OKCPS Board of Education passes resolution to pursue legal action against legislature

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education has passed a resolution instructing their legal counsel to pursuing a law firm for possible legal action against the state legislature.

The board voted unanimously to pass a resolution that instructs their legal team to being the process of hiring a law firm to sue the Oklahoma Legislature.Board members say lawmakers have failed to fund state mandates and pass education budgets on time.

The special meeting was called last week and took just over 10 minutes. One board member, Carrie Jacobs, was not present during the meeting.

Board chair Paula Lewis said this is taking a stand for children.

"We are starting to say that our kids can't take anymore. We certainly need to fund all of the kids in Oklahoma and we need to provide the best education we can," she said.

Board member Mark Mann drafted the resolution.

"We're actually talking about doing what's morally right for the children of the state, the children of the district, and that's what it boils down to," he said.

Over the past two school years, OKCPS has been hit with more than $30 million in state budget cuts.

Legislative leaders have criticized the move.The Speaker of the Oklahoma House blamed OKCPS following the threat of a suit saying they should be "better stewards" of their money.