In another letter to parents, State Superintendent Ryan Walters said that several school districts in the state have more than enough money to pay for all school lunches.
Earlier this week, Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Education said that Oklahoma schools would be required to provide free lunches to all students this school year, but with no new funding from the state.
The mandate quickly drew mixed responses from lawmakers and school districts.
Related Story: OSDE to require free school lunches without new funding, drawing mixed reactions
Now, in a new letter to parents, Walters highlights four specific school districts that he claims have a high surplus capable of covering school meals for their students.
Walter’s Statement Suggesting Certain Districts Have Multi-Million Dollar Surpluses
In the letter, Walters accused some schools of protecting “bloated bureaucracies” rather than prioritizing students and called on districts to “operate within your budget” and stop “triple taxing” parents.
RELATED: Fact-checking Ryan Walters’ claims on school lunch funding in Oklahoma
Walters also insisted that teachers will not face layoffs and that programs will remain intact if schools budget properly. In the letters, Walters lists “surpluses” for Broken Arrow, Bixby, Deer Creek, and Piedmont.
“Bixby reported a $43.3 million surplus
Deer Creek reported a $48.7 million surplus
Piedmont reported a $17.9 million surplus
Broken Arrow reported a $109.8 million surplus”
However, some district officials and financial auditors have challenged the accuracy of the figures Walters referenced, suggesting his claims may misrepresent how school funds are allocated and reported.
Walters has since responded to the following statements, claiming the numbers were reported to OSDE by the districts.
“Not surprising that they would not know where these numbers came from. These were the numbers they reported to OSDE themselves. The surplus amounts were each district’s carry over amount.”
Statement from Bixby Public Schools About Ryan Walters’ Letter to Parents
Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Lydia Wilson responded to the claims made by Walters, who said the district had a $43.3 million surplus and implied it was misallocating funds.
Wilson said Walters did not contact the district directly and questioned how he calculated the figure, suggesting he may have included restricted bond funds, which by law cannot be used for operational costs like student meals.
She called Walters’ remarks misleading and said they create unnecessary confusion.
Full Statement Below:
“Dear Spartans,
This afternoon, it was brought to my attention that Superintendent Ryan Walters referenced Bixby Public Schools in a letter to parents, indicating the district reported $43.3M in surplus funds, implying the district is prioritizing “bloated bureaucracies” over the needs of students, specifically as it relates to meals. Because this communication was not sent directly to me, and Superintendent Walters and his team did not respond to my outreach, I am unable to verify how he arrived at that figure or what specific calculation he used.
Upon reviewing fiscal reports submitted by the district on the state reporting website, it appears that Mr. Walters may have included multiple funding sources, some of which are legally restricted to specific purposes, such as bond funds. As he is surely aware, bond funds are governed by law and may only be used for designated projects that are clearly outlined in the bond resolution, approved by the community, and passed with a 60% supermajority vote.
Schools can spend bond funds on a variety of capital expenditures and improvements, according to Oklahoma Statutes. These funds cannot be used for daily operational expenses or salaries. Here’s a breakdown of what bond funds can generally be used for:
Facilities: Constructing new buildings, renovating, expanding, remodeling, and repairing existing facilities. This also includes improving or acquiring school sites.
Equipment and Technology: Purchasing furniture, fixtures, equipment, and upgrading technology infrastructure, including computers and software. It also covers the acquisition of textbooks, digital curriculum, instructional materials, and equipment for music and athletics.
Transportation: Purchasing new buses and other transportation vehicles.
Safety and Security: Enhancing safety and security through updates to fire alarms, security cameras, and secure entry systems.
Energy Efficiency: Investing in projects like HVAC system upgrades and energy-efficient lighting to reduce energy consumption.
As mentioned in our communication earlier this week, and many times in the past, we take our fiscal responsibility very seriously. Our district is committed to maintaining open and transparent processes through routine communications, publicly accessible board meetings (which can be found on our website), independent financial audits, and state oversight that exceeds legal requirements.
To reiterate the important perspective shared in our previous communication, even with a crippling 50% cut to an already very efficient administrative portion of the district’s budget (currently 2.65%, with a legal cap at 5%), the district would only be able to absorb approximately 30% of the cost of student meals.
Unfortunately, reports such as those issued this week by Superintendent Walters cause unnecessary confusion, straining the strong relationship between our district and the families we serve. We remain focused on responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to us and supporting our students as our top priority.
Lydia Wilson
Superintendent”
Statement From Broken Arrow About Ryan Walters’ Letter to Parents
Broken Arrow Public Schools also pushed back, saying that Walters appears to be basing his claims on inaccurate information.
Chief Communications Officer Tara Thompson said the State Superintendent appears to be using a combination of restricted funds, including bond, scholarship, and student activity accounts, which cannot be used for general expenses like student meals.
She encouraged the public to review the district’s award-winning financial reports available on its website.
The district reiterated that its finances are managed in accordance with state law and dedicated to serving students responsibly.
See full Statement from Broken Arrow Below:
“The district does not have a $109 million surplus. We would welcome the opportunity to have a discussion about this topic, because clearly there is confusion. It appears this alleged, “surplus” can only be derived by illegally adding all funds. Bond funds, debt service funds, student-raised funds, scholarship funds, workers’ comp funds – these cannot legally be added together and used except for their intended purpose. In the meantime, parents and patrons are welcome to visit the district website and review all financial documents. Broken Arrow Public Schools values full financial transparency, as evidenced by the award-winning financial documents found on our website.”
If we learn of anything new, I will happily share it with you, and thank you for the chance to have a voice in this conversation.
– Tara Thompson, APR Chief Communications Officer Broken Arrow Public Schools
The controversy adds to ongoing tensions between local education leaders and the State Department of Education.
View Bixby school district’s 2024 budget report here:
View Broken Arrow school district’s 2024 budget report here:
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