Teachers in Oklahoma City’s Western Heights school district were notified Thursday that their May paychecks are going to be smaller as punishment for joining the statewide teachers’ walkout last month, KFOR News 4 reports.
The Oklahoma Education Association confirmed to News 4 that Western Heights teachers who took time off to participate in the teacher walkout got their pay docked.
News 4 sources sent us an email Western Heights teachers received from administrators on Thursday.
"Your May paycheck is being docked because you were absent without leave in April. If you have any questions, please contact your Principal," the email reads.
The email did not explain how much money was being deducted.
Education in Oklahoma has long been woefully underfunded. A full fifth of the state’s schools only open four days a week, and their teachers were the second-worst paid in the nation at the time of the walkout. Ahead of the planned protest, legislators passed a bill that promised about 60% of the raises requested by educators, but the teachers weren’t satisfied. They wanted money for books, supplies and to repair their classrooms, and these badasses were willing to keep fighting until they got it.
Western Heights teachers, however, were ordered to take what they got and get back to work, or face the consequences.
During the three-plus hour meeting Monday night, teachers, students, parents and staff -- feeling energized with the momentum in the state surrounding education -- urged the board to let them continue to walkout, wanting to continue talks with lawmakers, concerned that the legislative education funding solutions offered so far aren't enough.
“I'm grateful for a raise, but I want my classroom funded. We stop now, they don't hear our voice," said Rhonda Simonson, a Pre-K teacher.
District leaders sought to force teachers and staff back to classrooms, under threat that if they didn't show up they would be in breach of contract, marked AWOL, and face disciplinary action.
The threats worked, and on Tuesday, the school superintendent reported about 80 percent of staff had showed up for work.
The walkout ultimately lasted nine days, with the state government approving just $50 million of the $200 million requested. Blaming politicians for making terrible choices, as politicians do, the teachers union has shifted its focus to voting them out.
The 20 percent of Western Heights teachers who didn’t back down when threatened are paying for it now, but they plan to push back against the school board.
Oklahoma Education Association sent us a statement in regards of the pay issue saying:
“We are aware that Western Heights wants to dock the pay of some of our members who took personal leave to attend the walkout. We'll represent our members in resolving this dispute with the school district."
School administrators are refusing to comment.