Superintendent warns property-tax proposals could significantly affect school budget; announces PD and Teacher of the Year events
March 09, 2026 | GUTHRIE, School Districts, Oklahoma
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The Superintendent reported to the Guthrie Public Schools Board on Feb. 9 that the district will hold a professional development day on Monday, Feb. 16 (no classes; staff will report) and will host a Teacher of the Year celebration on Monday, Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Meridian Technology Center South Campus, open to the community.
During his report the Superintendent turned to the state legislative session, saying 2,648 new bills were filed this session in addition to 2,638 carryover bills, bringing a total of roughly 5,286 measures under consideration. He said he is following education-related legislation closely, noting debates over longer school calendars and making a student cell-phone ban permanent. "I think that one will happen," he said of the phone restriction.
The Superintendent flagged a citizen initiative to abolish certain property taxes on homesteads and the broader appetite in the legislature to lower property taxes. He presented impact estimates, stating, "The conservative estimate of that impact to the state budget is 1,200,000,000," and said conventional estimates place the effect closer to $1.8 to $2,000,000,000. He said such changes would have consequences for county government and schools and that the district would try to stay with the facts and provide information to the community.
He also noted staffing pressures: "over 10% of our teachers in this state are either adjunct or emergency certified," and said he was serving on several committees or focus groups to advise lawmakers on proposed literacy reforms aimed at improving early-grade reading.
The Superintendent ended his report with a positive note about athletics: the boys wrestling team qualified for dual state and is scheduled to wrestle Chickasha at noon Saturday at Tulsa Union.
The board did not take any immediate policy votes as part of this report; the Superintendent said he would continue to update trustees as legislative developments occur.
During his report the Superintendent turned to the state legislative session, saying 2,648 new bills were filed this session in addition to 2,638 carryover bills, bringing a total of roughly 5,286 measures under consideration. He said he is following education-related legislation closely, noting debates over longer school calendars and making a student cell-phone ban permanent. "I think that one will happen," he said of the phone restriction.
The Superintendent flagged a citizen initiative to abolish certain property taxes on homesteads and the broader appetite in the legislature to lower property taxes. He presented impact estimates, stating, "The conservative estimate of that impact to the state budget is 1,200,000,000," and said conventional estimates place the effect closer to $1.8 to $2,000,000,000. He said such changes would have consequences for county government and schools and that the district would try to stay with the facts and provide information to the community.
He also noted staffing pressures: "over 10% of our teachers in this state are either adjunct or emergency certified," and said he was serving on several committees or focus groups to advise lawmakers on proposed literacy reforms aimed at improving early-grade reading.
The Superintendent ended his report with a positive note about athletics: the boys wrestling team qualified for dual state and is scheduled to wrestle Chickasha at noon Saturday at Tulsa Union.
The board did not take any immediate policy votes as part of this report; the Superintendent said he would continue to update trustees as legislative developments occur.
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