| Oklahoma City Schools have ridden a roller | | | | an "historic bond initiative" created in 2001 |
| coaster of ups and downs for the past decade. | | | | that has earmarked $512 million for new or |
| The district was labeled as "in need of | | | | renovated school buildings for all Oklahoma |
| improvement" under the No Child Left Behind | | | | City Schools. Other funds in the initiative |
| Act of 2001 (NCLB). That federal mandate led | | | | include $52 million for computer and |
| to major overhauls which included a district | | | | technological resources for Oklahoma City |
| improvement plan, a comprehensive local | | | | Schools. The plan draws on sales tax |
| education plan (CLEP) and numerous | | | | increases over the coming years, as well as |
| initiatives by then superintendent Bob Moore. | | | | bond funds to feed the aggressive changes. |
| The changes have seen marked improvements. | | | | Board members and administrators in the |
| | | | Oklahoma City Schools believe that Porter, |
| Following Moore's resignation, interim | | | | coming from a district that manages an |
| superintendent Linda S. Brown and the | | | | operating budget of $1.85 billion fairly |
| Oklahoma City Schools' Board instituted four | | | | successfully, will be able to use district |
| major tools to help meet Adequate Yearly | | | | funding to institute the needed AYP |
| Progress (AYP) as required by the NCLB act. | | | | improvements. |
| These tools are: district restructuring, the | | | | |
| Instructional Facilitator Program, the | | | | The nearly year long search for the new |
| Organizational Health Inventory, and the High | | | | Oklahoma City Schools Superintendent seems to |
| Performance Model. The major concern of | | | | have board members breathing a sigh of |
| Oklahoma City Schools during the previous | | | | relief. Oklahoma City Schools have gone over |
| academic year was finding someone capable of | | | | 10 months without a permanent leader in the |
| continuing the upward progress of these | | | | superintendent's position. Chairman of the |
| initiatives. | | | | Oklahoma City Schools Board, Cliff Hudson |
| | | | said, "While it has taken us some time to |
| That search came to an end in April when | | | | find a new leader, I can say it was worth the |
| Oklahoma City Schools announced the selection | | | | wait because we have found an exceptional |
| of John Q. Porter as the next Superintendent | | | | person to lead the Oklahoma City Public |
| of Schools. Porter is currently Deputy | | | | Schools District." |
| Superintendent of the highly ranked | | | | |
| Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in | | | | While politics dictate that this sunny |
| Rockville, Maryland. Porter is nationally | | | | outlook will face challenges during the |
| recognized for his work in improving both | | | | actual interactions over the next school |
| accountability and academics in the MCPS. He | | | | year, the fact that Porter is positively |
| also has had success in integrating | | | | embraced by most of the Oklahoma City Schools |
| technology with student learning. This is one | | | | administrators is encouraging. Hudson implied |
| of the reasons that Oklahoma City Schools | | | | that the community investment made by MAPS |
| think he might be the right man for the job. | | | | for kids was partly responsible for the high |
| | | | quality of applicants who applied for the |
| Oklahoma City Schools have received acclaim | | | | superintendent's position. Porter will |
| for its MAPS (Metropolitan Area Public | | | | officially assume the title of Oklahoma City |
| Schools) for kids program. MAPS for kids is | | | | Schools newest superintendent on July 1st. |