Cherokee Nation awards $3.4 million to 91 school districts
Tulsa County schools receives $291,034
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.—The Cherokee Nation is helping dozens of northeast Oklahoma school districts fill gaps in education funding.
On Friday, checks totaling $3.4 million were distributed to 91 school districts at the Cherokee Nation’s Public School Appreciation Day, held at Sequoyah High School.
“We are proud to make this record investment to our area schools. Our car tag compact with the state of Oklahoma is important because funds are partially earmarked for education,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. “As education budgets continue to be stretched thinner and thinner, the Cherokee Nation’s contributions to schools have only increased. We expect that trend to continue now that we’ve expanded our license plate service area to cover all of Tulsa, Muskogee and other areas. Our local schools are important partners to the Cherokee Nation, so this is a great way to help ensure their continued success.”
Each year the tribe allocates 38 percent of tax revenue from the sale of tribal car tags to help schools in the 14-county tribal jurisdiction. Schools have complete discretion over the funding, which is not earmarked for any specific purpose or student. Schools use the funds to pay for everything from additional teaching salaries, to advanced student coursework, to more classroom technology. Although the funds are allocated based on Cherokee student headcount, the money can be used to help any student or program administrators see fit.
This year’s donation is up from $3.2 million last year.
“We are so appreciative to the Cherokee Nation for the contribution they make to learning in Tulsa Public Schools classrooms,” said Dr. Keith Ballard, superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools. “We work hard to be good financial stewards so that every dollar can have a maximum impact with our Cherokee students. We are also proud of the diversity in our district, and we appreciate our Native American roots in the Tulsa community. Without a doubt, Tulsa Public Schools is all the stronger as a result of this relationship.”
The tribe has awarded $31.3 million to northeast Oklahoma schools since the Cherokee Nation entered into a license plate compact with the state in 2001. Next year’s contributions should see an increase, as car tags can now be purchased by Cherokee citizens countywide in Tulsa, Muskogee, Mayes, Rogers and Wagoner counties.
“The Cherokee Nation continues to make a positive impact in the classroom and on student learning,” said Cherokee Nation Tax Administrator Sharon Swepston. “We thank the Cherokee citizens for purchasing our tribal car tags, which makes these contributions to our school districts possible.”
The Cherokee Nation awarded funds to school districts in the following counties:
- Adair $347,890
- Cherokee $678,629
- Craig $118,844
- Delaware $293,735
- Mayes $325,607
- Muskogee $325,067
- Nowata $62,258
- Ottawa $69,416
- Rogers $379,762
- Sequoyah $342,218
- Tulsa $291,034
- Wagoner $73,062
- Washington $108,445
- Osage $4,726
