2018 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 70. Schools
§70-18-116. Forfeiture of State Aid.

A. Any school district which willfully operates school buses contrary to the rules and regulations prescribed by the State Board of Education shall forfeit its State Aid for the time of noncompliance. All State Aid funds shall be withheld from any school district that does not comply with the standards of the State Board of Education for accrediting.

B. Any school district that willfully pays a teacher less than the minimum salary required by law including the five percent (5%) increments for special education or alternative education shall forfeit a portion of its State Aid equal to the amount that the teacher was underpaid. The amount to be forfeited shall be deducted from the State Aid payment following confirmation of the underpayment by the State Department of Education.

C. 1. No more than fifty percent (50%) of the funds apportioned to school districts under the provisions of this article shall be paid by the state unless and until there has been filed with the State Board of Education on forms prescribed by such Board an itemized sworn account of the expenditures and revenues of the school district during the next preceding fiscal year and a teacher personnel report for the current year.

2. All State Aid paid to a district whose district budget, as filed with the State Auditor and Inspector, shows that the appropriations of the district, plus the State Aid and other cash funds for which the district qualifies, will not enable it to maintain a full term of school as defined by this article, shall be credited against the State Aid of the district or districts to which the first district shall be annexed, if annexation is required. It is intended that the balance of any unexpended State Aid or other revenue originally allocated to an annexed district shall be paid to the receiving district.

D. School districts receiving State Aid shall not spend any of these funds except by regularly issued warrants. The warrants shall be issued against properly approved encumbrances in the manner provided by law. All encumbrances shall be approved by the board of education of the school district at a regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose. All original copies of encumbrances as represented by purchase orders, shall be filed in either numerical or alphabetical order, with the original paid invoice or invoices attached, accompanied by a signed and dated receiving copy verifying receipt of goods or services. It shall be unlawful to register or pay the warrant unless such warrant conforms to the statutes regulating the allowance and issuance thereof. Said treasurer shall purchase, by treasurer's check, all warrants issued.

E. All board of education members, employees, or other officials of school districts required to make reports to the State Board of Education or other agencies under the provisions of this article, and all persons lawfully charged with the duty of making records of original entry, such as teachers' registers, transportation records, and financial records, which form the basis, in whole or in part, of said reports, shall exercise the highest degree of diligence, accuracy, and good faith in making said records and reports reflect the truth. Teachers' registers shall be marked daily in ink, by the teacher or principal in charge of rooms or groups of pupils. Provided, the State Board of Education may authorize alternate systems of accounting for pupils' attendance in districts using data processing methods.

F. The State Board of Education shall revoke the certificate of any teacher, principal, or superintendent who knowingly or willfully violates any of the provisions of this article.

G. Any official involved in the execution of this article who shall fail or refuse to carry out any of the provisions thereof shall be liable on his official bond, if any, for the monetary damages resulting from said failure to act, and in addition thereto shall be subject to removal from office for neglect of duty under the provisions of law relating to the removal of public officials.

H. Any person or firm who shall knowingly or willfully violate any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any public official or public employee violating any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to the penalties for a misdemeanor and in addition thereto shall forfeit his position or office. Any officer or employee of the State Board of Education who knowingly or willfully apportions or disburses any monies appropriated by this article contrary to the provisions of this article shall be subject to the penalties for a misdemeanor and in addition shall forfeit his office or position.

I. The State Board of Education shall prescribe the form of all records, reports and applications for State Aid necessary to the proper administration of this article, and it shall be the duty of all, school district superintendents, and boards of education of school districts to make such reports fully and completely at the time and in the manner prescribed by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall also have authority and it shall be its duty to promulgate rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions hereof, relative to the distribution of funds and for the administration of this article. Such regulations and rules shall apply alike to all school districts.

J. Any school district that is not in compliance with the standards and requirements established by the State Board of Education related to the state student record system as provided in Section 3-160 of this title shall forfeit its State Aid for the time of noncompliance.

Added by Laws 1971, c. 305, § 16, emerg. eff. June 17, 1971. Amended by Laws 1979, c. 30, § 50, emerg. eff. April 6, 1979; Laws 1988, c. 90, § 23, operative July 1, 1988; Laws 1988, c. 330, § 14; Laws 1990, c. 221, § 11, operative July 1, 1990; Laws 2000, c. 308, § 4, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2010, c. 203, § 1.