Seems like every time “tax cuts” are mentioned in political circles the rebuttal always circles around to why don’t we fund education rather than talk tax cuts. This week I want to share some numbers concerning educational funding as well as teacher pay increases in the last several years.
Since 2017, the Legislature has increased the appropriation to the Oklahoma State Department of Education from $2.4 billion to $3.8 billion. Most of this money goes directly to our public schools. In 2018, we gave teachers a tiered pay raise based on years of service. The average was approximately $6,100. In 2019, we appropriated flat across-the-board pay raises for all teachers of $1,220. In 2023, we again gave a tiered raise, giving teachers between $3,000 and $6,000 increases based on experience.
While most Oklahomans are very supportive of public education and the great work of our teachers, education is only one facet of the state budget. I would say we're in a good position of funding education at high levels. It's time we let all Oklahomans, including educators, keep more of the dollars they earn.
While we're on the topic of education, State Superintendent of Public Education Ryan Walters is much in the news. Where to begin! Last week, my inbox was flooded with e-mails from people wondering why I hadn’t signed a letter asking for an inquiry to impeachment. I believe this was an organized effort by a couple of state groups that have been trying for two years to get this accomplished to no avail. I am reminded that the superintendent was elected by a vote of the people, and I believe the people themselves are the best to decide if he's doing the job they elected him to do. I would remind folks that nobody really values a change agent at the time they're making the changes. It's only in the rearview sometimes that we see whether their work paid off or not.
Amidst the political turmoil of the past few weeks, I attended the Governor’s “Disagree Better Summit.” If we ever needed this, now is the time. Disagreement and discourse is a vital part of our democracy. What this summit extended is that it isn’t important that we agree on every subject, but what is important is how we treat those with whom we don’t agree. Hopefully this is something we can build on. We don’t expect to always agree on every subject. What’s important is how we disagree.
As always, thank You for allowing me to serve you. I can be reached at (405) 557-7381 or by email at jim.grego@okhouse.gov.
Jim Grego serves District 17 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Latimer County and part and Pittsburg County.