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NEWS 15th Street
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Volume XLV
@15thStreetNews
March 11, 2016
Issue 10
NEWS BRIEFS Gov. Fallin Proposes Using Rainy Day Fund to Support Schools, Prison System Gov. Mary Fallin introduced a proposal March 7, suggesting the Oklahoma government access the state’s Rainy Day Fund as a way to offset increased budget cuts to the state’s school and prison systems. Fallin introduced the idea as a way to prevent schools from being cut back to four-day school weeks and to decrease pressure on the state’s prison system, which is already looking at releasing non-violent offenders as a way to reduce costs. The governor suggested using $51 million for public schools and an additional $21 million to support the Department of Corrections. Formally known as the Constitutional Reserve Fund, the fund was created in 1985 as a way to gather funds when the economy is strong to support state operations during drastic budget cuts such as the current crisis. The fund has a current balance of $385 million, of which $144.4 million is reserved for dealing with the 2016 budget crisis. The proposition now moves on to Congress.
Photo by Kelsey Morgan
by Christian Tabak Assistant Editor
Volunteers petition outside various popular recreational areas, requesting signatures from registered Oklahoma voters.
Efforts to raise teacher salaries begin Petitioning starts across the state by Kelsey Morgan Editor-in-Chief The bipartisan organization Oklahoma’s Children: Our Future is collaborating with University of Oklahoma President David Boren to raise Oklahoma’s K-12 public school teachers’ salaries. The petition needs more than 124,000 signatures to be added to the voting ballot in November. The movement will add a one cent sales tax to all state spending. “I don’t think it necessarily should be tied to teacher pay increases. I think it should be going to supplemental education funding,” said Jason Blasingame, a psychology teacher and football coach at Midwest City
2016 State Primary Tracker Republican Race
Del City Man Found Dead in Car Riddled with Bullets A man was found shot to death in a car full of bullet holes March 9 in Del City. Gunshots was reported around midnight in the Oakridge Village Apartments parking lot, but authorities found no evidence of a shootout or any criminal activity. The police have yet to release information regarding the identity of the victim and continue to investigate into the matter. Anyone who has information on the incident has been asked to call the Del City Police at 677-2443.
High School. Oklahoma K-12 teachers on average make $31,000 annually, which is significantly lower than surrounding states such as Kansas, where teachers make on average $48,000 annually. Kansas’ cost of living averages approximately 1.8 percent higher than Oklahoma’s. Because of lower salaries, districts statewide are struggling to keep teaching staff full. “You almost feel stupid for not leaving,” Blasingame said. The movement is projected to generate $615 million a year to add a $5,000 bonus to teachers’ salaries across the state.
Trump
Cruz
Rubio
N/A
Clinton
See Page 8 for delegate count
See SALARIES, Page 2
Democratic Race
Sanders
N/A