Oklahoma City Public Schools sees surge in enrollment under new leadership
Enrollment is up in Oklahoma City Public Schools.
The district's new superintendent, Dr. Jamie Polk, tells FOX 25 she expects OKCPS will soon overtake Tulsa as the state's largest district with around 34,000 students.
She's no stranger to OKCPS, but Dr. Polk says stepping into the top role still brought on some surprises, including an outpouring of community support.
"The offerings the 'What can we do? Do you need anything?' has been not just a daily, but a multi times a day occurrence, which is just exciting," she said.
Dr Polk is channeling that support to help tackle one of the biggest challenges she sees in the district, getting kids inside classrooms.
"Enrollment has been the number one thing for me coming in," she said. "Because not only do I want a seat for every child, but I want a name on every seat."
An aggressive, high-tech effort to enroll kids right in their own neighborhoods has led to hundreds more students registered so far for the school year, compared to this time last year.
Chronic absenteeism is another major issue within the district.
Partners outside the district see it as an economic development issue.
"We are producing the future workforce," Dr. Polk said. "We need them to have a habit of going to school, of going to work. We are producing that graduate, and for them to be ready, we have to take a look at the absenteeism. At last count, we are up to 16 community members who want to be on the flyer to say they support our students being in school."
The other way to make a real difference, she says, is helping kids read.
Dr. Polk says reading just 20 minutes a day can change a child's entire life.
Continuing and strengthening those community reading programs is a top priority, as Dr. Polk encourages more volunteers to step up.
"Reading is a separator," she said. "I always ask, 'What's the last good book you read?' when I'm speaking with students or adults."
The new school year begins for OKCPS students on Tuesday,
Tune into FOX 25 Monday at 9 p.m. to hear more from Dr. Polk as districts across the state grapple with how to respond and react to controversial new directives coming from State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
She explains why she's been mostly quiet so far.
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