally Bartlesville schools hit above their ability. They are extremely focused and really could give a rats behind about sports. The community is pretty well off but no where near a Jenks/Bixby/Edmond/Norman. And less so since ConocoPhillips moved to Houston.

I'm not sure comparing Bartlesville to OKC is exactly fair.

Good point!

Bartlesville is a much smaller district than OKCPS. Bartlesville has an enrollment of 6,000 pupils to the state's largest district (OKCPS) that has a total enrollment of 41,000.

A city, similar in size to OKC (620,000) is Memphis (655,000); Memphis has over 100,000 pupils enrolled in their inner city schools.

It will be a difficult sell; however Oklahoma needs to do something like provide incentives to consolidate school district to trim the high administrative cost incurred with having all of these school districts.


27th Oregon - 4,028,977 (258 school districts)
28th Oklahoma - 3,911,338 (578 school districts)
29th Connecticut - 3,590,886 (166 school districts)

Oklahoma is top administrative heavy with all of these districts.

To be fair, a lot of the issues with the perceived need for changes to suspensions came from the OCR (Office for Civil Rights). They cracked down nationwide on the racial disparities and urged large, urban districts to review and revise their policies in an attempt to fix the problem. So whatever Neu did (right or wrong...I have no personal opinion of him) was likely to have been responsive to the OCR.

I do not have an insider's perspective, but as an OKCPS parent I can say that the district administration needed an overhaul and Neu's emphasis on discipline reform and learner first initiatives was right on. It seems a good percentage welcomed his changes because they recognize the importance of the teacher-student relationship. The others seem to be jaded and burnt out and were ineffective teachers before he arrived.

I do not have an insider's perspective, but as an OKCPS parent I can say that the district administration needed an overhaul and Neu's emphasis on discipline reform and learner first initiatives was right on. It seems a good percentage welcomed his changes because they recognize the importance of the teacher-student relationship. The others seem to be jaded and burnt out and were ineffective teachers before he arrived.

This is painting with a broad brush.

I don't know much about Neu's curriculum initiatives but my perception was that the fact he was actually building a curriculum department for the district was a positive thing. The discipline issue is where he lost many excellent teachers. There was a disconnect between what Neu claimed to have told building administrators and what building administrators claimed he told them. All teachers know is that after Neu announced his initiative, a student pretty much had to commit a felony to get them out their class. Teachers tended to believe the building administrators' version of events rather than Neu's.

The rumor is that Neu leaves OKC on Thursday to travel "home" to Washington and then he returns to OKC on Monday, effectively working a 3-day week. Plus the district is rumored to pay for these flights. I have no idea how much of this is fact. Also, the union has been waging a smear campaign against Neu for quite some time.

I personally witnessed Neu telling a large group of largely hispanic students that as a demonstration of his commitment to them and OKCPS, he was going to learn to speak Spanish. I wonder how his Spanish lessons are coming?

The others seem to be jaded and burnt out and were ineffective teachers before he arrived.

I'm amazed by any teacher who has taught in the district for more than 3 years and isn't jaded.

To be fair, a lot of the issues with the perceived need for changes to suspensions came from the OCR (Office for Civil Rights). They cracked down nationwide on the racial disparities and urged large, urban districts to review and revise their policies in an attempt to fix the problem. So whatever Neu did (right or wrong...I have no personal opinion of him) was likely to have been responsive to the OCR.I'm sure that this was the case, but it's typical of bureaucracies in general to force a "one size fits all" solution to a perceived problem, with no concern at all as to its effect in any individual situation.

I'm reminded of the way that Microsoft solved their problem of frequent error messages at the release of Windows 95: They changed the title of the message, then trumpeted that the old one was gone. The errors continued to plague users, but with a new name -- the only thing that had changed!

The suspension problem was similar. Setting a no-suspension policy certainly solved the problem of too many suspensions, but actually made the classroom-discipline problem worse. I have no simple solution to the discipline problem; the OKC Independent School District has been, in general, a failure for at least 55 years to my personal knowledge and problems become institutionalized in far less time than that. While it's always had dedicated teachers -- they're the only reason it's remained at all viable -- I can't say the same for its top administrators, or its governing board. They complain about lack of parental involvement, yet when parents attempt to participate, they're shunted aside and their concerns dismissed. Many of us found that the only way to fight the problem was with our hats: take them and run to a better environment. And this left the inner city system heavily unbalanced with the apathetic and indifferent.

I caught the end of the meeting when the board went out of executive session via the live feed on newsok. The board president said Rob Nue is out of the office and the associate superintendent will assume responsibilities. They still have to discuss his employment...this is after 5 hours in executive session from 5:30 to 10:30. Being out of the office is an interesting term.

LIVE: Special Oklahoma City school board meeting to consider superintendent's future | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/okcps-board-neu-out-for-now-as-superintendent-employment-to-be-discussed-further/article/5491716)

^^^ "Out of the office." Now that's a term we often hear when someone has just stepped out to lunch, or tending to company business, or perhaps running an errand. In all these cases the salary continues. Speculation, yes, but I personally attach this term to still being on the payroll. I can only hope that someday I can be paid not to come to work, particularly at the highest-salary slot in the organization.

Looks like Aurora Lora the Ass Superintendent is gunning for the job with a listening tour. Acting OKC superintendent seeks stability for the district | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/article/5492844)

I looked her up and she is a school jumper too, moving on to the next best thing. She left West Seattle Schools in 2012 to go to Dallas. West Seattle Blog? | West Seattle schools: Aurora Lora leaving the district (http://westseattleblog.com/2012/06/west-seattle-schools-aurora-lora-leaving-the-district/)

She left Dallas in 2014 to go to OKC. Assistant superintendent Aurora Lora is leaving Dallas ISD | | Dallas Morning News (http://educationblog.dallasnews.com/2014/05/assistant-superintendent-aurora-lora-is-leaving-dallas-isd.html/)

OKC school board cuts ties with superintendent | News OK (http://newsok.com/okc-school-board-cuts-ties-with-superintendent/article/5494102)

OKC school board cuts ties with superintendent | News OK (http://newsok.com/okc-school-board-cuts-ties-with-superintendent/article/5494102)

So did he just not show up for work one day?

As per usual, I am dissapointed in our local media for failing to give us ANY information about why Neu was fired (quit?). I know most involved cannot speak on the record, but for goodness sake get someone to provide some color even if anonymously.

Does anyone have any insight into what the hell happened with Neu? Was it the charter thing that blew him up?

http://www.koco.com/news/us-grant-high-school-students-walk-out-in-protest-of-budget-cuts/39566706

Acting Superintendent Aurora Lors worked two years with required certification. Also one of the positions Lora recommended to eliminate due to budget cuts is the one she currently holds.

What is going at OKC Schools?

http://newsok.com/article/5504109

What is going at OKC Schools?Looks like business as usual.

http://newsok.com/minority-students-set-to-become-new-majority-in-oklahoma-schools/article/5510676

It seems a pay raise for OKCPS employees is on the board agenda tonight. No details yet.

I think I saw that it passed?

It passed for most people but a small group of employees' pay (maybe central service) raise was rejected. The raises are also retroactive back to the beginning of the work year, which is sometime last summer. Certified people basically got a step raise, which for some is just a few hundred dollars and for others, a few thousand.

Saw this on Facebook:

"Oklahoma City Public Schools announced they will be one of only a handful of school districts in the country to participate in this weekend's gay pride celebration. The district will take one of their buses on the parade route this Sunday."

I applaud OKCPS and think it puts forward a positive, progressive image for the city overall. I'm pleasantly surprised that a majority of Facebook reactions also support this.

Saw this on Facebook:

"Oklahoma City Public Schools announced they will be one of only a handful of school districts in the country to participate in this weekend's gay pride celebration. The district will take one of their buses on the parade route this Sunday."

I applaud OKCPS and think it puts forward a positive, progressive image for the city overall. I'm pleasantly surprised that a majority of Facebook reactions also support this.

It doesn't really matter what your personal beliefs are, but once you're a teacher, it's just really your obligation to support your students, particularly those who are bullied or marginalized. LGBTQ students are one of the most bullied groups in schools and showing visible support can help students overcome barriers that can deter them academically. As a teacher, I always let every single student know that I had their back and that meant to showing up Gay-Straight Alliance meetings, talking to them about their dirt bike racing, or attending a Vietnamese cultural event. A lot of people politicize these issues, but educators should put their views aside and just support all students. Good for OKCPS.

Dan,

you're a true to your heart teacher. Keep up the good work.

It doesn't really matter what your personal beliefs are, but once you're a teacher, it's just really your obligation to support your students, particularly those who are bullied or marginalized. LGBTQ students are one of the most bullied groups in schools and showing visible support can help students overcome barriers that can deter them academically. As a teacher, I always let every single student know that I had their back and that meant to showing up Gay-Straight Alliance meetings, talking to them about their dirt bike racing, or attending a Vietnamese cultural event. A lot of people politicize these issues, but educators should put their views aside and just support all students. Good for OKCPS.

Outstanding post Dan.

It doesn't really matter what your personal beliefs are, but once you're a teacher, it's just really your obligation to support your students, particularly those who are bullied or marginalized. LGBTQ students are one of the most bullied groups in schools and showing visible support can help students overcome barriers that can deter them academically. As a teacher, I always let every single student know that I had their back and that meant to showing up Gay-Straight Alliance meetings, talking to them about their dirt bike racing, or attending a Vietnamese cultural event. A lot of people politicize these issues, but educators should put their views aside and just support all students. Good for OKCPS.

I wish you were my teacher in highschool.

It doesn't really matter what your personal beliefs are, but once you're a teacher, it's just really your obligation to support your students, particularly those who are bullied or marginalized. LGBTQ students are one of the most bullied groups in schools and showing visible support can help students overcome barriers that can deter them academically. As a teacher, I always let every single student know that I had their back and that meant to showing up Gay-Straight Alliance meetings, talking to them about their dirt bike racing, or attending a Vietnamese cultural event. A lot of people politicize these issues, but educators should put their views aside and just support all students. Good for OKCPS.

We need more teachers like you.

I'm really impressed with OKCPS for doing this. I think I heard it was one of only 5 districts nationwide to do this. Paula Lewis seems to have spearheaded this but nonetheless it was approved unanimously. One of the few times I can say I'm proud of a progressive decision the city has made. Some of the comments on the News 9 Facebook post, on the other hand...

It doesn't really matter what your personal beliefs are, but once you're a teacher, it's just really your obligation to support your students, particularly those who are bullied or marginalized. LGBTQ students are one of the most bullied groups in schools and showing visible support can help students overcome barriers that can deter them academically. As a teacher, I always let every single student know that I had their back and that meant to showing up Gay-Straight Alliance meetings, talking to them about their dirt bike racing, or attending a Vietnamese cultural event. A lot of people politicize these issues, but educators should put their views aside and just support all students. Good for OKCPS.

thanks for being an educator, we need more like you! I had some great teachers in my life who really made an impact on me, however I was not an out gay teen I didn't come out till 21. Kids keep coming out younger and younger and I think of how hard it must be as I can't imagine it myself. Then I see posts like this that make me smile. Thank you!

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/05/upshot/a-better-way-to-compare-public-schools.html

http://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14308&d=1512514210

Ben Felder just reported that superintendent Aurora Lora has resigned:

https://twitter.com/benfelder_okc/status/958416241907073024


Holy cow.

Lora only officially took over that position in July 2016.

OKCPS has had 14 superintendents in the last 30 years.

Lora only officially took over that position in July 2016.

OKCPS has had 14 superintendents in the last 30 years.

Good grief. At some point, with that kind of turnover, doesn't someone start looking at cabal issues INSIDE OKCPS? Why would anyone want that job?

Will be very interested to hear her reasoning.

Remember, many lobbied for Lora since she was already at the district while the more recent guy (Neu) was ostensibly some sort of profiteering caretbagger.

Ben Felder just reported that superintendent Aurora Lora has resigned:

https://twitter.com/benfelder_okc/status/958416241907073024


Holy cow.
This is ri-damn-diculous.

She opined on Facebook that the School Board did not have her back. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that that rumor was pretty much confirmed here--and really, who would want this job now? The school board seems prone to nearly instantly turn on anyone they select. There'll surely be a next sucker to step up and take the job, but until something changes with the Board, that person is bound to be a short timer as well.

She opined on Facebook that the School Board did not have her back. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that that rumor was pretty much confirmed here--and really, who would want this job now? The school board seems prone to nearly instantly turn on anyone they select. There'll surely be a next sucker to step up and take the job, but until something changes with the Board, that person is bound to be a short timer as well.

Agree 100%. Something is entirely wrong within OKCPS, and its times like this I wish we had hard investigative journalism to find out just what on earth is going on.

First, I have a question, what seem to be the issues between Lora and the board? Every reference to it I've seen is vague so I'm just trying to understand.

Second, more generally, this is a nationwide problem. In short, the high stakes standardized testing era has resulted in increased pressure to meet arbitary goals and compete with suburban districts with overwhelming built-in advantages. This leads to all kinds of pressures, push back, and turn over for superintendents, admin, teachers, etc. because it creates a working environment where almost no actions will result in success by the standards created. Even without the flawed testing system, intense poverty creates a lot of stress. IMHO, the single biggest problem in urban school districts is that white flight that has resulted in school re-segregation and poverty concentration. Along with general funding, it's the biggest educational problem in OKC and Tulsa. In other words, people with means in cities are abandoning their urban public schools and then expecting miracles. Here's recent article, but there's a ton of work that's documented this problem nationwide:

“In many U.S. cities, enrollment in urban public schools is dominated by kids from lower-income households, often black and Latino. More affluent white urbanites who’ve moved to gentrifying city neighborhoods often send their children to private or charter schools, because of fears about underperforming local public schools—and the predominantly non-white kids who attend them. “If you could just get white liberals to live their values,” Hannah-Jones said, “you could have a significant amount of integration.”...

Integrated Schools now boasts active groups in 18 cities across the country, including Buffalo, New York, and Richmond, Virginia. Mykytyn and her colleagues serve as a resource for interested parents and host online discussions, book clubs, and happy hours. CityLab spoke with Mykytyn about why parents trump policy when it comes to integration, and how to allay the fears of white parents about non-white schools.“

https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/01/when-white-parents-wont-integrate-public-schools/551612/

Fortunately, there is a group working on this specific issue: Integrated Schools (https://integratedschools.org/). There is no OKC chapter for the group. This is a good way to make a big difference in OKC.

Lora only officially took over that position in July 2016.

OKCPS has had 14 superintendents in the last 30 years.

12 since the year 2000.

Again, OKCPS is not different than large districts around the country facing an ineffective and burdensome high stakes testing environment, white flight, and racial/SES segregation.

"Studies have shown that, on average, superintendents of large districts stay less than two and a half years."

http://www.news9.com/story/32358442/okcps-has-had-14-superintendents-over-the-past-30-years

Again, OKCPS is not different than large districts around the country facing an ineffective and burdensome high stakes testing environment, white flight, and racial/SES segregation.

"Studies have shown that, on average, superintendents of large districts stay less than two and a half years."

http://www.news9.com/story/32358442/okcps-has-had-14-superintendents-over-the-past-30-years

And since 2000, OKCPS superintendents are averaging 1.5 years, 40% shorter than that average. The conclusion offered may well be right, but it's also speculation. I think OKCPS patrons, taxpayers, students, teachers, and other employees deserve a more.full accounting of what seems to be a chronically dysfunctional relationship between the board and it's multiple superintendents.

Are certain board members pushing agendas? Are they preventing some reasonable proposals by a superintendent, or pushing the super to act in some questionable way? We don't know. No one except the board and the departed supers know, hidden behind canned statements and press releases. That serves nothing but to perpetuate the problem, and why the light of hard inquiry needs to be brought to bear on the district. Answers and facts must trump even the most sober and reasoned speculation.

^^^
Don’t get me wrong, I agree with everything you suggest. There’s still a need for transparency and solutions. I was just pointing out that OKCPS’ turnover and problems are not completely unique.

Good grief. At some point, with that kind of turnover, doesn't someone start looking at cabal issues INSIDE OKCPS? Why would anyone want that job?

100%. We need to start asking why our school board is so incompetent/acrimonious/insular that they keep running off superintendents. Perhaps we need to reform the entire school board system to start getting results.

But, then again, none of this matters until people in OKC start getting active in OKCPS issues. Virtually no one attends school board meetings or even votes in the school board elections. I remember going to a debate in the Plaza District a couple years ago that had all the school board candidates, including the school board chair candidates, in attendance. It was a really good debate and it showed each candidates strengths, weaknesses, and priorities. 30 people showed up, and many of them were family/campaign workers of the candidates. Ridiculous.

I've been to school board meetings. Members of that Board each have their own agendas and don't often seem open to compromise. The issue of the day is whether anyone in their right mind would want to the Superintendent of OKCPS. I'm sure there are resumes already coming, but if applicants even briefly researched this job, they'd see what appears to be a highly toxic work environment which in one year's time is likely to chew them up, spit them out and leave them radioactive to future employers.

Agree 100%. Something is entirely wrong within OKCPS, and its times like this I wish we had hard investigative journalism to find out just what on earth is going on.The odor of something rotten in Denmark has surrounded the district for at least 55 years to my personal knowledge, going back to the days before the Finger Plan (which pretty much destroyed public support for the system). It survived complete turnover of the elected school boards; my own feeling is that the bureaucracy in the administrative area is the site of the cancer. They might as well install a revolving door on the superintendent's office; I noted in the TV closeups that the superintendent's place at the board's table has an easily changeable nameplate!

Thank you, dankrutka, for the info on Integrated Schools and I agree wholeheartedly with most of the sentiments expressed. In my family's experience, we weren't turned off by diversity but by the lack of local autonomy in our former OKCPS neighborhoood school. The bureaucratic decisions made by the monolithic administration were detrimental to the entire building's morale, despite teachers' and parents' best efforts to turn things around. In the end we chose John Rex for both its diversity (ethnic and socioeconomic) and local autonomy that allows innovation and creativity to flourish.

Great to hear and thanks for sharing.

For full disclosure, I grew up attending diverse and integrated Tulsa Public Schools, but my parents sent me to almost all-white private schools against my will (I have great parents, but didn’t want to leave public school) from 7th to mid-10th grade. In high school, I finally convinced them and transferred myself back to an integrated TPS high school. My high school wasn’t perfect. There was internal “tracking” that segregated our school academically. But, I learned more about life and different people at my TPS school than I could have ever learned at the private school. It had a profound influence on the way I see the world and why I believe in integrated schools. And there were no negative academic outcomes even though the private school is considered one of the best and my TPS school was considered subpar.

Most research suggests that, despite parents’ fears, lower performing schools have little negative impacts on students with college educated parents, but integration tremendously benefits students with less advantages.

This is in the citizens of OKC public schools hands. The citizens need to elect quality board members who in turn select a the right person as Supertindent. School boards are the form of government that is the closest to the citizens. This sounds simple, but it is not. I agree with what many said, few of the issues will get resolved unless the citizens get involved.

And, again, commit their families to these schools. A large number of OKC citizens with means move away or pay for different options. That’s a bigger problem than the school board.

And, again, commit their families to these schools. A large number of OKC citizens with means move away or pay for different options. That’s a bigger problem than the school board.

Back in the era of the Finger Plan, that's precisely what my parents did - moved within OKC, but just outside of the OKC school district boundaries. Was able to stay in the Moore district all the way through graduation.

And, again, commit their families to these schools. A large number of OKC citizens with means move away or pay for different options. That’s a bigger problem than the school board.Many studies, by folk with varying agendas, seem to have shown that family involvement is at least as important as is the school's atmosphere when it comes to developing favorable outcomes on the part of students. However not all kinds of involvement are equal. In my own experience, which totals only 3.5 years in the OKCPS system (1.5 in 1938-39 and 2.0 in 1947-48) the involvement amounted only to demands that I maintain consistently high grade averages. Interestingly enough, my English classes steadfstly remained at the C level, but I wound up making my living as a professional writer! Looking back, I was bored stiff with the subject as taught.

Recent history indicates that there's little, if any, unity at the level of the school board. While a few dedicated folk have served there, it appears that most of the time it's somewhat dysfunctional and actual leadership devolves to an established bureaucracy that fails to answer to the public but instead is devoted to maintaining system status to be as quo as possible. Of course, that's not unique to the OKCPS system -- I see it in most of the suburbs also, and for that matter in the other three systems to which I was confined for the other 7.5 years of elementary school. What strikes me now is that, in all those 11 years (I fast-tracked my first two grades into a single year, which was no favor to me) I met only two teachers who had lasting impact on my life: Mr. George Smithpeter at Beaumont, CA, and Mrs. Fannie V. M. Chappelear at Classen in OKC. Attracting, and keeping, teachers such as these two should be the primary goal of any system, rather than passing mandated tests and attracting more financial handouts.

... What strikes me now is that, in all those 11 years (I fast-tracked my first two grades into a single year, which was no favor to me) I met only two teachers who had lasting impact on my life: Mr. George Smithpeter at Beaumont, CA, and Mrs. Fannie V. M. Chappelear at Classen in OKC. Attracting, and keeping, teachers such as these two should be the primary goal of any system, rather than passing mandated tests and attracting more financial handouts.

Agree totally on both points:

I had a couple of teachers that had impacts on my life (Mrs. Hatchett in first grade, and Mr. Hamilton in 10th (I think) grade). However, school was always easy for me, my parents didn't have to do much, I got As all the way around through all my grades, so they pretty much left me alone, not much family involvement there.

Today Is The Anniversary Of The Worst Federal Education Law Ever Passed (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/no-child-left-behind-anniversary_us_5a538591e4b003133eca7a05) (not really today, this was posted about a month ago)

Even the acting superintendent might quit.

http://newsok.com/acting-okc-district-leader-threatens-resignation/article/5590781

http://kfor.com/2018/04/16/oklahoma-city-acting-superintendent-threatens-to-quit-amid-disagreement-with-school-board/

New Superintendent selected. Dr. McDaniel from Mustang Schools. He did well at Mustang. Hopefully this carries over to OKC. He signed a three year contract. I think he will make it.

What is your over/under on how long he lasts?

Terrible hire. I doubt he lasts 2 years. Very disliked at Mustang. My mom has worked for Mustang Schools for 14 years and she has disliked him since he got there. I know many are glad he’s gone. Deer Creek was glad to get rid of him and I’m sure OKCPS will be at some point.

What was wrong with the acting superintendent? I thought she was doing a good job and had earned an opportunity to continue in that role.

Terrible hire. I doubt he lasts 2 years. Very disliked at Mustang. My mom has worked for Mustang Schools for 14 years and she has disliked him since he got there. I know many are glad he’s gone. Deer Creek was glad to get rid of him and I’m sure OKCPS will be at some point.

My partner works for MPS and he and all of his coworkers think very highly of Dr. McDaniel, AFAIK. *shrug*

My partner works for MPS and he and all of his coworkers think very highly of Dr. McDaniel, AFAIK. *shrug*

I'm not saying there aren't those that like him, but of the 10 or 12 MPS employees I know, I can think of one that doesn't dislike him. The biggest complaint is his focus on spending money, and not on the right things. I don't personally work there so all I have is second hand opinion. All I know is my mom text me on Monday when it was announced to them and said she was so excited he was gone. There has to be some truth to her feelings, because 2 of OKC's board members voted against him saying he was the wrong direction. No one's perfect I get that, but I hope for the sake of OKCPS that he does well and proves people wrong.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/may/26/us-school-funding-what-its-like-work-oklahoma-teacher

OKC Public Schools in the news.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/may/26/us-school-funding-what-its-like-work-oklahoma-teacher

OKC Public Schools in the news.

Thanks for posting this! I work at U.S. Grant and I didn't know this article was being published.

Are schools in Ok like Texas where they have to be funded equally/student?

The complaint about changing the school name is odd. Federal lawsuit and demanding resignations. My recommendation is for the school board member to focus on priorities that matter like trying to have a superintendent stick around for more than a year or the quality of education. The current superintendent is about as good as the district will get and hopefully the school board will not ruin the opportunity.