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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Governor orders schools to continue support staff pay

Nuria Martinez-Keel
by Nuria Martinez-Keel
Published: Thu, April 2, 2020 7:00 PM

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An executive order from Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday ensures public schools will continue to pay support staff.

A news release from the governor’s office said school districts were unsure whether they were constitutionally allowed to continue paying support staff while school buildings are closed for COVID-19. The governor’s order clarifies public schools are to maintain contracts for the nearly 41,000 support employees in the state.

“It is important to me that our local school boards have the authority to fulfill support staff contracts and pay their employees while their buildings are closed,” Stitt said in a statement.

The order waives any statutory or rule-based limitations on these employees accumulating or using paid leave for the rest of the fiscal year.

State schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister had been seeking a legislative solution for support staff pay, but those efforts were cut short when the Legislature stopped meeting as the coronavirus spread widely in Oklahoma.

“This remedy was urgently needed. I thank Gov. Stitt for taking this action to ensure certainty for the cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, teachers’ assistants and so many others whose work is critical to our schools,” Hofmeister said in a statement. “This executive order helps bring a measure of comfort and stability to these valued workers and their families and ensures our focus remains on public health and instruction through distance learning during this unprecedented crisis.”

Salaries for teachers and administrators are maintained during breaks and school closures, according to state law. The Oklahoma State Department of Education has urged school districts to grant support staff extra paid leave to cover the extension added to spring break this year.

The Oklahoma State Board of Education initially voted to extend spring break until April 6 to give state officials more time to decide how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The board decided on March 25 to keep school buildings closed for the rest of the academic year and instructed schools to implement distance learning.

Related Photos
<strong>Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at the Blue Room as Joy Hofmeister looks on as Oklahoma government officials have a press conference to discuss the state's response to the Covid-19 Thursday, March 12, 2020. [Photo by Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman]</strong>

Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at the Blue Room as Joy Hofmeister looks on as Oklahoma government officials have a press conference to discuss the state's response to the Covid-19 Thursday, March 12, 2020. [Photo by Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman]

A customer stands outside the 29th St. Tag Agency as she waits in line for service in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The tag agency only allows 10 people inside the location at one time. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
Customers stand outside the 29th St. Tag Agency as they wait in line for service in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The tag agency only allows 10 people inside the location at one time. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
The Isabella Boutique has posted a temporarily closed sign at its location on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
Customers leave the La Michoacana Meat Market on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
A person rides a recumbent bike down S. Blackwelder Ave. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
A customer walks into the La Michoacana Meat Market on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
+2+5Car drive past the empty parking lots of businesses that are closed on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-d29592fa82cf6c145062db39393765b1.jpg" alt="Photo - Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at the Blue Room as Joy Hofmeister looks on as Oklahoma government officials have a press conference to discuss the state's response to the Covid-19 Thursday, March 12, 2020. [Photo by Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman] " title=" Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at the Blue Room as Joy Hofmeister looks on as Oklahoma government officials have a press conference to discuss the state's response to the Covid-19 Thursday, March 12, 2020. [Photo by Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption> Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at the Blue Room as Joy Hofmeister looks on as Oklahoma government officials have a press conference to discuss the state's response to the Covid-19 Thursday, March 12, 2020. [Photo by Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-52c722b9d98cd8daf8d9daa48437cccf.jpg" alt="Photo - A customer stands outside the 29th St. Tag Agency as she waits in line for service in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The tag agency only allows 10 people inside the location at one time. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title="A customer stands outside the 29th St. Tag Agency as she waits in line for service in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The tag agency only allows 10 people inside the location at one time. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption>A customer stands outside the 29th St. Tag Agency as she waits in line for service in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The tag agency only allows 10 people inside the location at one time. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-7e84410a1dbaf806ef97279721102e16.jpg" alt="Photo - Customers stand outside the 29th St. Tag Agency as they wait in line for service in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The tag agency only allows 10 people inside the location at one time. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title="Customers stand outside the 29th St. Tag Agency as they wait in line for service in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The tag agency only allows 10 people inside the location at one time. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption>Customers stand outside the 29th St. Tag Agency as they wait in line for service in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The tag agency only allows 10 people inside the location at one time. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-69dbcc8da488f965eb43e227ce80ddb1.jpg" alt="Photo - The Isabella Boutique has posted a temporarily closed sign at its location on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title="The Isabella Boutique has posted a temporarily closed sign at its location on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption>The Isabella Boutique has posted a temporarily closed sign at its location on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-bc00f1674cdaf63b57a9815962f4c38f.jpg" alt="Photo - Customers leave the La Michoacana Meat Market on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title="Customers leave the La Michoacana Meat Market on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption>Customers leave the La Michoacana Meat Market on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-87a6a732c8d67c15b9abced1676c5166.jpg" alt="Photo - A person rides a recumbent bike down S. Blackwelder Ave. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title="A person rides a recumbent bike down S. Blackwelder Ave. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption>A person rides a recumbent bike down S. Blackwelder Ave. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-163cf8122003cff6420ac2bebfeeb64a.jpg" alt="Photo - A customer walks into the La Michoacana Meat Market on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title="A customer walks into the La Michoacana Meat Market on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption>A customer walks into the La Michoacana Meat Market on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-e2e77bbb4bdbfdb3be37d6e1ed90c238.jpg" alt="Photo - Car drive past the empty parking lots of businesses that are closed on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title="Car drive past the empty parking lots of businesses that are closed on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption>Car drive past the empty parking lots of businesses that are closed on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-171a3e5821cde097e71b0bfe60b27e04.jpg" alt="Photo - The Botanica San Cipriano has posted a closed sign at its location on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title="The Botanica San Cipriano has posted a closed sign at its location on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption>The Botanica San Cipriano has posted a closed sign at its location on SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure>
Nuria Martinez-Keel

Nuria Martinez-Keel joined The Oklahoman in 2019. She found a home at the newspaper while interning in summer 2016 and 2017. Nuria returned to The Oklahoman for a third time after working a year and a half at the Sedalia Democrat in Sedalia,... Read more ›

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