Okc School Officials Create Task Force to Evaluate Fundraising Options for Teacher Salaries

THE DISTRICT IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO TAKE COMMUNITY MONEY AND BOOST TEACHER PAY. CRYSTAL PRICE HAS THAT STORY LIVE. CRYSTA A TASK FORCE HAS BEEN CREATED A DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT HOW THAT MONEY CAN BE ACCEPTED FROM THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THE MONEY CAN STAY WITHIN ONE SCHOOL OR IF IT HAS TO BE SPREAD TO OTHER SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. THOSE ARE THE DETAILS THEY'RE STILL WORKING TO SORT OUT. MORE THAN 200 TEACHERS MAY NOT HAVE THEIR JOB NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. NOW, SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS THEY CAN MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR TEACHERS. >> IT IS JUST THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE LOOKED AT CAREFULLY BEFORE ANYTHING GOES FORWARD. CRYSTAL: MARY MELON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SAYS THEIR ORGANIZATION IS PREPARED TO ASSIST THE DISTRICT WITH THE FUNDRAISING PROCESS ONCE ALL OF THE DETAILS ARE IRONED OUT AND THEY'RE HOPING IT WILL BE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. IN THE MEANTIME, SHE SAYS THE FOUNDATION IS ACCEPTING DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN GO TOWARD OTHER SUPPLIES THE DISTRICT HAS CUT. DISTRICT HAS DELAYED THE PURCHASE OF TEXTBOOKS, ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT, AND FUNDING FOR STUDENT TESTING HAS ALSO BEEN CUT. >> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HELP THESE KIDS WHO NEED TO GO INTO AP CLASSES, GET THE TESTING THAT THEY NEED. SO IF YOU HAVE A DOLLAR OR IF YOU HAVE $1 MILLION OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN, IT'S NEEDED CRYSTAL: THE TASK FORCE IS EXPECTED TO COME BACK WITH A PLAN TO PRESENT TO THE DISTRICT IN TWO WEEKS IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE 5 NEWS APP FOR THOSE DETAILS.