Tulsa Public Schools Plans To Offer Contract Buyout To Administrators

Tulsa Public Schools plans to offer a contract buyout for administrators if they will resign by April 15. The offer, which is pending board approval, is intended to save money on administrative costs next year.

The "Employee Attrition Plan" will pay certain staff the remainder of their salary for the current school year in exchange for signing an agreement to leave.

The plan is a step by the district toward a reduction of administrative and leadership jobs, and the reassignment of some staff. The incentive is expected to help open up spots for reassignments and save money for the district in the upcoming year.

Last week, another round of mid-year state budget cuts were announced that TPS predicted would mean another $2 million reduction in funding for the current school year. Another similar size cut was announced in February.

The district noted that some administrators who choose to leave immediately will need to be immediately replaced in key positions and that could reduce the expected savings.

The district will only offer the incentive to staff in positions in central offices, not at schools, and only to those who are full time with at least five years of employment at TPS.

Teachers already have a $1,000 incentive to give the district a signed letter of resignation before their current contract expires, but it is intended to aid in planning for replacing them, not to urge them to leave.

The district annually hires as many as 400 teachers. Currently 29 teachers are in the process of either resigning or retiring, awaiting approval at the next biweekly board meeting.