John Martin has been at Tulsa Public Schools for more than 40 years. In the last 15, his team of energy education specialists saved the district $43 million. His salary only made up 3% of that total.
“I’ve been here long enough, I’ve been through numerous cuts, I know it’s needed — I know they’re tough decisions,” Martin said. “I just wanted to have my voice heard and stand up for myself.”
Martin is one of 50 TPS employees whose roles were unanimously cut by the district board Tuesday night, in addition to 39 vacant positions that were eliminated. Their contracts end June 30.
Without them, the district expects to save $3.5 million. It’s only the first phase of cuts combating budget shortfalls due to falling student enrollment and loss of federal grants.
The board also approved new positions Tuesday and encouraged affected employees to apply. Altogether, it’s a net loss of 76 full-time employees at TPS.
“These reductions are critical to address the current budget deficit, but that does not mean that these are easy decisions,” said Superintendent Ebony Johnson.
Most of the district’s funding comes from student enrollment. Lower rates this year are expected to continue for decades after a “graduation boom and a birthing bust,” said Kristin Stephens, chief financial officer at TPS.
That trend threatens the district’s fund balance, a pool of money used to cover costs at the beginning of each fiscal year before revenue from property taxes and federal reimbursement rolls in.
“Without a healthy fund balance, we open the district up to profound risk, like struggling to cover our core expenses,” Stephens said. “This is very much not about a one-time cut.”
More central office employees may be laid off and the district will “consider school site footprint,” according to TPS staff. The board approved several property sales Monday to bring in $2.5 million.
Tuesday’s layoffs were concentrated in social service program specialists, instructional leadership directors and leadership coaches, among others.
“Job performance did not come into play here,” said Tasha Johnson, district chief of staff.
Rather, she explained, the jobs selected were based on district need and reducing complexity.
Social service specialists provide non-academic support to students across the district, like mental health and nutrition assistance. This work will now be left to counselors, parent involvement facilitators and other employees at school sites. To continue supporting principals and school site leadership, the district will hire eight directors of school leadership to coach a “network” of principals across more than 60 schools.
All affected employees could contest their contract nonrenewal at the Tuesday night meeting. Martin was the only employee who requested a hearing.
Martin’s three-person energy management conservation team was cut entirely. They’ve worked on the district’s conservation program since it was established in 2009, limiting the district’s environmental impact while saving it millions in utility costs.
“I love what I do, I love where I do it, I would love to continue to do it in some capacity,” he said during his due process hearing.
The district encouraged Martin to apply for a new position they approved: building automation systems and energy compliance supervisor. Martin said he wasn’t made aware of the opportunity until Tuesday night.
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