Oklahoma educators plan to rally to renew demands made at a massive Capitol demonstration a year ago for more classroom funding and better salaries.
This time, they will have a new ally in Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. The former public school teacher and ex-state Board of Education member plans to add her voice to the thousands of teachers, school administrators and parents expected at the March 30 gathering.
The Republican defeated former state Schools Superintendent Janet Barresi in the GOP primary.
The educators' requests include a long-term plan to improve teacher compensation, direct more resources to classrooms and increase instructional time.
But Oklahoma faces a $611 million budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year, which could result in budget cuts for state agencies and services.