I strongly support Oklahoma teachers in their quest for pay and classroom funding. However, I am also a father of 3 and with the walk out into its 2nd week with no end in sight, I would like to discuss potential interim scenarios that could meet the goals of gaining increased funding and still meet the immediate scholastic needs of those students whose Near-Term futures can be most directly affected by scheduling issues.

My proposal is for Jenks to re-open the High School this week and keep the lower grades closed pending resolution of the larger funding issues. This would allow over 2/3 of Jenks teachers (even after allowing for some child care workers to return to watch the small children of HS teachers) to continue protesting at the Capitol so this would not represent any type of "giving in" nor would the urgency of the message become lost.

At the same time, re-opening the HS would expedite the completion of the spring semester for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors - who of all students are the most likely to have further education/employment plans already scheduled for early summer such as:

Summer semester College courses beginning in early June Summer HS student programs at leading universities both in Oklahoma, nationwide, and abroad Summer jobs Summer internships and/or camp counseling opportunities Boy Scout and Girl Scout national camps, Eagle Projects, and potentially once in a lifetime trips to Philmont, Sea-base or Boundary Waters.

These highly beneficial and educational opportunities for students could be at risk if the walk-out continues much longer and the long term effects on future college applications, and future educational and employment opportunities is considerable.

Also the effect for HS students is Much, Much larger than for a 4th or 5th grader missing a few days of summer day camp or whatever else the younger kids may have scheduled. While I don't want to see the younger kids in school all June either, the future cost isn't as great - there aren't that many summer activities that an elementary student will be putting on their future college applications, and they also have more future summers to make up for the time lost.

Please consider this appeal to a rational interim compromise which does not give the legislature any kind of "win" - anything tangible to brag about, does not put the teacher's position on the issues in jeopardy, but still benefits the students who can be most effected by scheduling issues.