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Superintendent: vouchers bill will be defeated

_{Originally posted April 6, 2012}

by: Charles Ely - email
Courtesy KTUL - Channel 8

It appears the Oklahoma Supreme Court will be needed to end the battle over school vouchers for handicapped students.

A Tulsa judge has ruled they're unconstitutional, but it's not over.

We talked over that issue with the Superintendent of the Union Public Schools and she tells us the public schools will prevail.

Superintendent Dr. Cathy Burden says in the Oklahoma Constitution there is clear language that prevents public dollars from being spent with religious schools.

She says following the constitution and opposing the voucher law placed a lot of undue pressure on their school board.

While backers of the law promise to appeal, Burden says the ruling of the Tulsa judge will be upheld.

She also says that it's highly unlikely that the case will have an impact on things like college scholarship and state health care dollars, that are used at religious institutions.

Burden adds that it is unfortunate that disabled students are being used as pawns in the process.

She says even the backers of the effort admit that the real agenda is to push for vouchers for all kids.

The Union schools lost 10 disabled students who used vouchers to transfer, but the district hasn't pulled that funding.

They plan to pay out the funds, until the case has a final ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

News Archive on issues related to HB 3393

School vouchers will be defeated - April 6, 2012

Judge rules in favor of schools in lawsuit - March 28, 2012

Voucher law ruled unconstitutional - March 28, 2012

School voucher law ruled unconstitutional - March 28, 2012

District judge strikes down voucher law - March 27, 2012

District judge rules against school voucher law - March 27, 2012

Rural superintendent against school voucher - December 19, 2011

Parents claim vouchers are helping their kids - November 6, 2011

School voucher critics cite lack of credibility - November 6, 2011

Public funds used to send special-needs kids to private schools - October 23, 2011

Voucher law under scrutiny - October 23, 2011

Special-needs vouchers to top $700,000 - October 18, 2011

Union, Jenks repond to state criticism - September 29, 2011

Schools argue lawsuit claims 'untrue' - May 3, 2011

Parents of special needs students sue 4 districts - April 29, 2011

School daze - April 29, 2011

School boards to sue Attorney General - January 25, 2011

Union votes not comply with new law - October 12, 2010

Union Schools

Kirby Lehman (left), superintendent of Jenks Public Schools, watches as Cathy Burden, superintendent of Union Public Schools. speaks about HB 3393 at a press conference on January 24, 2011; to her left is Jarod Mendenhall, superintendent of Broken Arrow Public Schools; and Donna Campo, superintendent of Liberty Public Schools.

District News Archive