ENID, OK - Enid Public Schools will be out again on Thursday, April 12, as a result of the continued teacher work stoppage. This decision was made following a poll of all employees.
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EPS must adjust the school calendar in order to meet the state’s requirement that 1,080 hours of instruction be provided to students each year. Although it was previously listed as a school holiday,
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EPS will now have school on Friday, May 4 during Tri-State Music Festival. Tri-State activities will not be disrupted as a result of this change. They will also be adjusting the length of the middle school days which will depend on the total number of days missed.
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All district and school offices/operations will be closed on Monday as well, with the exception of the child nutrition programs offering free meals at Hoover, Garfield and Monroe. This will allow district- and school-level employees to advocate for students at the State Capitol.
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EPS administration have tried to answer parents most frequently asked questions below.
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Why is there discussion about a teacher work stoppage, also referred to as a teacher walkout?
Teachers are asking legislators to provide additional funding for their students, as well as raises for teachers and support professionals. Over the last decade, Oklahoma has invested less and less in the education of its students. We are 48th in the nation for teacher pay and 1st in the nation for funding cuts to schools. We are experiencing a significant teacher shortage, as educators leave for other states and professions. To fill this void, the State Department of Education has issued more than 1,900 emergency teaching certificates this year alone to individuals who have not been traditionally trained for the classroom. In Oklahoma, we are truly facing a crisis in our schools. Many teachers across the state believe a work stoppage is the only way to effectively encourage legislators to properly fund education.
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If there is a work stoppage, when will it begin?
The Oklahoma Education Association has called for teachers to stop working April 2, if legislators do not take action.
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Will EPS suspend classes if there is a teacher work stoppage?
Yes. Teachers play the most important role in what we accomplish each day with students. A survey by the Enid Education Association found that 86% of EPS teachers plan to participate in the work stoppage if legislators do not act before April 2. We cannot have school without teachers. We do not have enough substitutes to fill in for them while they are out, and we must ensure that students are safe and supervised while at school. Providing a safe, quality learning environment for all students requires schools to be appropriately staffed by teachers.
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How long will the work stoppage last?
The answer to this question is unknown. The Oklahoma Education Association has called on teachers to leave their classrooms beginning April 2 until legislators pass a measure addressing their concerns. It is our hope that the work stoppage will not occur and, if it does, that it will last only a short time.
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When the work stoppage ends, will we have to make up the missed days?
This answer is tricky because it will depend how long teachers are out of the classroom. Oklahoma law requires that we complete 1,080 hours of instruction for the school year. As long as we can still meet this requirement, the board can revise the school calendar to accommodate missed days, much like they do for inclement weather. If the work stoppage prevents us from completing 1,080 hours of instruction, then it would be necessary to make up the days, either through longer school days and/or a longer school calendar.
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EPS students can miss five days of instruction without an extension to the school calendar or school day. Five more days can be missed, if the school day is extended. More than 10 days would require EPS to add days to the school calendar, which is currently scheduled to end on May 24.
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Will prom or May Fete be canceled, if the walkout is extended?
No. Even if school is closed, we will ensure our students have the opportunity to participate in these special milestones.
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Will graduation be postponed?
No. Seniors who have met all graduation requirements will graduate on May 24 as planned.
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Will students have access to free meals if school is closed?
Yes. We are working with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to provide breakfast and lunch at EPS sites that have a free- and reduced-meal rate of more than 50%. (See list below.) Those under the age of 18 may attend this program for FREE, regardless of where they attend school. Adults may purchase meals for $3.75. The program is come-and-go only because limited supervision is available.
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Breakfast will be served from 7:30-8:30 a.m., and lunch will be served from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the following sites:
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Will the district continue the Food4Kids Backpack & Pantry Program?
Yes. If your child already participates in this program, food for the first weekend will be sent home on Friday, March 30. If needed, additional food will be available for pick-up at your child's school each Friday, from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
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How will the teacher work stoppage impact testing?
The Oklahoma state testing window begins April 2, and the Oklahoma State Department of Education has indicated that the testing window for OSTP will not be changed. It is our hope that testing can be completed before the end of testing window in late April. We will communicate thoroughly with parents regarding any changes to our testing schedule.
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It is important to remember this is not an Enid issue; it is an Oklahoma issue. It will be necessary for the Oklahoma State Department of Education to provide additional guidance to all districts about how mandates related to state testing will be adjusted, if an extended walk-out occurs.
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Will EHS still be offering the ACT for free to juniors?
Yes. This is a free opportunity to take the college entrance exam, when it typically costs families more than $60/test. The free ACT will be offered April 3, and we must test at least 95% of students to meet federal requirements. We need every junior to participate! Those who take the exam will be provided free breakfast, free lunch and free snacks. Additionally, if they take the ACT on April 3, Principal Dudley Darrow (1) will not require them to take semester tests OR (2) will allow them to use the ACT testing day as an attendance make-up day, if they would like.
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Fortunately, many members of our EHS team have agreed to be present to administer the ACT on these dates, even if school is not in session. We greatly appreciate their dedication to their students and to their school. Regular school bus routes will run to pick up EHS students on these testing dates.
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Will there be extracurricular activities, including athletics and fine arts, if there is a teacher work stoppage?
Yes. We will proceed with spring extracurricular activities at the secondary level. Although we will have the opportunity to make up instructional time, we do not want students, especially seniors, to miss the opportunity to participate in extracurricular events that cannot be rescheduled. Information regarding individual programs will be provided to families by the individual coaches and program advisors. Practice will be conducted at the same time each day that it is regularly conducted, if the program is preparing for an upcoming performance or competition.
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If my student participates in concurrent enrollment at Autry Technology Center of Northern Oklahoma College, do they continue to attend?
Yes. Autry and NOC will have classes. Transportation will continue to run between EHS and Autry, even if school is closed. EHS will continue to allow its building to be used by NOC for on-site courses.
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What can I do now to help avoid a teacher work stoppage?
Legislators need to hear from constituents about their concerns related to this issue. The contact information for local leaders can be found here: www.enidpublicschools.org/legislators.
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EPS Teacher Walkout: Day 9
