Tulsa World: TAC report coming into light

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TAC report coming into light
The school board votes to release a summary of its findings.

By ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer
Published: 6/15/2008 2:06 AM
Last Modified: 6/15/2008 3:25 AM

The school board votes to release a summary of its findings.

The Tulsa school board decided Saturday to release a summary of an investigative report about apparent failings at the Tulsa Academic Center.

After discussing the report in a four-hour executive session at a special retreat, the board voted to have Board President Gary Percefull release the summary Monday, presumably at the board's regular 7 p.m. meeting.

Board Vice President Ruth Ann Fate said the summary would not "directly or indirectly" identify any current or former employee in connection with job performance.

The Tulsa World requested a copy of the report under the Oklahoma Open Records Act on June 2, immediately after the board members received it from their attorney.

Percefull initially said that the report would not be made public because it contains "privileged and confidential information related to personnel matters."

The Open Records Act allows a public body to keep certain personnel records confidential, but it does not require that.

Percefull asked for the attorneys to examine "apparent failings" at the Tulsa Academic Center in mid-April, one month after the Tulsa World began a series of stories documenting accounts by teachers, parents and students of overcrowding and frequent violence at the new alternative school, which was founded in August 2007.

Percefull said at Saturday's meeting that the school board would require district administrators to do more planning for the school's continued operation.

"We acknowledge errors have been made and we as a board take full responsibility for the failures at TAC this past school year," he said. "We are committed to correcting this problem and not repeating these mistakes."

Percefull said after the meeting that he didn't know whether the summary he would release Monday would be in written or oral form.

Reporters who tried to ask him about the summary were repeatedly interrupted by Fate, who stood behind Percefull and told him how to answer each question.

When a reporter asked whether the summary would be released before the school board meeting, Fate told Percefull to say, "No."

Percefull said he wasn't sure.

When a questioner asked when Tulsa Public Schools would respond to the World's request for a copy of the actual report, Fate said, and Percefull repeated, that the questions should be directed to "the appropriate" district staff member who handles such requests.

But Tami Marler, the district's director of public information, said that the board — not she — would "make the determination of how to proceed" with regard to the World's request.

The Oklahoma Open Records Act requires "prompt, reasonable access" to public records, and the Tulsa district's own regulation on "Public Right to Know" states that a district representative will either grant or deny a request for such records within two business days.

Superintendent Michael Zolkoski, who founded the Tulsa Academic Center for students with behavior infractions, made it clear during Saturday's retreat that he is proceeding with plans for the school's second year of operation in 2008-09.

He said enrollment would be capped at 150 students so principals "can't just dump a bunch of people. There's no way."

Zolkoski also said that a "clearinghouse committee" of district administrators would check student referrals and records, such as individual education plans for special education students, and that parents and students would be informed of their option to take an out-of-school suspension instead of enrolling at TAC. He also told the board about preliminary plans for an alternative education program, called Burbank Academy, especially for students who abuse substances.

Andrea Eger 581-8470
andrea.eger@tulsaworld.com
By ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Isaac Parker, Tulsa (6/15/2008 6:27:49 AM) The incorrigible kids that attend TAC and their worthless parents, if they are identifiable, are too stupid to realize that this school is probably their last chance before entering the Oklahoma "corrections" system. The path of least resistance for the kids is drug dealing and use and a life of violence, probably like most of their parents.
	Report Comment KJNOKIE, (6/15/2008 9:31:14 AM) Such compassion!
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (6/15/2008 10:47:40 AM) This story gives the impression that the School Board will only issue a verbal summary of the report. Very reluctantly. I hope that the Tulsa World will file suit if necessary to obtain and publicize the report. It certainly smells like a cover-up. Who are they protecting?

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