The Greater Tulsa Area African American Affairs Commission on Oct. 17 heard a vice chair report on meetings Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) is holding as it develops a new strategic plan and discussed addressing college-going rates and disproportionate suspension and disciplinary rates for African American students.

Vice Chair Ray'Chel Wilson told the commission she had spoken with Emily Taylor of Tulsa Public Schools and said TPS is “having conversations, and want to involve the community as a whole.” Wilson said TPS will host additional community meetings and welcomed the commission’s participation and requests for data, including “college going rates, achievement rates, literacy rates.”

The commission focused on disciplinary disparities, with Wilson asking for a “candid conversation about disciplinary reports and suspension rates, specifically for our African American students.” Commissioners linked suspension concerns to broader issues including mental health and supports in schools; one member described a childhood incident used to illustrate how behavior tied to trauma can be misconstrued as misconduct in schools.

Commissioners discussed program responses: the commission’s empowerment coach is launching a mentoring program intended as an “alternative to incarceration” and staff said the committee wants to work with schools identified with high suspension rates to offer that alternative. Commissioner comments repeatedly stressed pairing data (attendance, literacy, college access) with on-the-ground programs such as mentoring and trade-school support.

Wilson asked the commission to consider inviting TPS staff — including Taylor, whom she described as an executive director focused on strategy and data — to present at a future meeting and to share flyers for TPS community sessions once they are available. Commissioners recommended the commission circulate meeting flyers and consider cosponsoring or promoting TPS community sessions to increase participation.

The commission also discussed planning a public community meeting of its own in mid-November or early December to present committee work and recruit community members for committee participation.

Commissioners framed the education work as K–16 in scope, emphasizing early childhood, K–12 literacy, college access and workforce pathways. They noted geographic concentrations of African American students in North Tulsa and expressed interest in targeting supports where student populations and suspension disparities are greatest.

Looking ahead, members requested TPS data on the topics named and agreed to follow up on invitations to TPS staff and on logistical details for the commission’s planned November/early-December community meeting.