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Oklahoma City Public Schools Won't Proceed With School Closings

Emily Wendler / KOSU
OKCPS Superintendent Aurora Lora listens as community members tell her why they are against the district's proposal to close schools. Thursday, March 23, 2017.

The superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools says the plan to close five schools in order to save money is off the table. However, cuts are going to have to come from somewhere.

State-wide financial issues are forcing the Oklahoma City Public School district to cut between $4 and $10 million dollars out of its budget.

District officials had proposed closing five schools to save money, but Superintendent Aurora Lora says after listening to community stake-holders she decided it wasn't the right way forward, for now.

"One of the things that I heard is that we need to have a longer conversation about this. And consider it along with redistricting. And with the demographic study so we make sure that the decisions we make are going to be the right ones in the long term for this district."

Lora says the district is working with city planners on a demographic study, and a redistricting plan that could affect consolidations and closures in the future.

For now, Lora proposed saving four million dollars by cutting central office staff, ending some contracts, increasing class sizes, and spending down the district savings account.

Emily Wendler was KOSU's education reporter from 2015 to 2019.
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