Published: February 15, 2009 11:25 pm         

Educators hope for stimulus aid

By Mick Hinton

Associated Press Writer



OKLAHOMA CITY — Valorie Lewis stood before a packed Oklahoma House to explain why government needs to help education.

Lewis, a third-grade teacher in Stigler, said she didn’t know specifics about President Barack Obama’s stimulus package. But, Lewis and numerous students have told state lawmakers any educational stimulus aid from Washington will help them with their struggle to get through college in these tough economic times.

Lewis remembers living in a horse trailer and tent as a child after her mother moved out of a nice brick home, finally leaving her abusive spouse.

“I want to be the last of my family who ever has to bathe in a creek,” she said.

Two teachers from the small town of Gans helped her get through high school and go to college.

Lewis, accompanied by her daughter, Jessica, who is now in college, joined hundreds of college students at the state Capitol last week as higher education made its pitch for more money. State higher education chancellor Glen D. Johnson told the audience every $1 spent on education stimulates $5.15 more in the economy.

While the state budget projections decline dramatically, education officials are hoping the stimulus package will help make up the shortfall.

Enid State Representative Mike Jackson, R-Enid, said higher education is a priority for the legislature and for a for Speaker Benge.

“Education, public safety and transportation will be held harmless this year. We’re looking at them as priorities,” Jackson said.

There is some rainy day fund “spillover” he said and there may be federal stimulus funds that also help education by investing in infrastructure and other projects.

“We will try to find a way to spend those funds wisely,” he said.

Rep. John Enns, R-Enid, said it is impossible to say that one thing or another won’t be cut. He said the House and Senate will make “surgical cuts” but nothing is off the table.

“We don’t want to cut education, transportation or public safety, but when you start taking things of the table you will have deeper cuts somewhere else,” Enns said.

State Senator Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, said the senate will do everything possible to try and fund higher education at the same level as last year. Higher education has asked for $88 million new dollars and he said that is not possible.

“Our goal is to keep the higher education budget intact. Hopefully, that means colleges and universities won’t have to be raising tuition this year, but it will be difficult to get that done,” Anderson said.

Cheryl Evans, dean of Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid who attended the legislative rally, said it is worthwhile to go to the Legislature and speak directly to the legislators because it gives them the opportunity to see that people care. She said Enid-area legislators were very helpful.

“If higher education is not funded, our expenses health care, retirement, insurance, all those things continue to rise. It’s also been a hard year in the market for foundation investments in endowed chairs that we depend on to supplement teachers salaries,” she said.

A standstill budget still would be a cut to NWOSU-Enid.

She said the college is hoping to avoid any tuition increase.

Curtis Simmons, a pre-med major from Lahoma, said, “I need any help I can get from the stimulus.”

Simmons, who attends Murray State College, Tishomingo, said his family makes too much money “where I just miss the mark for aid, and I need it.”

Joseph Gastineau, of Allen, comes from a single-parent family. Mitch Dean, of Coleman, lost his job building horse and stock trailers because the demand has dropped. A divorcee, he is paying support for two children.

Amanda Baldridge, an adviser who accompanied Murray State students to the Capitol, said seven years out of college, she is still paying on a $16,000 college debt.

Student Krysten Mayfield, of Mooreland, talked with her legislator, Republican Rep. Jeff Hickman, of Fairview, about her hopes that higher education gets some help on the state or federal level.

“With just the economy in general, it’s hard as a student,” said Mayfield, who ended up working 40 hours a week while carrying a full academic load. “But it got to be overwhelming and I had to slow down.”



Staff writer Robert Barron contributed to this story.