Commissioner Ray'Chel Wilson, vice chair of the Greater Tulsa Area African American Affairs Commission, told the panel on Oct. 17 that Tulsa Public Schools officials are holding citywide community meetings as part of a strategic planning process and invited the commission to participate.

The commission focused much of its discussion on disproportionate suspension and disciplinary rates for Black students, starting in early childhood. Wilson said she and TPS staff discussed college-going rates, but she emphasized suspension rates and “a candid conversation about disciplinary reports and suspension rates, specifically for our African American students.”

Why it matters: Commissioners said disciplinary practices that begin in preschool and kindergarten can shape school trajectories and suggested the commission could help TPS gather community input and later support implementation of alternative supports. Several commissioners referenced recent news reports about preschool expulsions.

Commissioners described planned follow-up steps. Wilson said she will send the commission a flyer listing TPS meeting dates once she receives it. Commissioners also discussed inviting Emily Taylor of Tulsa Public Schools to a commission meeting so members can present data requests and hear TPS’s plans for the strategic plan. Wilson said Taylor told commissioners TPS is seeking community input as it prepares its next strategic plan.

Panel members described local efforts the education subcommittee is pursuing, including a mentoring program framed as an “alternative to incarceration,” literacy and college-access work, and efforts to track and support students from early childhood through college. A subcommittee member said their notes and an “icebreaker” exercise helped the team identify data points and priorities, including early literacy and college access.

Commissioners also emphasized cross-committee connections. The wellness and systems-change committees were mentioned as potential partners for mental-health supports and programmatic responses to disciplinary incidents; the commission discussed coordinating referrals and services where students and families need them.

The commission planned a public community meeting for November (or early December if needed) at Vernon to share committee work and recruit community members for committees. Members said the goal is to front-load the November meeting with concrete committee materials and working drafts so attendees can join active groups rather than only hear presentations.

Commissioners asked that TPS bring data and a strategic plan update when staff visit so the commission can provide informed community outreach and help publicize TPS sessions.

Ending: Commissioners said they will circulate the TPS flyer and finalize the November/early-December community meeting date, and they asked subcommittees to prepare short working materials to present to community attendees.