The State Board of Education approved a revised fiscal year 2016 budget Thursday that reflects a reduction of nearly $75 million from the previously approved budget under the leadership of former State Superintendent Janet Barresi.
The new proposed budget includes a $5,000 teacher pay raise over a five year period as well as an addition of five instructional days to the school year. The proposal, branded as #OKHigh5, was brought forward by new State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister.
Hofmeister told board members Thursday she wanted to “reprioritize to meet the most critical needs of the state and invest in our future education.”
Hofmeister unveiled her five-year plan earlier this week before lawmakers in a Senate budget hearing. Her proposal would require a $150 million the first year of implementation. The proposal would provide a $2,000 pay raise and two additional days of instruction for the 2015-16 school year.
Pay would increase annually until the 2019-20 school year, when Oklahoma’s average teacher salary would be $49,677 -- more than $5,300 over the state's average teacher pay from 2012-13.
Also at Thursday's board meeting, said she wanted to hold one of the Board of Education's seats on on a committee looking at new standards for math and English. Committee member Bill Price gave up his seat so Hofmeister could join the group. If he hadn't, Hofmeister's attendance would have violated the state's Open Meetings Act because four members of the state Education Board would have been present — enough for a quorum.
The panel was set up after the state last year dropped Common Core standards and administrators said they would develop new guidelines for public schools.
The board Thursday also approved changes to the state's schools budget.
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