The Journal Record: Redesign of OKC Schools could include consolidations and closures

By: Catherine Sweeney

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Public Schools’ effort to redesign its system will take a sizable step forward in the coming weeks.

Analysts are expected to make recommendations on facility updates or closures in January, and the district is expected to hold public comment sessions on those recommendations later in the month.

That project has been named the Pathway to Greatness, and officials expect to use that to, among other things, improve the district’s utilization rate. That is what they call the portion of chairs filled in classrooms. Although the number of students enrolled in public common education across the state has been steadily increasing, the number of students enrolled in Oklahoma City Public Schools has been decreasing. District officials, including new Superintendent Sean McDaniel, said the administration needs to reorganize the district to better manage its resources. That could mean consolidating schools, changing the school district’s boundaries or adjusting the number of grades located within a school.

The project has involved several committees composed of teachers, principals and other stakeholders. It has also included public comment opportunities, such as a survey to which 2,600 parents, teachers, students and community members responded. It asked several questions, especially of parents. Would they be willing to drive farther to a different school if it meant their students would have better access to electives, expanded curriculum or other opportunities? More than 48 percent said yes. About 24 percent said no, and the rest were unsure or felt the question didn’t apply to them. It also includes some other service provisions, such as increasing access to counseling.