Guthrie’s Board of Education president says he has come across several rumors about the school district and is encouraging everyone to find the truth and quit throwing rocks. The comments come after the school district forced the removal of private refrigerators and microwaves from classrooms in attempt to save the district’s electricity costs.
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Guthrie Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson
In January, teachers were informed by administration to remove their microwaves and refrigerators, including the superintendent, from classrooms by Feb. 1. The announcements come after the state revealed a revenue failure and was cutting back funding to all school districts.
Teacher lounges remain equipped with the kitchen devices.
In addition, school officials demanded all computers (approximately 1,500) and monitors be turned off after school and over the weekend and to turn off unneeded lights to help save costs.
During his report to the board, Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson said the school district spent $427,680 on electricity last school year. He went on to say a computer costs roughly $60 to $85 in electricity a year when they are not powered down. With the move, Simpson is hopeful they can reduce the electrical cost by three percent, which he says is roughly $12,800 a year. In comparison, that is one-third of a teacher’s salary over the course of a school year. The school wishes to try and save further money regarding the electricity bills by looking into other low rate energy companies in order to find themselves a better deal for the upcoming year.
“The intent is not to cause a hardship for anyone, but it will take everyone to get through this,” Simpson said about the reduced funding.
“I realize this is a change in habit, but this will probably not be the last change in habit, especially if we have additional revenue failure again this year because that will compound issues going into next year. The ultimate goal is to provide the best education for our students that we can with the money that we are given to work with. Anything we can do to enhance that is the job that we all have to share.”
During public comments by school board members, President Terry Pennington says he has heard complaints and rumors from citizens on the recent mandates.
“I don’t know if the severity or the impact of the situation can be grasped by some or has not been grasped by everybody, but the amount of money that the Guthrie Public Schools district is going to lose this fiscal year will probably be increased next fiscal year,” Pennington started out with.
“The money that we are trying to save is going to save a job. It may be a job that is here tonight.”
School Board member Terry Pennington
Pennington says he wants everyone in the community to find out the truth and call a building administrator. He says he has heard complaints from classrooms being used as refrigerators and the lights have been shut off by OG&E.
“To lie and twist and bend and hide on Facebook is not the way to do it. It’s important that in times when things get tough that people rally around their school and their educators and their teachers. It’s not a time to throw rocks with everybody else especially when you don’t know what you’re throwing them at.”
Pennington continued, “If you want to complain about the money that the Guthrie Public Schools doesn’t have, drive down Highway 35 to Lincoln Blvd and just pick out one of those guys (legislators) out that works at the Capitol and let them know what you think, but to make up falsehoods and put on Facebook, or cowardly hide behind mistruths or lies isn’t the way to resolve something about what’s really going on,” Pennington said.
Following Pennington’s statements, Simpson confirmed the air temperature inside buildings were not asked to be altered.
“No buildings have been asked to make any changes to their building temperature, but we have asked that they be more diligent in turning lights off when they are not needed,”
“I applaud our teaching staff as we all pitch in to prepare for what could be one of the greatest financial challenges we have faced in many years,” Simpson concluded with.
Dr. Simpson raised his own salary by 15,000 a year the second year he was here. He is making his retirement better for himself. Looks like he is really trying to practice what he preaches. (Sarcasm )