Putnam City Schools To Hold Meeting Over Cost Cutting Plans

Oklahoma Schools have cut millions from their budget this year. Many have had to come up with creative ways to save money and now one school district is taking drastic measures.

Putnam City Schools will be holding a meeting with parents to go over a plan to transform schools possibly displacing dozens of students.

The meeting will be held Thursday, March 31 at the school. Both parents and the district superintendent are expecting a heated event.

Representative Jason Dunnington, also a Putnam City school parent, has been scratching his head over a letter sent home with his children.

The letter, expected to be the first of three, was sent home Tuesday, March 29. It said the district plans to turn D.D. Kirkland into a pre-k through second grade school. District leaders also told Kirkland staff they would be closing the other pre-k centers in the district to make Kirkland the only center. Any students 3rd grade and above would then be sent to other schools.

A district spokesperson wouldn't disclose how the change would help cut costs only saying "the savings are there."

But in a statement Wednesday afternoon, he said "The Putnam City school district, like school districts across the state, is being forced by Oklahoma's revenue failures to make significant cuts to its budget." and "It's the district's wish that [parents] hear the proposal and then have an opportunity to ask questions, share their thoughts and express their concerns."